B Street: The Notorious Playground of Coulee Dam

7. Woo Dip

7 WOO DIP J ulian and his family got little sleep that first night they spent near the Grand Coulee Dam construction site. Dewey was the only one who slept through all the noise from the huge machines that operated nonstop twenty-four hours a day. Julian and Dewey were up early the next morning, filled with excitement about their new surroundings and all the possibilities that lay before them. They could not believe what they saw as they neared B Street on that spring morning in 1935. As they drove up the hill, leaving Grand Coulee’s Midway Avenue behind, they could hear the noise of The Street before they got there. Julian maneuvered the Model T along the dusty street, trying not to hit the throngs of white people crossing from one side to the other. They were amazed at the wooden boardwalks and the number of taverns that lined both sides of the street. Cars were all over the place, parked or stirring up volumes of dust as they passed. What they witnessed on B Street was much different from the sights and sounds of the quiet little town of Inchelium. It was early morning, but B Street was full of activity, and the noise was constant. Dewey smiled and nodded. He observed the activity on the street 77 with interest. Both he and Julian were surprised at the large number of good-looking women. They wondered why there were so many. Since it was early, they decided to go into a small café and order some coffee. They seated themselves in a booth, near a window, and observed the people milling about outside. They studied the men busily working on several buildings, just across from them, that would soon be places of business. The sawing of boards and the hammering of nails reverberated even inside the café. Outside again, they checked both sides of the street until they came to the Hi Dam Hotel, where a “For Rent” sign had been placed in the window of a small space with an entrance off the boardwalk. Julian studied the interior through the small window. He was pleased to see that there were water pipes installed in the back wall. He wanted to take a closer look. Dewey peered through the window and thought the space seemed small. He wondered how many people could fit inside and asked Julian if it was big enough. Julian looked inside again and shrugged. He reminded Dewey that he and Mary did not have much money and that it might be wise to start out small. The two men went next door and inquired about the owner of the space. They were told that he might be found at the tavern about a block down the street. Julian and Dewey found the owner sitting in a bar having a beer and talking to the bartender. When he learned that Julian wanted to set up a Chinese restaurant, he became enthusiastic. He loved Chinese food, he said. Every time he went to Spokane, he enjoyed eating at a Chinese restaurant along the Spokane River, where the food was great. There were no Chinese restaurants in town, so there would be no competition. 78 WOO DIP Julian knew he would have to do some remodeling to make the space work. He could get help from a friend back home who was a good carpenter. The owner was open to any changes Julian needed to make in order to get his new venture started. As they discussed the rent, Julian did not hide the fact that he was nearly down and out. After he’d been in business for a while, he would be making enough money to pay the required amount. The owner studied Julian. He could sense that Julian was honest and filled with determination about his endeavor. He decided to let them try it for a month or so and wait to see what happened. The owner drew up a handwritten contract and presented it to Julian to sign. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a set of keys, unhooked one, and gave it to Julian. They shook hands, and the owner wished Julian good luck. Julian and Dewey drove back across the river to their camp. Mary would be happy to know they had found a place. Julian slapped his thigh and happily exclaimed that it looked like...