Historic Hood River
“Heavy Cloak of Ice”
12-20-2024
Notes
Arline Winchell Moore’s album includes this view of the old Powerdale power station under heavy winter ice. Her caption, “Surge standpipe carries a heavy cloak of ice. Old Powerdale plant visible beyond the surge pipe. 1915-16 winter.”
This is the end of the Penstock flume which carried water from the dam to the turbine enclosed in that building. The surge pipe which Arline Moore mentions dampens surges which result from rapid changes in load, similar to the water hammer arrestor you have in your home. Without it the wooden pipes could easily rupture when the turbine changes speed quickly.
L. E.
Thank you for the mechanical explanation and link.
Arthur Babitz
I’ve just solved a 12 year old mystery. Check out this post: https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org/third-and-oak/