Historic Hood River
Hood River Bridge Construction, 1918
Notes
In 1918 Oregon’s new State Highway Department constructed this concrete arch bridge over the Hood River as part of the Columbia River Highway. A few facts about the bridge: at 420 feet it was the longest of eight arch bridges constructed for the highway. It was designed by Lewis J. Metzger, with C. E. Carter as the resident engineer. It was 23 feet wide, with a roadway of 19 feet wide. The original bridge had a series of lamp posts illuminating the roadway. A cantilevered sidewalk was added on the downstream side at a later date. It cost $49,801 to construct.
If you look carefully you can see the previous span, which washed out frequently.
The 1918 bridge was demolished in August 1982 and it was replaced by the concrete bridge we have today.
[Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Transportation]
Tags: 1910s, bridge, Columbia River Highway, construction, Hood River, Hood River Bridge
Charlott
The two story house way on the right of the photo is still there. If you go just a little to the right of the big tree on the far right of the photo and just a tad up the hill where what appears to be a shed it where the home of Max and Arline Moore was built. It is still there also.
That bridge was a nightmare as it had sharp turns at both ends.
l.e.
Well….dummy that I am when it comes to building….how were those arches formed?
Were they made in sections, raised and put into place or was the arch poured in place?
Norma
Charlotte, Did Max Moore have a daughter Barbara Moore Wygant (sp) who was a good high school friend of my mother? I know she lived in this area before moving out in the valley. Gail, her daughter, was a friend in high school. It was sad to see that Gail recently passed away.
Longshot
The concrete for the bridge would have been poured in place. You can see the boards that were used as the forms laying on the ground all around and the marks the form boards left on the of the concrete. Pieces like the balusters may have been either precast or cast in place.
Longshot
What does the billboard say?
Arthur
The billboard says "Gates Tires/ Cost Only 1/2 as Much"
AndyB
The abutments for that bridge are still visible on the east side of the river down below Windance.
Shame they tore that bridge down. Could have been a great pedestrian bridge.
Kenn
Abutments for that bridge and the original both remain on the east side.
charlott
Yes, Moore’s did have a daughter, Barbara Weygandt who moved to Pine Grove. One of her daughters was my best friend growing up. Max and Arline also had another daughter Florence Olmstead that lived right across street and up the road a couple of houses. Her husband was in Moore Electric with Max.
Margo
Aruther this sight is so wonderful. Knowing the history of your neighborhood and the people that lived there before you is precious and is information that should not be lost as neighborhoods change. Charlott just answered a question I had posted on the East 4th Street Photo. "Grandma Moore" mentioned previously was Florence Olmsteads mother and wife of my elderly neighbor Clarence Olmstead. Clarence and Florece lived in the house at 309 East Eugene. Clarence owned the Peach Orchard on what is now bluff drive. He had mentioned to me that he wanted to give the peach orchard land to a land trust. I really regret not helping him do that. The peach orchard was sold and flipped several times before it was developed into the PUD townhouses that are there today. They were amazing peaches…yum.
Margo
Hum…not really clear from my previous sentence, but Florence Olmstead was Clarence’ Olmsteads wife. Florence was part of the Moore Family that lived on several properties in East Eugene area. Thank you Charlott for the information about the Moore family.