Historic Hood River
Eastside Grade
5-17-2021
Notes
Though this is a blurry image, there are a few clues this is a particularly early view of the eastside grade: 1) There are no utility poles, 2) there is no railing, 3) it predates the Button house. I wish I could see the railroad bridge a bit better, but it definitely is not the 1906 bridge which still stands. It could be the original 1882-83 bridge, or the “middle bridge” which replaced the original sometime circa 1890.
L.E.
I am on my iPhone, so not a good view like my desktop. I do see the two people sitting at the edge of the road taking in the view.
Any evidence of the "Blockhouse" which was supposedly featured a while back in an eastside photo?
kmb
This makes the early road up the east side look like nothing more than a goat path. Also, I am wondering if the east bank in the foreground the result of some slide? Or is that an illusion from the blurry photo?
ArthurB
I’m afraid this image will raise more questions than it answers. I think I might be seeing the blockhouse, but it’s not clear. When I zoom in I see fingerprints all over, but not much photographic detail.
nels
Can you imagine wheel breaking, downhill weight issues with your horses and braking, and on and on with dangers involved. I think previous HHR photos have mentioned people being killed along this road. Was there no better route down the hill?
L.E.
If Charlott was here she would tell about, I think it was her grandfather was killed when his team of horses spooked on that bridge and he went over the side.
Jeffrey W Bryant
Charlott’s grandfather was Perry Wells. Warren Wells, who was Perry’s uncle, died on 3 June 1911. So it was after the Mt. Hood Railroad was built.
—
The Sunday Oregonian, June 4, 1911
Fall Kills Orchardist
Warren Wells Thrown Over Bridge Railing
Pioneer Hood River Apple-Grower Knocked from Wagon While Driving Home With Family
Hood River, Or., June 3 – (Special) – Warren Wells, a prominent apple-grower, was instantly killed at 10 o’clock tonight by being thrown from his spring wagon over the rail of the bridge crossing Hood River at the east end of State Street.
Mr. Wells, accompanied by his wife, three daughters, Elsie, Hattie and Goldie, a neighbor, Mrs. J. Dover and daughter, Miss Dover, was leaving town for his home on the east side, when on the approach fo the bridge some part of the harness broke, allowing the wagon, drawn by horses briskly trotting, to run into the railing at the side of the bridge. Mr. Wells was thrown over the side of the bridge, falling 20 feet to the river bank. He struck on his head and sustained a broken neck.
Mrs. Wells and one daughter were thrown to the bridge and were unhurt. The other occupants of the rig saved themselves by jumping. Mr. Wells came here 20 years ago. He was 50 years old and besides his wife and daughters mentioned, he left a son, William, and daughter Jessie. Jerome Wells, of the East Side, and Charles Wells, of Edmonton, Alberta, are surviving brothers of the deceased.
The dead man had signed papers today selling a part of his ranch, but still retained 12 acres of valuable bearing orchard.
—-
The Hood River News, June 7, 1911
Well Known Citizen
Meets Horrible Death
–
While on Return Home saturday Evening from City,
warren Wells Is Victim of Runaway – Was
Thrown Over Rail of Bridge, Down on Rock Bank,
Striking on Head and Sustaining Broken Neck
–
The citizens of Hood River were shocked Saturday evening, when it was learned that Warren Wells had been killed in a runaway within the city limits.
Mr. Wells and family, who had spent Saturday afternoon in the city to do their shopping, accompanied by a neighbor, Mrs. Dover, and her daughter, Miss Dover, started home at about 10 o’clock, and when within about 100 feet of the west approach to the Hood River bridge the team began to run and soon became unmanageable. The wagon struck the railing on the south side of the bridge and threw Mr. Wells a distance of approximately 20 feet to the large boulders below. It appears that he struck a large rock and was instantly killed.
Mrs. Wells and children were thrown from the rig and alighting on the bridge were not seriously hurt.
It appears, from an examination of the rig, that the right hand bolt holding the tongue dropped out letting the tongue fall to the ground, and at the bridge the left side of the tongue was thrown off.
Mr. Wells has been a resident of Hood River valley for a number of years and was a very highly respected citizen. He was the owner of a fine orchard about 3 miles from the city on the east side of the river.
He leaves a wife, four daughters, and one son, besides a brother, Jerome, of Hood River, Charles, of Alberta, and a sister, Mrs. Thomas, of Alberta, Canada.
—
The Hood River Glacier, June 8, 1911
Warren Wells
Killed In Runaway
Warren Wells, a prominent apple-grower, was instantly killed at 10 o’clock tonight by being thrown from his spring wagon over the rail of the bridge crossing Hood River at the east end of State Street.
Mr. Wells, accompanied by his wife, three daughters, Elsie, Hattie and Goldie, a neighbor, Mrs. J. Dover and daughter, Miss Dover, was leaving town for his home on the east side, when on the approach to the bridge some part of the harness broke, allowing the wagon, drawn by horses briskly trotting, to run into the railing at the side of the bridge. Mr. Wells was thrown over the side of the bridge, falling 20 feet to the river bank. He struck on his head and sustained a broken neck.
Mrs. Wells and one daughter were thrown to the bridge and were unhurt. The other occupants of the rig saved themselves by jumping. Mr. Wells came here 20 years ago. He was 50 years old and besides his wife and daughters mentioned, he left a son, William, and daughter Jessie. Jerome Wells, of the East Side, and Charles Wells, of Edmonton, Alberta, are surviving brothers of the deceased.
After funeral services, conducted by Rev. J. H. Hargreaves, at the undertaking parlor of S. E. Bartmess at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, the body was interred at the Idlewilde cemetery. The Modern Woodmen of America conducted ritualistic services at the grave.
L.E.
Thanks Jeffrey.