Historic Hood River
Ranch Life
10-28-2020
Notes
It appears Alva Day was visiting ranches east of here trying to sell them electric power and electric appliances. Looks like these folks are already signed up. Can anyone place this valley? A cluster of residences, outhouses, pump house and water tower– I suspect electricity changed life on this ranch in a major way.
Wendell
Have we not seen a photo of this area from another angle? Seems we have.
This no doubt is a small village, as there are a number of houses showing. I think that might be the Columbia River off up in the left corner, weaving around through the hills. Are we in Washington or Oregon. If it is not the Columbia it is a very large field.
JKG
It could be near Tygh Valley: we know that Alva took quite a few pictures of the White River power plant which is near here, so it's not a stretch to think he took additional photos of the area. The contrast between the hills on the right (rolling, bare) to the plateau on the left (note the rock band and light vegetation) are very distinct and are similar to the terrain of this area.
L.E.
This will be interesting to see if the location is solved. I thought those were fields in the distance but Wendell brings up a good point. Is it the Columbia River?
Is that Alva Day's vehicle in the roadway?
JEC
Just a wild guess, but the “lay of the land” in the picture made me wonder if this might be the Woelpern ranch; west of Arlington, they have their own exit (#131) from I-84.
L.E.
I also was thinking Arlington/Roosevelt area. I have been looking for some old photos, but no success yet.
kmb
When I first saw this picture, the landscape reminded me of the area off Hwy 216 (Sherars Bridge Hwy), between the Deschutes Canyon over to US 97. Toured this area late last summer but can't remember the exact location this photo reminds me of.