Historic Hood River
Interstate Bridge
7-25-2014
Notes
This nice Reeves postcard shows the Interstate Bridge right after it opened in 1924. This was before the river level rose behind the Bonneville Dam. In little more than 10 years the bridge required major modifications including a lift span for river traffic.
Buzz
I am not an expert on Columbia River bridges. But I use the Astoria and Rainier bridges regularly. Neither have a toll. Despite being considerably wider, longer, and higher and I would guess considerably more expensive to build and maintain. The Astoria bridge was originally mocked as the "Bridge to Nowhere", but the tolls ended there a long time ago because it was paid for. I know us kids used to run the Hood River bridge without paying a few times, but that can’t be the reason it is still charging a toll. What is the story on why they still have a considerable toll on the Hood River bridge?
Arthur
I can fill in a little history. This bridge was built with private money in 1924, and later purchased by the Port of Hood River. Most other bridges are owned by a state department of transportation which assumes maintenance costs, but our bridge is maintained by the Port using toll revenues and whatever grant monies or public appropriations they can get. Under their charter and Oregon law they can also use toll revenues for other Port projects. Lat time I looked something between 1/2 and 2/3 of the toll revenue was for maintenance, the rest for other projects.
Kenn
I find it interesting how they re-routed the gas line when the lift was added, up one tower and down the other. It was painted "barber pole" at the time and possible still is.
Buzz
Thank you. Makes sense, so long as somebody responsible is keeping their eye on "other projects."
l.e.
Great photo!
Thanks.
They must have pondered what they were going to do about ice build up against the wooden frame work.
Kenn
The bridge was obviously opened before the false work was removed. During construction false work would have to be monitored for brush or ice buildup.
Arlen Sheldrake
and I believe that the HR port commissioners are elected positions versus appointed like the Port of Portland…..thus giving the locals a bit more say in how their port is operated.
longshot
Don’t think that is falsework, that is just the way the original ramps for the bride were built. Just how they did it at the time, wood would have been a cheap local resource while steel probably cost more at the rolling mill while needing to be shipped across country via an expensive rail system.
Anyone know what the original bridge decking was?
Kenn
Bridge piers in water were normally, if not always, concrete rather than steel or wood. Very early ones had concrete poured in steel pipes, an example remains at the site of the long gone middle bridge on the White Salmon River.
I assume the original decking was the same as I remember on Bridge of the Gods, rattling wood planks..
l.e.
Any idea what the steam or smoke might be from down river on the Oregon side?
Arthur
Yes, the port has 5 elected commissioners.
The steam seems to be coming from a barge right under the bridge. I suspect this was a picture during late construction and we’re seeing some steam powered construction equipment.
The card is postmarked January 1925, and the bridge was opened in summer 1924 so this was probably one of the first postcard images of the bridge.
longshot
One reason wood may have been used for the approaches is that the private owners were running out of money for expensive steel and concrete and just wanted to get the bridge open as early as possible. This would also explain why the one pier and one span is made of wood while the others are made of steel. The owners may also have heard by this point in time that the government is going to be paying to raise the bridge in a few years so they didn’t feel the need to build an expensive structure that was just going to be torn out.
museumbound
So nice to see your photos of the bridge over the years. In the past when the bridge was repainted, it was painted. Today the bridge can’t over spray in to the river, much hirer costs. I remember working for the Port of Hood River in the office in the late 60’s and seeing the toll receipts daily. Then I wondered how they would keep up with everything considering how many employees it took to staff the toll booth.
ellen
I am sure there making a killing on toll money.
Kimberlybh
Every time we drive over the bridge my grandma says to me, "How I wish the Japanese would have bombed this bridge during the war." I guess one of her uncles would see her family and before a complaint could be uttered would say, "I don’t want to hear about the bridge!" She can’t recall which uncle. I assume Warren Miller’s brothers or one of her father, Leck Miller’s brothers.
ellen
It appears that more cement pillars were added? Also the Oregon approach how much of the wooden decking is now on land this modern day? PS I swim under this bridge every week.
Charlott
Kimberlygh— are you related to Hattie (Wells) Miller???? My family?
Steve r
Regarding the name – " Hood River – White Salmon "
It’s neat to see it called in 1925 what it in fact is – an " interstate brige " – along with the correct naming- including " White Salmon " – Not just the words " Hood RIver Bridge " as today’s markings / signage on the S side of the Toll Booth reads incorrectly current day …..
I even think the green passes tickets you can buy present day till years end are correct stating the name- " Hood River – White Salmon Bridge " – seems odd does it not that the S side booth signage is incorrect ? Anyone know any of those Port folks ?
l.e.
There were stock holders in the bridge living here in Glenwood. I suppose they invested, in order to help build the bridge.
The history of the bridge says….
1949: The Oregon Legislature enacted a law permitting the acquisition or construction of interstate toll bridges by certain municipalities, including ports, which was upheld by the Oregon Supreme Court in June of 1950.
1950: The Port of Hood River acquired the Bridge under that act on December 12, 1950, at 12:00 noon, from the Oregon-Washington Bridge Company for the purchase price of $800,000. Each state, port, city and county were asked to purchase the bridge and maintain it; all declined but the Port of Hood River. The Port Commissioners were Les Sherwood, J.H. Travis, H.M. Saling, Ross Collie, and Luke Nichols.
Kathleen
I have 5 photo postcards of a Bridge which I believe is either Oregon or Washington, I can email pics if anyone would be able to help identify them
Captions read:
"Showing break in Bridge from the Kellogg Dock, Dec 19, 1917"
"Looking North from Kellogg Dock Dec 19, 1917"
" Looking East from Main span of Bridge Dec 30, 1917"
"East end of Main Bridge Jan 1, 1918"
"Bridge Flood Jan 23, 1919"
Carolyn McPherson
I remember my brothers talking about running the bridge in 1943. Do you have any idea how much the toll was back then?
Kathleen Lester
I’m interested in the names of the early private investors of The Hood River bridge. Is there somewhere to access this information?
ArthurB
I would check the online copies of the Hood River Glacier at Oregon Digital Newspaper Project. Leslie Butler got to drive the last spike, and I think he was the lead investor. I understand the local investors included most of the prominent orchardists in the area.
Jeffrey W Bryant
Interstate bridge planning was underway in 1923. For example, see:
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1923-04-12/ed-1/seq-1/
There may be a list of investors later in the year. There appears to have been quite a bit of interest by Portland businessmen.