Historic Hood River
Detective Work
Notes
Sorry to make you scroll so far! Occasionally people send me images to identify. The gentleman who sent this one bought it as part of a set of glass plate negatives from someone on the east coast, but he suspected it had something to do with our area so he sent it to me.
Step 1– I was pretty sure that was Mt. Hood, but the negative was flipped and it required some enhancing to be sure. Yes, it matches this view quite well, though with a different focal length lens. This is Mt. Hood at Hood River.
Step 2– enhance the detail to bring out the lumber mill at the base of the Hood River. It matches this view reasonably well, though it only shows the west half of the building. This is probably an earlier view, before they added on the eastern section. Since this mill only operated from about 1900 to 1906 at that location, this dates the image to that period, and probably closer to 1900 than 1906.
Not bad for a random glass negative!
I’ll be talking about the confluence of the Hood River and the Columbia as part of tonight’s Sense of Place lecture. I’ll be joined by Lorri Epstein and Carina Miller. We’ll each provide a different perspective on the spot now known today as “Nichols Basin.” You can get full details and order tickets here.
Dale Nicol
Arthur, nice detective work!
Charlott
I agree with you. Think it is in the area of where the Hood River enters the Columbia. Do we know of any mill that was right in that area. Seems I have seen some sort of a photo from the Washington side that shows that mill. Maybe I am dreaming, but that is absolutely Mt. Hood in the back ground. There is NO other.
OrMtnMaid
The following is one link to an older photo, https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=1729
I know there is another of a person moving some cows across the river with this same view, but can’t seem to locate it at the moment.
OrMtnMaid
Found it…..
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=1325
Kyle
Long lens, and a low perspective. Must’ve been taken on the beach, it’s right above the waves.
Arthur
Kyle, several of the images appear to be taken from a steamer. I suspect the photographer was traveling the river on a steamer photographing the site.
Kenn
Arthur continues to amaze me ~
L.E.
Good detective work by everyone….The gentleman who bought the glass plates on the east coast, Arthur and OrMtnMaid for finding a comparable photo.
According to the smokestack, there is a slight east wind blowing. Also looks like some men working on the logs to the left.