Historic Hood River
Koberg Beach, 1938
7-6-2012
Notes
The completion of the Bonneville Dam in 1937 caused a significant rise in the typical water level at Hood River. The interstate bridge had to be raised, and as we see here Koberg Beach was changed significantly. Both this view and yesterday’s view were from summertime when river flows tend to slack off, but we see that even these late July waters were lapping at the edge of the dance pavilion and a few of the cottonwoods on the beachfront.
s
We lost more from those dams than we’ve gained.
Arlen Sheldrake
I have some vague memories of walking through the sand filled levels and well remember my Fathers tales of the prohibition parties. At the time many wondered who in the world would use all that Bonneville Dam electricity….
Just one treasure after another Arthur, thanks as I enjoy your postings during a trip to the big island……Arlen
Charlott
Occasionally when I am headed home from The Dalles I still have to stop and take a stroll down Memory Lane at Koberg’s, just like my side trips to Celilo Falls where I sit on a rock and listen to the roar of the water, feel the spray from the churning cascades, the smell of fish and more fish and oh what I see in my memories of the days I spent there as a child. Yes, sadly the dams took so much of our old time history away.
l.e.
Any idea who constructed the pavilion?
And did it contain more than a dance floor?
Yes, dams changed a lot. But I look at the freeway and railroad tracks in front of HR and on the Button hill, and I think of how much they changed the landscape.
Charlott
It is my understanding that they had some sort of concession stand in there. Above the first two floors (where you see the openings) was like a patio area where they had tables and it seems I have seen a photo with umbrellas up there, probably over tables. so you could sit out there and watch the activities on the beach and in the water.
sally hardenbrook
my mother was a waitress at the pavillion .mom said it was the best dance place in town.the morey goff band played every weekend i remember standing in the archway looking out at the river and the bottom floor was full of sand.then it was gone. but never forgotton.