Historic Hood River
“Waukoma Interstate Bridge”
Notes
Here’s the original blueprint (sheet 1) for the Oregon Washington Bridge Company’s “Waukoma Interstate Bridge” as drawn in August 1923. We know that shortly before the bridge opened to traffic on December 6, 1924 the name was changed to “Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge” to help promote local tourism. This drawing shows the original alignment which took a sharp left turn approaching the White Salmon end as it descended to a landing which was flooded by the Bonneville Pool in the late 1930s.
The bridge was reconstructed with new approaches and a lift mechanism for the main span between 1937 and 1940. The White Salmon approach was straightened out and the grade reduced by landing at a higher point to intersect SR14. The wood decking was also replaced with open steel decking. The bridge structure has largely been unchanged since then.
Current bridge replacement plans would see a new bridge constructed just west of this bridge between 2025 and 2029, with this bridge removed by 2031.
The name “Waukoma” (or Waucoma) has been claimed to be the Native American name for this place, but the evidence is thin. I have been researching this for another post, so let me know if you have any definitive sources. The most specific source I could find refers to a discussion between members of the Lewis and Clark party and local Natives, but nothing I can find in the Lewis and Clark archives indicates any such contact.
J. H.
I spoke with a Watɬlala/Cascade native and confirmed that it means “place of the cottonwoods”. The Waucoma Bookstore calls out that definition as well on their About Us page but they do not have a source for where that information came from. There seems to be a handful of conflicting definitions in literature, ranging from “place of the cottonwoods”, to “land of many waters”, and “close to the ocean”. However, “place of the cottonwoods” seems to be the most accurate as it is reinforced by the primary source of a Watɬlala/Cascade that has a good understanding of Chinuk Wawa.
Arlen L sheldrake
May I suggest that we return the name Waukoma in honor of our first Americans
JEC
My copy of “Oregon Geographic Names” by Lewis McArthur has an entry for ‘Waucoma Ridge’ which separates the Hood River drainage from that of Herman and Eagle creeks. In the entry it is mentioned that “Waucoma” is of Indian origin and is thought to refer to cottonwood trees.
Arthur Babitz
JEC my version of “Oregon Geographic Names” (6th edition) adds: “The compiler has not been able to learn what tribe uses the expression. There are probably no cottonwood trees on Waucoma ridge and the name sees to have been applied to that feature by white people because it has a pleasing sound.”
I look forward to learning more about J.H.’s consultation with a Native speaker– sounds like he was able to find something Lewis McArthur couldn’t find. I’ll share all the research in a later post.
Arthur Babitz
Interesting facts concerning naming of features around here: the blueprints we have for the Columbia Gorge Hotel are labeled “Hotel Benson”. Cloud Cap Inn was called “Glacier Lodge” or some variant of that during its construction phase.