Historic Hood River
Viento, Circa 1900
10-3-2013
Notes
We’ve reached the end of the story of the Oregon Lumber Company operation circa 1900. The trees have been cut along the Little White Salmon, rough sawed at the Chenowith mill, transported by flume down to Drano Lake, barged across the Columbia to Viento, where the planing mill prepared nice stacks of dimensioned lumber ready for rail transport. Fortunately a steam locomotive was at the station for Arlen’s enjoyment.
This image also shows the company store at Viento. The site of this operation is now covered by an interstate highway and a state park. Are there any remnants of this operation that have survived the more than 100 years since this photograph was captured?
Category: default
Tags: 1900s, Columbia River, logging, lumber, mill, Oregon Lumber Company, railroad, Viento
Tags: 1900s, Columbia River, logging, lumber, mill, Oregon Lumber Company, railroad, Viento
l.e.
Ohhh. A sigh of relief. I feel as if we really have been on a journey and have reached our destination.
Much of this must now be under water. I bet they had to worry about the spring floods washing away their lumber.
There is even a small flume in this photo. Must be for water.
I wonder how the water tank was filled.
Across the river you can see a sand bar.
And what is that large white square on the left? A pond?
Arlen will love this one.
Great photo!!
spinsur
It looks like a model train set!
longshot
Looks like the spur track ran right to the water’s edge and that there is some kind of structure there. I wonder if there was a ferry dock there at one time? There also looks to be a retaining wall to the left of the track at the shoreline. Maybe some remnant of it could still be found?
All these workers had to live somewhere. Are there additional buildings we can’t see or did they all live in the few we do see?
longshot
In looking at what I though was a retaining wall, when the picture is blown up it is the gable end of a building.
Note the amount of fire wood stored along the tracks.
Arlen Sheldrake
This is another outstanding picture with LOTS of interesting detail. Such as Viento according to this photo was a OR&N fuel and water stop, hence the water tank and the wood supply next to the tracks. It would be interesting to know how far south the railroad tracks had to be moved for the Bonneville pool. Now I want to make Viento more than a pit stop on my next Gorge trip…..
This has been a great trip Arthur! Thank you very much for bringing us along.
kenn
Remains were evident until the parking lot was recently put in for river access, last I saw of them they were being taken over by blackberry bushes. This is memorable because while crashing the brush I stepped on a bee nest and received a greeting of about fifteen stings.
Looking for pictures of the Viento highway fountain, seems I’m the only one that remembers it.
Jeffrey Bryant
Hood River Sun, September 28, 1899
Viento Vibrations
Sept. 25, 1899
EDITOR SUN: – This lively lumber camp is eight miles west of Hood River, on the O. R. & N. line. Here is located a branch plant of the great Oregon Lumber company, a corporation whose head offices are located in Utah. The immense amount of lumber, ties and timbers shipped from this point, is realized by but few. The mills are located four miles back in the mountains on the Washington side. A railroad three miles long bring the logs to the mill; from the mill to the river the lumber gracefully glides down a flume that is 100 feet high in places and cost, to build and maintain, $30,000. From there it is rafted across the river and loaded on cars and started on its journey to all parts of the West "“ this side if the Mississippi; but principally to Colorado, Utah and Nevada. Twelve hundred car-loads have been shipped so far this season and to keep up with the orders the planer and mills are kept running night and day. The pay roll carries a list of over three hundred names, wages per day of eleven hours, running from $1.75 to $3.50. Good common laborers receive $2; married men preferred.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, March 25, 1920, page 4 says the Viento school, with three students, was to be discontinued. The new highway allowed the students to go to the Hood River schools, and "the instructor of the three pupils has drawn $110 per month, while teachers in the local schools, with 40 children in their care, have received but $90."