Historic Hood River
Lyle Rowena Ferry
4-19-2021
Notes
This undated Alva Day image shows where the spur to the Lyle Rowena Ferry departs the Columbia River Highway. You can trace the highway all the way up to the majestic Rowena Crest.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
L.E.
I wonder how large the Rowena ferry dock was and how close it was to the train station.
When the railroad from Goldendale down to Lyle was completed, there was not a north bank railroad so wheat, wool, sheep, still had to be ferried across the river, then loaded onto the train.
Charlott
Very early on, there was a ferry that went across there. Yes, it was used for people to travel back and forth. However, it’s great claim to fame was movement of sheep back and forth across the Columbia. Sheep ranching was very much in play up around the Klickitat and off towards Goldendale. Prior to the railroad being put in on the Washington side of the river, the sheep for market had to be ferried across the river to the railroad on the Oregon side. This was true at Lyle and the same was true at Columbus, which is now Maryhill. I don’t know, but I would think that there had to have been provisions in play to load and unload in the Rowena area.
nels
Thinking of all those sheep roaming all over the Goldendale/Klickitat area, are
sheep immune to all those rattlesnakes up there, or are they somehow more
careful than humans when in that environment?
Kenn
My first ferry ride, stayed at the still existing hotel in Lyle.