Historic Hood River
“Old Pipeline above Powerdale”
11-16-2023
Notes
In addition to some 2500 Alva Day negatives, we have a couple of hundred prints with typed or handwritten captions by Alva Day himself. This is one of the rare prints whose negative isn’t in our collection.
The handwritten caption describes this as “Old pipe line above Powerdale.” I’m at a loss to explain exactly where this was. There is a vertical section of pipe which I am guessing had something to do with responding to fluctuations in water flow, which I would expect at the lower end of the project, but I can’t figure out how this location relates to the lower end of the project with its powerhouse. Any ideas?
Here’s a good view of lower Powerdale site for reference.
Category: Downtown Hood River
Tags: Alva Day, electricity, flume, hydroelectric, penstock flume, pipe, pipeline, Powerdale
Tags: Alva Day, electricity, flume, hydroelectric, penstock flume, pipe, pipeline, Powerdale
Dale Nicol
Could this have existed prior to erecting the tower/tank next to the power generating station?
M.A.
Upper Power Dam
Dede Garcia
I’m not exactly sure of the location but I do know that Irene Fewell Samuel grew up in a house down along the river above lower Powerdale. Her father, Mr Fewell, was the manager I believe of the power station and lived nearby just a little up river. Irene was able to walk along the railroad tracks into town to go to school., She married Jake Samuel in the early 1920s and was married at the house along the river. Jake worked at the power station as well. They lived on Montello.
DAVID
Nice yard sprinkler system.
Chase DeBoard
It’s tough to see in the picture,
but I’m 100% sure the 1905 Powerdale plant is at the end of the vertical pipe.
It was the “surge pipe” for the 1905 pipeline Powerdale pipeline.
You can just barely see the generator building profile and it’s little extra building roof vent thing on top.
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org/surge-tower/
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org/heavy-cloak-of-ice/
I’m pretty sure 1905 Powerdale was pretty much at MP 1.0 of the railroad.
The railroad has to be just barely outta the picture to the left.
I see hillsides to rear and side, there’s no where else this could be while comparing this vantage point to this picture
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org/aqueduct/
The labeled “aqueduct” picture shows the 1905 pipeline just after the pipeline goes under the railroad near “Johnson’s Cut” heading north towards 1905 Powerdale.
I’m familiar with that short but steep grade on the left at MP 1.25ish, Because that’s where you wanna pedal in the railbikes and get some speed.
Side note, Originally as planned that really tight corner was “Johnson’s Tunnel” & as work progressed it was decided early it’s gonna be easier to name it “Johnson’s Cut” and not build a tunnel.
Arthur Babitz
Thanks for the great info Chase. And thanks for the story of how the tunnel disappeared from the MHRR. We discussed that in this post: https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org/mystery-solved-mostly/