Historic Hood River
Condit Penstock
Notes
It’s been a while since we talked about the 1913 Condit Dam project. In its day it was the biggest thing to happen in the area. Many Hood River men (like these) traveled to the work camp to help construct the project, and the power which it generated helped fuel the growth of Hood River. The twin turbines in the powerhouse generated 14.7 megawatts of electricity, which dwarfed the first Powerdale project. With this dam, the White River dam near the Dalles, and the 1923 Powerdale project this region had ample and reliable power, ending the era of the pioneering projects like Tucker Bridge and the first Powerdale. This new era would soon be ended by the construction of the Bonneville Dam (whose first powerhouse generated 40 times the power of this project), but that’s another story.
We see here the penstock flumes which carried water impounded by the dam to the lower powerhouse which contained those twin turbines. It’s hard to believe they could construct such enormous pipes out of local lumber, but we’ve even seen a picture of Ella May Davidson visiting the construction site.
Shortly after this project was complete construction began on another transformative project: the Columbia River Highway. We can only imagine what it was like to see projects like this which fundamentally transformed the region and its economy. The vast photographic record local photographers left us attests to their level of interest.
The dam was breached and pretty much all trace of it removed in 2011 to restore the fish habitat on the White Salmon River. Fortunately we still have photographs like this to help tell this story.
Tags: 1910s, Condit Dam, dam, electricity, Klickitat County, power plant, stereocard, White Salmon River
Pat A
I love project and work pictures.
Little pieces of the world around us, created by our father’s & mother’s.
A lot of hands on labor and shovel work here.
Sadly missing the work crew, I always enjoy seeing the faces.
The fashions and headwear help date photos like this.
Arlen L Sheldrake
questions…. category = Klickitat? White Salmon River?
Arthur Babitz
Not sure what the question is Arlen.. but I will add a White Salmon River tag. The penstock was on the Klickitat County side of the White Salmon River, so I think that Category is correct. Skamania County is on the west side of the river.
j nels
As recently as 20 years ago, when the kids came home with friends it was the norm to take guests down to the pipeline to walk down towards town. And water would be spewing out to grow blackberry bushes and such.
Arthur Babitz
Ah, I think I see the source of confusion. While this looks just like the Powerdale dam penstock flume on the Hood River, it is the Condit Dam penstock flume on the White Salmon River. It was built about 10 years earlier, and both dams are now gone, though some of the Powerdale penstock flume is still accessible as a hiking trail– though it no longer has the refreshing spray of water nels remembers!
Arlen L Sheldrake
thanks for the clarification Arthur.
kmb
I visited the now abandoned Condit power house a few years ago. When at the power house, I don’t remember seeing any indication of where the dam was. Never quite understood where the dam actually was or how they got the water from the dam down to the power house. Now I know. Thanks!