Historic Hood River
Hood River Bridge
2-15-2019
Notes
Another fine Reeves postcard, this time of the Columbia River Highway bridge over the Hood River. This graceful bridge replaced the much earlier bridge which washed out with every major storm. It served the highway and the community for 60 years until it was replaced by the current bridge. It’s too bad it didn’t last another decade until the sensitivity to preserving elements of history and beauty had gained a little more favor. I suspect this bridge wasn’t salvageable, but the replacement could have been a little more attractive.
Kenn
Nice timing with still water for reflexion. The abutment for this and the previous bridge still exist on the east bank.
The steel Warren truss RR bridge is also a replacement, the original was a wood through truss.
spinsur
Lots of little details, a steamer against the east bank downstream of the railroad bridge; a group of folks on bridge; a group of cars on road to ferry landing. Railroad bridge over White Salmon.
I think the bridge would have been "salvageable" for pedestrians and biking from what I remember of discussions at the time. There was a small push at the time, but not enough. ODOT of course didn’t want the liability. IMHO, one of the greatest losses of our area in our generation.
Kyle
I would LOVE to have that to bike over. Gorgeous bridge.
L.E.
Beautiful photo.
Looks like the cottonwood trees are flooded, so, I am guessing spring time high water.
L.E.
Across the river it looks like a rock slide which slid out into the river and the highway goes up and over the slide.
Was it a natural slide or a manmade slide?
Arthur
If you look closely you can see a steamer north of the RR bridge. You can also see the ferry terminal south of the RR bridge on the east bank.