Historic Hood River
Mud
11-5-2019
Notes
This mud flow was right above the flume that fed the Powerdale power plant. With a dry fall we shouldn’t have to worry about events like this for a while.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Charlott
There was a much bigger slide than this, that took out most of highway 35. I can't tell you exactly what year it was………..I am only guessing in the early 1970's. We did not live here in Hood River at the time, but were visiting the family for the Christmas holidays. My husband went into town to play cards with friends. Road was fine when he went and he came home about 11 p., m. Road was fine, but by next morning the entire thing had gone down. He was probably one of the last to come up through there, as nightime traffic wasn't like it is today.
Norma
I remember my parents sending me a picture of it as their house looked directly across the river at that area.
nels
Charott, I think your husband was a very lucky man, or at least his timing was right, A little later and it might have been a different story.
But is this the same event?
Kyle
Photo looks older than the 1970s, to me. Unless Arthur cropped it, it isn't the width/height ratio of 35mm film (it's too wide a rectangle), which is just about all anyone would've used in the 70s. And color film would've been by far more common then, too.
ArthurB
This is an Alva Day photo, so the date is between 1917 and 1955. For the record I do usually crop the images. The 930 pixel wide format of this page is very limiting, so I make sure not to “waste” any of the width. We archive undoctored scans at the museum, but I take some liberties with this site so you have a better chance of seeing what I think are the critical elements of the image. Some day I'll update the site and be able to post bigger images.
Charlott
This slide I am referring to is further up 35, probably a mile or mile and a half from the location of this slide. As I stated the one I am talking about was probably in the very early 1970's.
ArthurB
Yes, I think slides like this are a relatively common occurrence. Charlott, do you recall any landmarks for where the slide covered Highway 35? I'd like to see what signs are left 40-50 years later.
cg
There was a serious flood at Christmas time in 1964. My parents from Hood River were visiting us in Minneapolis and I remember their letters after they returned describing some of the damage that had been done.
Charlott
The slide I recall didn't cover the highway, it took a portion of the highway out completely. Next time I go to town I shall look for something so I can tell you exactly where it was located….
Charlott
I made a point to locate where this slide occurred. It was located just south of the great big turn out on 35. You can't see it now, because of the growth of trees and vegetation.