Historic Hood River
Line Work
2-28-2018
Notes
This early Alva Day image shows electrical line work between Hood River and Stanley Rock (Koberg Beach). This river level road was usable at low water. The all-season route to Koberg wound up the hill behind China Gorge then started back down at the location of the parking lot for the Mark Hatfield park (west).
The railroad is perched at the top of bank. I-84 runs directly over this old road, though at the level of the railroad. This gives you some idea of how much fill was required for the interstate.
Melody Shellman
Elaine Woolston talked fondly of walking the river road into town with her mother. That was when her family lived at Koberg Beach. She said it was about 3 miles, which is an awful long walk for a 5-year-old!
Arthur
At least it wasn’t uphill both ways!
kmb
Dumb question: was this pre- or post-Bonneville dam? When you mention low water, would the high and low water variation be due to seasonal flows before the dam? What is the large tower seen in the distance in the middle of the photo?
Charlott
There is the electrical towel and then to its left is a very tall tree.
Arthur
kmb, I believe this is pre-dam when the mean level was lower, and variations were much greater. But it’s also possible this was right after the dam was built and they are restringing the lines to move them uphill.
LMH
kmb, In early January,1917 PP&L announced a $30,000 project to connect Oregon and Washington power generating facilities. The tower atop Stanley Rock carried nearly two miles of cable to make the connection. The project was completed in April, 1918.
If you want a slightly different prespective on water level you can view https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=494 which I think shows the completed line location. This photo also shows the tower on the Washington side of the river