Historic Hood River
Field Trip
8-28-2025
Notes
This is a 1913 or 1914 field trip to check on progress of Columbia River Highway construction in Multnomah County. The rightmost person is Simon Benson, who besides driving forward this project left his name on Portland’s Benson Hotel, Benson Bubblers, and Benson log rafts. He also built the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River. From right to left, we have names of nine of the first ten men (spelling unclear): Simon Benson, ? , Judge Lavana, Amos Benson, Judge Cleeton, Judge Gauteuber, Judge Momon, Judge Davis, J. B. Coffey, and John Yeon. We can verify T. J. Cleeton was a Multnomah County Judge (Commissioner) at that time, but none of the other Judges show up in this historic list.
Category: default
Tags: 1910s, Benson, Coffey, Columbia River Highway, construction, Multnomah County, road construction, Yeon
Tags: 1910s, Benson, Coffey, Columbia River Highway, construction, Multnomah County, road construction, Yeon
Thorn
What an awesome image. Don’t forget Benson High School–he was quite the philanthropist. Whenever I see photos of an older Simon Benson, he always reminds me of actor Ed Harris. And, surprisingly tall despite half standing in the ditch, I’ll now imagine John B. Yeon–not to be confused with his notable son, John Yeon–with long lanky stature.
And, I can’t be positive, but after ten years as tour guide and 1000+ waterfall tours, my gut tells me this photo is located just east of Multnomah Falls, facing west, methinks right here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rUoeY8GEj7rnK3TF9
Kyle
That guess –looks– right, Thorn. Great match for the slope, etc.
Roger Sheldrake
It never ceases to amaze me where the links of any days post leads a person to explore!!
Jeffrey Bryant
I believe that Simon Benson also bought and donated the land for Multnomah Falls.
L. E.
Sure are a lot of judges. I looked up J. B. Coffey, because there was an early pioneer by that name where I grew up but John Bartholomew was born in Salem in 1867. He became quite involved in the Oregon legislature.
He was involved in railways and transportation. Probably why he is in the photo.
I had to chuckle at all the organizations he belonged to.
“…..being a past exalted ruler of the Elks. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Moose, the Woodmen of the World and of the Auld Lang Syne society….”
kmb
Maybe I am directionally challenged, but when you say “the rightmost person” is Simon Benson, you mean on the right side as they were standing, but this is the far left in the photo.
Arthur Babitz
No, kmb, in this case the notes indicate the names start at the right side of the photographic print. I have verified this by matching the face of the man on the far right with known images of Simon Benson.