Historic Hood River
Windy
1-13-2012
Notes
This image from about 1915 shows that it’s long been difficult to wear a fashionable hat around here. I’ve seen Columbia River winds mentioned in pioneer diaries from the 1850s and newspaper accounts from the 1880s. Anyone recall if our famous winds were mentioned in diaries from Lewis and Clark expedition members?
Charlott
It is apparent that she was or did intend to do some reading somewhere on her adventure. Wonder what she has in the leather case, camera maybe or her "sippy cup." Her hat isn’t on her head, so assume she couldn’t keep it on. Look at those boots………Is that a "Big Foot" print on the sand to her right? That must be buildings of town in the upper left hand corner.
I don’t know about Lewis and Clark, but I would imagine they got buffeted by winds. Need to look at their account of when they camped at Crates Point there in The Dalles. They would have quite probably got into some heavy wind there and they were in that local fairly late in the year.
I take it there is no name of this gal?
Charlott
Now that I think about it, there are not big hills like that behind Hood River. Must be across the river? I don’t know.
Kelly
Looks like summer, west wind. Must be the Oregon side with afternoon sun.
Arthur
We need to do some careful research to identify the people in these Davidson negatives, but my best guess today is that this is Ella May Davidson, sister of Horatio Davidson of Davidson Fruit. She lived to 99 (1969) in Hood River, so maybe someone can confirm or refute the ID?
My guess for location was somewhere in the delta of the Hood River, looking to the southeast. Someone will have to go down there and see if the hills line up right.
l.e.
Is she on a boardwalk?
Perhaps she is walking out to the sternwheeler or ferry.
Early accounts sound like Hood River was worse than White Salmon for trying to dock boats when the river was low.
I would say a west wind sunny summer day looking southeast.
Do you think the Hood River is on the other side of the ridge of cottonwoods?
Ellen Dittebrandt
This is the Hood River side of the Columbia near where the Sternwheeler use to land I think Arthur is right about the boardwalk. She was probably going out to the boat.
Charlott
Could very well be May Davidson. I knew her an an elder woman as she was provided what you might call foster care in my grandfather’s home.
Charlott
The answer to the question about Lewis and Clark and the windy Columbia River Gorge is a definite yes.
From their journal on October 28, 1805 "a windy morning loaded our canoes and set out at 9 o"clock a..m Wind from west."
Apparently later in the day he wrote…." the wind rose and we were obliged to lie by about 1 mile below on the Lard Side."
Later: "rained all evening and blew hard from the West."
There are other references to the wind, but this gives a pretty good picture that they got battered by it.
steve
see a wooden swing or small structure in the back ground to her left near the trees- ?
could this be near ruthon pt- or just W and down river of the island- ?
steve
wooden swing or small building near the trees ?
Ruthton Pt or west of the Island –
B Copper
This is in fact Ella May Davidson
Mauro
I love her purse. never have seen them in my life. Well, because they are antique. But still, lovely purse
Arthur
Mauro– I think that is a camera case, but you may have just started a new fashion trenad!
nels
That looks like the old camera cases of that time