Historic Hood River
Dee Mill
11-25-2019
Notes
Here’s a nice closeup of the Dee Mill. You can see some good detail of how they got logs from the mill pond up to the mill.
We learned last week that “Buzz” Willis passed on Veteran’s Day. Buzz (HRHS Class of 1959) was a frequent contributor to this site. He shared his wealth of knowledge on anything logging or Alaska related. You can learn more about how he gained that knowledge in this nice obituary. I’m sure he would have enjoyed this image.
You can see Buzz as a Hood River High School student in this image shared by his friend Bill Seaton.
Kenn
A bit of the covered bridge on the left?
LMH
Kenn, the view from the west reveals the railroad bridge over the dam. I can’t tell you how the structure attached to the bridge would be used. I thought for awhile it was used for dumping logs but I don’t think it would be strong enough stand up to the abuse very long.
Below are nice photographic views of the main lumber mill.
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=2271 – view from west, railroad bridge, logs pond, extended flume from dam.
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=849 – view from west, railroad bridge, logs pond, extended flume from dam.
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=772 – view from west, railroad bridge, logs pond, hotel in Dee.
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=771 – upstream from mill, log slip area on the west side, hotel in Dee.
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=1346 – view of log slip, most likely on west bank of river.
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=1108 – down stream from dam, looks like a fish ladder
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=2284 – upsteam from mill at log pond level, logs being dragged into mill – railroad bridge, outhouse, passenger railroad car.
historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=1347 – upsteam from mill at log pond level, logs being dragged into mill – railroad bridge, outhouse, passenger railroad car.
ArthurB
Yes, that structure hanging from the railroad bridge has me scratching my head too!
lee
I have a pic showing the railroad tracks going from the west side of the River into the Mill area it shows the hang down and its right over the Dam and I’m thinking it might have been used to stop the logs from pileing up at the Dam.
Stever
Here is a link to a bit about Sawmill Life in Dee- First read in Oregon Historical Quarterly – but found on the web. Linda Tamara – Railroads. Stumps, and Sawmills: Japanese Settlers of the Hood River Valley. https://books.google.com/books?id=BLH51A1p7qAC&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=linda+tamura+railroad+stumps+and+sawmills+Japanese+settlers+of+the+hood+river+valley&source=bl&ots=AiK6R3KVNR&sig=ACfU3U31X6pDSGMt7yn1vrAEiSuuZ_T4sA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvs663h5vmAhVxFzQIHXTYB_sQ6AEwAXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=linda%20tamura%20railroad%20stumps%20and%20sawmills%20Japanese%20settlers%20of%20the%20hood%20river%20valley&f=false
Stever
Hi again – It looks like the link was way way too long- Google Linda Tamura- Railroads Stumps and Sawmills. It a very pleasant read.
ArthurB
The link works fine, Steve– Thanks!