Historic Hood River
Hood River and White Salmon Aerial Composite, 1930s
Notes
We have another “Map Monday” thanks to the Hood River County Surveyor. And because it’s so much fun, here’s a higher resolution comparison between this image and July 2010 (Google satellite imagery). You’ll need a window at least 1600 pixels wide to enjoy the comparison link.
A box labeled “1930 Gorge Pics” contained 12 aerial images which I’ve assembled into a very large composite image. This detail includes parts of four frames covering the Hood River/ White Salmon/ Bingen area, from Koberg Beach (R) to the Wells Island (L). The river level was an extremely low, pre-dam level. The images were taken in winter, as there are ice floes in the river and snow in the fields. They seem to be from a relatively high elevation, so they are most certainly no earlier than 1930. I suspect this aerial survey was conducted as part of the planning process for the dam, sometime between 1933 and 1937. In fact, it could have been related to the preparation of these detailed maps.
A few technical comments on the comparison window. The 1930’s composite has some distortions since the individual frames were taken at a much lower altitude than the 2010 view. Depending on where you look, you may see features which line up perfectly or features which are off a bit. I didn’t make the effort to correct the 1930’s images for lens effects or aircraft altitude (parallax). Still, the results are pretty good for most of the range. The railroads provide a good reference as one of the few things that hasn’t changed much in the past 80 years. Some other good alignment points: the east side loops on the Columbia River Highway, the island inside the Hook, and the Full Sail Building.
Tags: 1930s, bridge, Columbia River, Hood River, map, Map Monday, White Salmon
Jim V
Wow, the comparison page is very cool! Nicely done Arthur.
Rawhyde
This picture makes me wonder why they placed the bridge as they did, and not upriver in a significantly narrower section like Coburg Beach…
l.e.
Oh what fun!
Thanks Arthur and HR County Surveyor.
Rawhyde….it would be interesting to know the reasons for placing the bridge where they did, but I wonder if one reason is land ownership. Remember, they built Dock Grade which comes down to the present bridge site on the north shore because Mr Suksdorf wouldn’t allow passage through his land coming down through Bingen.
I’m surprised we can’t see the grade going up to Pucker Huddle. But, I think you can see the road going up the west side of the WS River and crossing the upper bridge.
The Hood River really had a delta didn’t it? And a stream entering from the west.
Buzz
Rawhyde, I remember Arthur telling me once that they didn’t build the bridge up by Koberg’s because when the bridge was built the road went up the loops and wasn’t down by the river.
AndyB
I cant believe how rocky the river is! It must have been extremely low water.
You could have walked to Wells Island.
I am curious what the long channel is to the right of the bridge on the HR side. Looks like i was dredged out of the sand.
l.e.
The old highway bridge across Hood River is at much more of an angle than today’s bridge.
I think.
spinsur
It was l.e., cheapest cost is generally shortest distance, which is perpendicular to topography being crossed. It wasn’t until the advent of larger, and faster vehicles that more thought was given to the drivability of the road.
Thanks so much for getting these photos out Arthur. And the "slider" view is great!
Jeffrey Bryant
In looking through the Hood River Glacier I’ve seen mention of water being piped into Hood River from springs. For example the following:
The Hood River Glacier, August 18, 1904, page 7
Dr. and Mrs. W. L. Adams left Tuesday afternoon for Portland, where it is understood the doctor has gone to secure learned counsel for the purpose of beginning suit against the Hood River Water Co., who have recently appropriated the remaining water in the Coe springs.
This appears to indicate that the springs disappear because they are piped into town.
Jeffrey Bryant
Here is a link to another article about water from the springs in Hood River.
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1904-08-25/ed-1/seq-5/