Historic Hood River
High Water at Cascade Locks
12-11-2013
Notes
This is identified as Cascade Locks, and the mountains in the background seem to confirm. It probably was taken during the 1894 flood which saw record levels on the Columbia.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Charlott
I would agree that it is probably 1894, when the river went on the rampage. Completely wiped the little town of Grant off the map forever. Came way up into The Dalles. All types of things floated down the river, chicken houses with chickens on the roof, a distillery, just to name a couple. Salvage was wonderful for those who had the means to go out in the river and round things up.
l.e.
I have read, that Edward Crate, whom Crates Point in The Dalles is named for, told people how high the river was on his first trip to The Dalles area as a young man. No one believed him.
During the 1894 flood, residents realized Ed Crate had told the truth.
I wonder how long into the summer, the flood lasted.
l.e.
On the Washington side, the town of Cascades was wiped out in the 1894 flood.
http://www.columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/flood_of_1894.html
l.e.
My husband’s grandmother, who was raised on Government Island near what is now the PDX airport, said an entire farm on the southeast side of the Island was washed away in the flood.
Someday I need to find an old map of the Island and see if the shape has changed.
Ralph
From this point of view, where would the Bridge of the Gods be located?
l.e.
The Locks were completed in 1896. I never thought about it, but this flood would have gone through that work area. There must be some written reports about what the flood did to the project.
If you click on "Tags" you can see some previous photos of the project.
Longshot
The house on the right seems to be missing all of its windows while the one to the right is missing its lower sashes. Wonder if they were removed by the owners as the water came up or did the river remove them?
L.E.
From the June 15 1894 Oregonian Page 8:
"…A few miles above Rooster Rock, a mass of broken timbers and iron is pointed out as a portion of the bulkhead from the Cascade Locks….."