Historic Hood River
Shiny New Dam
11-1-2021
Notes
Alva Day must have been pretty excited about the Bonneville Dam project, given the number of dams he visited earlier in his life. He took this photo of the Bonneville Dam in December 1937. The first powerhouse was completed in 1937 and the dam had just started generating power.
MaryBartmessKramer
The property that the dam is built on was owned by Sam Hill, who also owned Maryhill further up the Columbia. The government bought that from Sam Hill.
nels
What is the building to the right? I’m assuming this is looking upstream so that is Oregon on the right?
Bill Seaton
My step-grandfather, John Walker, was a guard at this dam during World War II.
ArthurB
nels, I think you got twisted around. We’re looking downstream from below the Toothrock Tunnel.
I’ve added a current Google Maps view.
L.E.
I think you are looking at Hamilton Mtn. on the left. Aldrich Butte in the middle and Table Mtn on the right.
I suspect with Alva Day’s love of power poles, producing more electric energy was exciting for him. On the other hand, who knows how he felt about the Columbia River totally changing in appearance and flow.
cg
I think I read about Mona Bell in John Tuhy"s biography of Sam Hill and always try to guess where this mansion was when passing Bonneville today. Suspect it was visible in my childhood but of course I didn’t know the story. https://www.thebridgeofthegods.com/2020/10/26/332717/the-mansion-on-bonneville-rock
Kenn
Foundation of Mona Bells mansion remain on the hill on the north side of 84, and flowers still bloom each year.
Arlen L Sheldrake
we need a picture Kenn…..