Historic Hood River
Which Bridge?
3-4-2020
Notes
This scan is from a badly underexposed Ella May Davidson negative. Because it was so hard to see I thought it was a flume crossing a creek, but after processing it a bit I see it looks more like a transportation bridge. There are a lot of interesting construction details.
The Ella May Davidson negatives seem to be mostly along the Hood River or the White Salmon, from about 1912 to 1918. Any guesses where this bridge was located?
I should note the white smudge to the left is probably a water stain or dirt on the negative. No need to spend time trying to figure out what it is.
Kyle
Quite a pitch to it!
Will
Could that be a rail line of the left side of the river?
L.E.
I am going to guess Hood River. I think the White Salmon would have more current and more of a canyon. Unless it was built after Condit Dam, which was completed in 1913.
nels
A rail line on the left bank would explain the high level on that side.
ArthurB
I don’t see any sign of a rail line, but the negative quality is very low so there isn’t much detail at all.
Melody Shellman
My first impression is that it’s an early Tucker Bridge, but I don’t know that much about the history of that spot.
Ralph Kupersmith
Looks like someone standing fishing at the edge of the river on the left side.
Kenn
Sorry there is no concrete showing to search for. I miss the remains of the Hood River dam, it was so easy to breach this and the Condit dam, but see no logic spending millions to remove all traces.
ArthurB
Hmm, I don’t see the fisherman but while looking I noticed there are cable stays, so this is a suspension bridge of sorts. Kenn can start looking for the concrete anchors for the cables.