Historic Hood River
At the Locks
11-14-2019
Notes
This is a little far afield for our local photoblog, but I thought you would like seeing all the commerce working its way through the locks to avoid the rocks at Willamette Falls. Nowadays it’s a little more quiet at this spot. A friend of mine described arriving here in his canoe and waiting for the locks to operate for just his single tiny craft.
Category: default
Tags: canal, Gifford, locks, Oregon City, photogravure, steamer, steamship, sternwheeler, Willamette Falls
Tags: canal, Gifford, locks, Oregon City, photogravure, steamer, steamship, sternwheeler, Willamette Falls
kalley
I grew up in West Linn and recognized where this image was from even before I could even read the words! Willamette Falls is such a part of my childhood. It’s an amazing falls. I glad to see that the paper mill on the West Linn side is up and running again and that the on the Oregon City side there are plans for a park.
Arlen L Sheldrake
great picture…lots of history. Kalley, the paper mill you noted will be producing paper from a straw product from Eastern Washington….a new process,,,,,highly touted in Eastern WA to replace field burning.
wish I had been at the locks to see the Spruce Goose come through……is it again operating?
Kevin
Here’s more info on visiting the locks and the museum: https://www.oregon.com/attractions/willamette-falls
DAVID EVANS
Hi Arthur, thanks for getting back to me after Maureen CC’d you.
I found this site while I was exploring the Gorge.
I’ve stayed at Columbia Hills State Park on my way south from upriver of Wenatchee. many times..
I think I’ve spent many hours enjoying the photos and the comments from all your friends here…Very enjoyable for sure!
Thanks again, to all of you,
David
Kenn
The locks are still closed but there are plans to reopen them.. Across the river is the Museum of the Oregon Territory where I have spent two decades volunteering. The 1873 locks and Pioneer courthouse in Portland are stone from the Baker Cabin site at Carver, another of my long time volunteer projects.
Kenn
This 1873 locks has five chambers or lifts where a modern dam would have one, not a quick passage.
Kenn
These barges are being loaded in the upper chamber at the West Linn mill. The boats will take them down river to Portland where the paper is loaded onto deep draft ships.
Please forgive so many comments but many memories here.
ArthurB
There’s no comment limit, Kenn! Keep the memories coming. That’s the reason this website exists.
nails
Kenn, can you expand on the Baker Cabin site at Carver and the rocks. A quarry? Still working? Directions? Thanks.
Kenn
Baker built the existing log cabin in 1856. The large cavity behind it was his rock quarry from which the large rocks were somehow floated down the Clackamas river to Portland (formerly Stumptown) and Oregon City, the oldest seat of US govt west of the Rockies and the destination for most Oregon Trail travelers. We have the original SF plat map on display which was brought by boat to be registered here. The existing cabin and the now unused quarry are across the river from Carver Oregon.
L.E.
Gosh Kenn, don’t apologize for comments. That what is so great about this site. You can continually add information and memories.
I have never heard of the Baker Cabin Site.