Historic Hood River
Bailey Gatzert at the Locks
9-22-2023
Notes
It’s been a while since we visited the era of riverboat travel. This is a fine image of the sternwheeler Bailey Gatzert in the lock at Cascade Locks August 8, 1912. The detail always make these images: all the people dressed in their finery, the water roiling as the lock fills, the automobile you can just make out on the lower bow deck. Check out the antlers on the front of the pilot house. I wonder if that was considered good luck, or just someone’s sense of humor?
I highly recommend you listen to the Bailey Gatzert March while looking at this image. It was performed by a the Gorge Winds Concert Band in 2012. They include some nice historical details, like the story about the ship being called the “Daily Bastard”.
Arlen L Sheldrake
While I won’t be dressed in my “finery” (not sure if I have anything that qualifies), wife and I will be transiting the Bonneville locks sometime October 11th on the American Jazz on our way to HR. I hope sometime in the future Cascade Locks becomes a port for American Cruise Lines.
L.E.
The man whom the boat is named for
https://www.historylink.org/File/86