thursday, tpril 6, 1978
daily nebraskan
page5
Capitol's elevator operators
say they don't get the shaft
By Cindy Coglianese
Legislative life sure can have its ups and
downs as Vivian, Carol and Margaret well
know.
Vivian Bailey, Carol Shaw and Margaret
Stimbert work eight hours r day, five days
a week controlling the elevators at the
State Capitol.
This involves continuous runs up and
down the Capitol's 14 stories.
Stimbert has been going up and down
like this for 1 1 years, Shaw has been at it
about two years and Bailey is the newcom
er of just about a year.
The elevators are small With narrow
doors. Stimbert said she thinks it is about
time for some new elevators but added she
wonders about the possibility of getting
larger elevators in the narrow shafts.
Shaw is not sure how much she enjoys
the business. "It's the only thing I'm
trained to do," she said. "At least there is
no physical labor."
She said she operates 'the elevator con
stantly at this time of the year because the
Legislature is in session and many schools
are taking tours of the Capitol.
Stimbert said she knows of no serious
accidents in her 1 1 years. "Once in awhile
someone will get caught in the door, but
that's it," she said. She does recall a time
a few years ago when she was stuck in the
elevator for about an hour with some all
state high school wrestlers "who weighed
about 300 pounds each."
Shaw also has had a few sticky situa
tions in the elevator. "Whenever the ele
vator gets stuck they just come and pry the
doors open and get me out," she said.
For the most part, the elevators are run
automatically. A buzzing sound signals the
elevator operator that someone on some
floor (she does not know which) needs to
use the elevator. The operator shuts the
door and the elevator does the rest.
The essential responsibilities of the job,
according to Stimbert are making sure
people do not get shut in the elevator door,
answering questions and letting people off
on the right floors.
Tourists are allowed only on floors one
through three and on 14, the observation
deck. Shaw said often tourists will
try to get to floors where they do not
belong.
Bailey works about three hours every
day covering for the other elevator
operators when they go on break.
"I like this job," she said. "The only
thing that drives me crazy is when people
lay on that buzzer."
She said this job does not bother her
stomach but if she stands all day her legs
and back tend to get sore.
"I get awful nervous easy. I don't like
anyone pushing my buttons," she added.
Stimbert thinks operating elevators is a
job that that could be easily handled by
anyone, with one exception. "It depends
on your stomach," she cautioned. "If you
have a hard stomach, you can easily do this
job."
The three operators agreed that reading
helps to fight the boredom when things run
slowly. Stimbert admits to being very busy
with the passengers most of the time,
though.
"I meet very interesting people from all
over the world and the United States and
I get acquainted with the state senators,"
she said.
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Photo by Mark Billingsley
Freda Stroud is the supervisor of elevator operators at the Nebraska State Capitol
Building.
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