Historic Hood River
Willis Thornberry
Notes
Meet Willis Thornberry. His job circa 1910 was hauling supplies up to the Stanley Smith mill at Green Point (now Kingsley Reservoir). That would place this image somewhere along Binn’s Hill Drive.
I love the detail in this image. You can the detail of the harnesses for this team of mules and horses, the braking mechanism of his wagon, the fish emblem on the side of the wagon, the sacks of supplies, and then, on the very back of the wagon– a bicycle. This is definitive proof people were bicycling in Post Canyon over a hundred years ago.
And of course there’s Willis Thornberry himself. What a great name! When I started researching his background, I discovered he signed a 1914 letter opposing bonding to build the Columbia River Highway through Hood River county. He was joined by several other people we’ve met: A.I. Mason, S.F. Blythe, F.C. Sherrieb, J.T. Holman, Peter Mohr, and Lawrence Blowers. Their argument was “Is it good business to build roads for others before we build for ourselves?” Despite their opposition, the bond passed easily the following week.
Tags: 1910s, bicycle, Binns Hill Drive, Green Point, horse, mule, Stanley Smith, Thornberry, wagon
Nellie
Willis Albert Thornberry came from Illinois, where he was born in 1862. He was married twice, first to Elly June Filmore, but she died prior to his coming to Hood River. He was married the second time to Ethel Davis. He died in Lane County.
L.E.
Interesting that horses are used with mules. I am sure there is a good reason.
Wish I knew what it was.
ArthurB
L.E., I was waiting for you to answer that question! I wonder if the length and grade of the climb played a factor in the choice of team?
ArthurB
I checked the Cloud Cap images– all the team seem to be made up of horses. Hauling a stage coach full of passengers and luggage up to Cloud Cap is the closest I can find to hauling a wagon full of supplies to Green Point.
Ben
Mules can be better in the heat (which is why they're more common in the South), but often it's just preference. My guess that he is using what he has, or maybe he borrowed a team for this job. The near horse seems a bit thin, or maybe is aging and losing muscle in the back end.