Historic Hood River
Pillars of Hercules
3-6-2015
Notes
It’s nice to see a little color on this site occasionally. This postcard is probably from the 1920s. The railroad has been moved to the left of the pillars, and now I-84 runs through that idyllic meadow.
Kenn
This replaced original RR grade on the right, south, of the pillars is still visible from I-84.
Arlen Sheldrake
Once again we are reminded how much great history is captured by the seemingly lowly postcard….I applaud the efforts of organizations like the Webfooters Postcard Club for their collection/preservation efforts. Thanks Arthur.
L.E.
While I appreciate that freeways eliminated the slow, winding, two lane, never ending, car sickness trips to where ever…..I am recognizing more and more, the affect freeways had on the landscape and wildlife.
Deer and elk had a chance of crossing the railroad tracks to get from the hills to the river, but a freeway turned it into suicide.
Is there still a tree on that pillar?
ArthurB
I should have included the recent view: https://goo.gl/maps/xt26w
Arlen Sheldrake
I.E. may I second your motion?……we humans sure seem (maybe are is a better word) to be short sighted…..absolutely no thought given to animals during the freeway build other than to keep the damn things off the freeway.
my childhood memory of crown point is also barfing………Arlen
nels
An example of the tragedy of the wild life barrier caused by I-84 was the siting at dusk of a herd of elk trying to cross the freeway west of Multnomah Falls. They were breath takingly close to the traffic, looking for a way to cross. Will never forget that confrontation of history and imprinting vs. modern day need for speed. Does anyone know what happened to that herd?
Kenn
Just west of the pillars there is a airmail beacon generator shed. It is in a pasture next to the RR fence visible from .I-84. I assume it was moved in from elsewhere as it is not in close proximity to any of the one time beacon sites in the gorge.
Jerry Larsen
Check out the Youtube video of Donna the Deer Crossing Lady at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K3MoxlCaJ4. She has a solution(!)