Historic Hood River
Rural Electrification
5-30-2023
Notes
I’m always impressed that Alva Day’s Pacific Power line crews managed to bring electricity to most corners of our valley with the primitive equipment at their disposal. I’m not sure where this was, but there is a railroad crossing just ahead. This looks like it was in the mid 1920s, after Pacific Power traded their trusty Model Ts for Chevy or Dodge trucks.
Dale Nicol
Arthur, the mid-20’s is spot on as Ford offered the TT truck and regular Model-T with a steel pickup bed in 1925.
nels
Where was the power company’s yard for storing their supplies?
These poles appear to not be treated which would cause replacing
poles more often. And did they have mechanized augers to dig holes?
for the poles?
Maybe someone can make a guess at the weight of those 3 poles that
that little car/truck has to pull up that grade.
Pat A
About a thousand pounds each, diameter and density makes it a real guessing game. 25′ long??
Im hoping thy didn’t just offload he other 3 laying on the left? 6 poles wold have been real scary with no driver protection! Definitely no trailer brakes (wood spokes)
I question the truck attachment, looks like the poles are laying on a chain? But I can’t see it wrapping around them
JEC
My guess is the location looks like WyEast road with the houses in the background along Davis drive.
Roger Sheldrake
I’m sure all of us had many part time jobs in our younger years. Learning quickly what we DID NOT want to do for a living! Digging a hole for that pole would be real close to the top of that list!!
L.E.
Second on the list would be filling in and tamping the dirt.
I am wondering how they stood the pole upright?
Pat A
On 9-19-12 a crew is setting a pole using a A frame attached to the rear of a similar truck, the area looks much the same.