Historic Hood River
Bowman Springs
7-11-2016
Notes
It’s a little hard to read this image because of the lighting, but the subject is interesting. It is titled “Bowman Springs” and was taken on a September 1930 hunting trip. It looks like a series of hollowed out logs are channeling water from the spring. I’ve seen similar setups at hot springs before. Is anyone familiar with Bowman Springs? My guess based on other photos from the trip is eastern Oregon or Washington.
Charlott
Bowman Springs is over southwest of Meacham and area settled by Oliver Boman.
L.E.
I bet there will be some readers here who know exactly where this might be, since it is probably in the John Day area.
Looks like the Alva Day family and maybe even Io is packing a gun. Is the silver stuff we see, a reflection of water in the flume?
This link has nothing to do with the photo. I was looking for a connection with Io’s father William Stewart and Bowman Springs. I came across this link and it is such interesting reading. It is quite a recollection of the early struggles of a pioneer family.
http://www.oregonpioneers.com/bios/JohnStewart_1853.pdf
Kenn
The spring is two and one half miles SW of Kamela OR, the summit of the Blue Mtns for the UP RR, also south of Meacham on I-84. Acme mapper 2.1 and to topo.shows it and many other springs close by, wonder why this one is worth the 175 mile trip..
Arthur
Are these hot springs, or just regular old springs?
L.E.
Because Alva Day’s photos show that he spent time deer hunting in the John Day country, I was thinking of Bowman Creek on the North Fork.
There is big timber in that area, but the timber in this photo might be more in tune with the Bowman Springs that Charlott and Kenn refer to.