Historic Hood River
Libelants?
Notes
This image has the unusual notation “Libelants Exhibit 1 Civ. No. 5749” on its reverse. According to this definition of libellant that means this image was used in a libel suit, or possibly divorce proceedings. It is really hard for me to come up with a story to explain how an image of the circa 1940 construction of the lift span on the Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge was useful in court for a libel or divorce suit, but let’s hear your guesses!
My real interest in this image was because I drove a 1920s automobile across the bridge for the first time this weekend (Huckleberry Festival Parade!) and learned how slippery the decking feels to old narrow tires. I wanted a definitive history of the switch from wood to steel decking. We know the original wood decking was a “temporary” cost savings measure in 1924. This image verifies it was not replaced when the bridge was substantially rebuilt between 1937 and 1940, though by that time there were some steel plates added. We also know from this image that the lift span itself had steel grate decking. This image seems to show the decking half wood and half steel, so I’m pretty comfortable with 1951 as the dividing line when the rest of the decking was converted from wood to steel. I recall a project about 20 years ago to replace all the steel decking, but the new panels were substantially the same as the 1950’s panels. We also know the current deck requires regular welding because of broken joints.
But all of that is much less interesting than the prospect of a divorce because of the construction of the bridge lift span. So let’s see what your imagination can conjure.
Tags: 1940s, bridge, Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge, lawsuit
L. E.
Trying a newspaper search I came up with 5749 phone numbers and sports scores 57-49.
I cannot tell if this is pre Bonneville or after. The river looks high, like maybe spring time. I don’t see the railroad tracks. I see Dock Grade. And what looks like a trail winding its way up the bluff. I don’t see any indication of the stairway.