Cascade Locks, Oregon Photographs, 1894-1895

Overview of the Collection

Title
Cascade Locks, Oregon Photographs
Dates
1894-1895 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 box, (39 items)
Collection Number
PC 64 (collection)
Summary
This collection consists of construction scenes of the Cascade Locks, photographs of the town and of the Columbia River at high and low water, 1894-1895.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Congress appropriated money for a set of locks at the Cascades of the Columbia in 1876, but subsequent contractors proved to be exceedingly slow and dissatisfactory; in 1892 Day Contractors assumed the contract. In June of 1894, the largest Columbia River flood in modern history hit the area, and though the area's portage railroad was washed out, workmen and townspeople managed to save the locks. They were completed in 1896. Most of the Locks were subsequently flooded in 1938 by the construction of Bonneville Dam, just five miles downriver.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

E.M. Aldrich, was a master mechanic during the construction of the Cascade Locks dams in the early 1890s; the photographs were taken by his company, Day Contractors, and later given to the Aldrich family.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of construction scenes of the Cascade Locks, photographs of the town and of the Columbia River at high and low water, 1894 - 1895, and donor correspondence, 1958-1960. Many of the photographs contain a small amount of additional information, penciled in on the photos or their backs. The majority of the photographs are approximately 24 x 19 cm., mounted on thick 30 x 25 cm. backings.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Cascade Locks, Oregon Photographs, 1894-1895 (PC 64)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

These photographs were a gift of siblings William E. Aldrich and Cora Aldrich, both of Spokane, WA, in 1960. E.M. Aldrich was their father.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
1 1 5 copy prints from negatives
1 2 Cascade Locks on the Columbia, high water, 1894.
1 3 High water on the Columbia River, 1895.
1 4 Lock construction, flood scene, c. 1893 - 1896.
1 5 Cascade Locks Canal, high water, 1894.
1 6 Cascade Locks Canal, high water, 1894.
1 7 Upper bulkhead Cascade Locks, kept 6 ft. above the water, 1894.
1 8 Main St. in Cascade Locks, Oregon, The old town, O.R. and N. track, 1894.
1 9 Civil Engineers quarters on reservation, low water, undated.
1 10 High water, Cascade Locks, 1894 or 1895.
1 11 Constructing gates, Cascade Locks, OR, 1895.
1 12 Main gate, Cascade Locks, OR, 1894 or 1895.
1 13 High water, Cascade Locks, 1894.
1 14 Power House Island during flood, 1894.
1 15 Cascade Locks, during flood, 1894.
1 16 Cascade Locks Canal, 1894.
1 17 Boat landing, lower bulk head, Cascade Locks, 1894.
1 18 Stone yard and finishing shed, high water, 1894.
1 19 Stone yard and finishing shed, 1894.
1 20 Lower gate, Cascade Locks, 1895. (shown, above right)
1 21 Lower gate, Cascade Locks, 1894.
1 22 High water at the locks, 1894.
1 23 Low water, 1895.
1 24 Low water, 1894.
1 25 Flood level on cement shed, 1895.
1 26 Main gate, Cascade Locks Canal, 1894.
1 27 Section of gate for locks, 1894.
1 28 Wreck of gate segments for Cascade Locks
1 29 Gate sections for Cascade Lock Canal, 1894.
1 30 Guard gate, Cascade Locks, 1894.
1 31 Stone shed, Cascade Locks, 1894.
1 32 Lower gate, water went 50 ft. over gate, 1894 or 1895.
1 33 Cascade Locks, 1894.
1 34 Low water, Cascade Locks, 1894?
1 35 Donor correspondence, c. 1960.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Dams -- Oregon -- Photographs.

Corporate Names

  • Day Contractors (Or.)

Geographical Names

  • Cascade Locks (Or.) -- Photographs.
  • Columbia River -- Photographs.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Aldrich, E. M. (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Day Contractors (Or.) (creator)