Historic Hood River
Primitive Log Cabin
7-22-2021
Notes
I wish we knew where Ella May Davidson ran into this decaying cabin, but I haven’t been able to figure this one out. We have the original sleeves from these negatives as well as an index prepared by Ella May herself, but unfortunately the organization was long ago scrambled. I don’t see any notes which match this image. The forest certainly looks like this area, and most of her images are local. The construction was primitive, but I am sure it provided welcome shelter to its inhabitants. This image was probably captured in the 1910s.
JKG
Imagine moving those giant logs into place manually! The forest floor in the foreground sure looks silty like it's near a body of water…
L.E.
Good grief, those logs are huge! How did they get them up that high?
The terrain is intriguing. Any idea what the viny bush is, in front?
L.E.
I also thought, near a body of water…..like the Columbia River. The building doesn't look ancient, and in 1910, it probably wasn't, so what caused the roof to cave in? Heavy snow?
Basaltgrouse
To me it looks more like it was unfinished than decaying. The logs still have the bark on them mostly intact and it does not appear to have the remains of all of the roof structure there. If it collapsed, there would be more timbers inside and the logs would likely show more decay and missing bark areas.
kmb
I like the unfinished theory. From what we can see in this picture, it just doesn't look like the roof was ever complete. My wild guess: this was the original change house at Lost Lake (just kidding…).
Alan Winston
Square-sawn log ends, square-sawn window/door opening. That doesn't strike me as “primitive.”
Barbara Parsons
Maybe the plant isv a rosebush planted to give a touch of home.