Historic Hood River
Cascade Locks Store
6-28-2012
Notes
I wish we had a date for this view of Cascade Locks, but all we know is that the man leaning against the middle post on the rightmost building is J.E. Binns. I have a strong suspicion this is a Carleton Watkins print, as it is the identical size and mount as this know Watkins print.
Charlott
I wonder if this is the entire population of Cascade Locks in the photo?
Something I have always wondered about and since we have such a clear picture of two I shall ask and see if anyone gives a reason that makes sense. Why the false fronts of buildings of that era?
If one were to go to C.L. and line themselves up with the hills behind it would be somewhat easy to find the location of these buildings.
Charlott
Binns was John E. Binns the man that Binns Hill area in Oak Grove is named for. His wife’s name was Cora.
spinsur
here’s a few reasons for false fronts: http://www.ehow.com/info_8567692_reason-false-front-buildings.html
l.e.
Looks like the 1880’s.
Is that a church in the background?
In between the two stores it looks like a hand plow and a deck to hew beams.
I wonder if this pre-dates the railroad.
Rawhyde
The conifer trees don’t seem very big. Are they all second growth?
Connie
Rustic and primitive to be sure. I would love to see inside that little store which provided such an important service in this remote area.
l.e.
In a list of "United States Civil Service Commission Officers and Employès in the civil, military and naval services on the first of July 1883" John E Binns is listed under Steam Engineers at Cascade Locks, Oreg.
Lesa
This certainly looks like a Carleton Watkins photo. He and William Henry Lentz, a photographer that worked for him. Made more than one trip to the area, making photo’s and stereo views. William Henry Lentz’s father, Lewis, was a sea captain. His ship, the barque Oriole, wrecked on the Columbia Bar in 1853. It was carrying the supplies for the light house at Cape Disappointment, and three other lighthouses for the California Coast. Captain Lewis Lentz and all hands survived the wreck, being saved by Captain Flavel of Astoria. The barque was considered, at the time, a complete loss, until some months later, half of it came ashore near Tillamook, where it was salvaged by the Tillamook Indians, and sold to the Pioneers at Tillamook, who took the salvage and used it to build the Morning Star, in which they shipped their cheese to Astoria and Portland. William H. Lentz, eventually gave up photography, moved to Hawaii and assisted in building Volcano House, a hotel on the edge of Kileaua Volcano. He managed it for many years. This building can still be seen today. It has been moved from its original location, and now houses a very nice art gallery in Volcano National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
l.e.
Cascade Locks was previously called Whiskey Flats.