Historic Hood River
Lyle, Washington
8-8-2013
Notes
This appears to be Lyle, Washington, at the confluence of the Klickitat river and the Columbia.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
This appears to be Lyle, Washington, at the confluence of the Klickitat river and the Columbia.
charlott
Definitely a photo prior to Bonneville Dam, because all that low land would be under water.
I do see what appears to be a church over there.
l.e.
This is the first time I have seen a pre dam photo of the town of Lyle.
I guess it is pre dam. The water seems high.
I bet the long silver roof is a sheep shed.
spinsur
Only one arch bridge over Klick, must be railroad; overpass over railroad into Lyle point, which appears to have streets laid out, so after platting; Lyle Hotel is there, east of the "sheep shed", just northeast of railroad overpass, road to ferry landing in. With a little digging, those might help narrow date. Appears to be from Rowena Loops, so probably after Columbia River Historic Highway.
longshot
The early road bridge over the Klickitat was about 1/10 mile up stream from the present one. What is today Keith road would have been the eastern approach to the bridge. You can barely make out Keith Road in the photo and the matching approach road on the western side of the river.
Don’t know the date of the old bridge. The present one has a date marked it IIRC but I don’t remember it off hand.
I can’t remember ever noticing the pond that is a bit to the east of the mouth of the Klickitat. 🙁
Wonder where the docks were for the old Columbia and Northern Railroad to Goldendale? I had assumed the tracks made it all the way to the river originally but I don’t see where.
l.e.
Yes, I also was looking for the Goldendale RR and the dock.
There was a ferry at Lyle and a steam boat landing but I don’t see a dock for either one.
The Balfour Ranch was on the west side of the Klickitat. I guess I never thought about how they crossed it to the town of Lyle.
Residents from Glenwood came over the top of those hills and down to the west side of the Klickitat to get to The Dalles.
There is a 90 year old lady here that was telling me the other day about walking all the way with her dad when she was a little girl. I guess I better go ask her how she crossed the Klickitat and where the ferry landing was.
l.e.
Some different views of Lyle:
http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/lyle.html
l.e.
This 1963 issue of the Mt Adams Sun shows a photo of the Balfour home.
http://mas.stparchive.com/Archive/MAS/MAS06271963P04.php
longshot
I would guess that since the water level would have fluctuated so much there must not have been an actual dock at the ferry/steamboat landing(s). The boats may have just been driven against the sand in one or more of the narrow inlets along the shoreline.
Maybe the railroad never had permanent tracks to the waters edge, but ended at a warehouse and goods where sent by wagon to the steamboat/ferry landing? When they took the engines and other rolling stock ashore from a steamboat originally they may have just laid temporary tracks down. That must of been quite the sight, wouldn’t it be great if some pictures of that event turn up someday.
Michael Vorce
The Lyle School and gymnasium are just left of center in the photo, painted white. The gymnasium was two levels, with classrooms and offices below and the basketball court on the top floor. The steamboat dock and landing was located to the east of this photo, between the ferry landing and the railroad tunnel.
l.e.
Hi, Michael Vorce. Good to have some local input.
From Laurene Eldred over the hill.
And yes, over the hill has more than one meaning.
That is probably why I have enjoyed the history photos so much.
I wish someone on the Washington side of the river would start a similar project.
Karissa Perez
This is about circa 1920. The Ferry landing was on the east side of Lyle Point. I live in High Prairie above Lyle and the water level appears to be the same as it is at its current level.
L.E.
A newspaper article in the Goldendale Sentinel which shows early photos of Lyle with the railroad and steamboat landing.
http://gld.stparchive.com/Archive/GLD/GLD05251972P02.php
Jeffrey Bryant
Information on the Lyle townsite can be found here:
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83009939/1911-05-03/ed-1/seq-3/