Historic Hood River
Cloud Cap Construction Camp
Notes
In 1950 the Hood River Historical Society published a series of postcard reproductions showing some important events in Hood River history. This image of the construction camp at Cloud Cap is one of only two images I have seen showing the construction of the inn (the other one is here).
Number Nineteen-Cloud Cap Camp 1888.
Historical postcard published by the Hood River Historical Society, 1950-1951.
This is the first in the Mt. Hood series. It is the construction camp at the site of the first camp for tourists on Mt. Hood which was incorporated in 1883 by Henry Coe, James Stranahan and David R. Cooper. It is located on Tillie Jane Creek south and below the present Cloud Cap Inn. There was a fine spring above this camp, and when Coe, Stranahan and Cooper sold their rights to Ladd and Wood the summer of 1888, the toll road had to be surveyed. A whole book could be written about the work done that fall, for conquering a mountain was a great thing. The Ladd and Wood Company let the contract to a famous chalet man, Mr. Widden, who had built inns in the Alps.
This camp was operated by Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Adams. Lew Tomlinson helped them. He was a homesteader at Mt. Hood. Mrs. Adams was a famous horseman. They were the first host and hostess at Cloud Cap.
The water piped from this spring that fall so the masons could have it for construction. As I visited the site in 1951 and photographed it, I could not find a sunlit space, for the trees have all grown up. This picture was taken after the snow as one may see, but that winter was almost devoid of snow. The construction began again in March. The inn was opened August 6th that summer, so they must have had a big crew working.
“Mr. Widden” was actually William Whidden of the Portland firm Whidden and Lewis. If you recognize that name, it might be from the enigmatic “Shushula” built for Dr. T. L. Eliot in 1891. They also designed the First National Bank Building which still stands on Oak Street.
L.E.
Is the writer saying the winter of 1888 was devoid of snow?
Arthur Babitz
That’s how I read it, LE. I haven’t checked any other sources.
Tom Kloster
I’m on a road trip right now and unable to check Jack Grauer’s book, but his version does not include the construction note, and simply lists this as “Cooper’s Tent Camp”. Jack used many images from personal family albums, and this has been wondering if his image was not only a different one – but perhaps the original from a Cooper descendant?