Historic Hood River
$25 Fine For Driving Or Riding Faster Than a Walk
Notes
Today’s mystery photo takes us back to the dawn of motorized travel, when automobiles were being added to the mix of pedestrians, horses and bicycles. This community’s solution: a speed limit. The sign reads, “$25 Fine For Driving Or Riding Faster Than a Walk on This Bridge.” $25 was a steep fine for that era. But where was this bridge?
Sorry for the poor image quality, but this negative was very poorly exposed. I didn’t even think there was a image on the plate, but the scanner did its magic and pulled this up. I promise there’s enough here to solve the mystery. A few hints: This isn’t Hood River, but it’s not too far afield. This cable stay suspension bridge is long since gone, but it was important enough that it’s left behind traces in the city which it served.
Reward for solving the mystery? Bragging rights.
Contest over– ‘spinsur’ has found the correct location. This bridge was built over the Willamette in 1888 between Oregon City and West Linn. It was replaced in 1922 by the beautiful Conde McCullough bridge which still stands. Oregon City is known for historic murals all over town, and one of them shows this long gone suspension bridge. Here’s a better picture of the 1888 bridge from almost the identical spot as today’s image.
James Holloway
Well it’s not Bridge of the Gods, due to the ‘otherside buildings’, my best guess is a bridge in Portland over the Williamette, but which one? Hawthorne?….
James
spinsur
oregon city, west linn?
rwf
Oregon City, 1890’s
rwf
ah, just missed it.
l.e.
Dr. John McLoughlin just missed it by thirty years.
The first automobile in Portland was 1899, so for the first 10 years of 1900 there must have been quite a conglomeration of mixed traffic.
Charlott
Wonder what the house is on top of the hill. Certainly not the McLoughlin house if this is Oregon City. It appears to have sort of an "onion" dome on the left hand side….Any one know what that house was?
Arthur
It’s certainly an impressive house. My understanding is this is the era in which the neighborhood at the top of the hill became very desirable, which led to building the elevator so people could get from their fancy houses to town.
Ellen Dittebrandt
I think this is over the Hood River between button hill and downtown Hood River.
Ellen Dittebrandt
No I am wrong! it is Oregon City Bridge, I can see the Courthouse on the left.