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Drivable Sections of the Pre-CRH County Road to Bridal VeilPurple: Local Roads Green: CRH follows old alignmentsv.2020.04.20.007Google Earth Imagery Date: September 3, 2018
"In Oregon during the first decade of the century, there were virtually no paved highways. Neither was there a state agency to oversee large-scale highway construction nor any means to identify the resources for accomplishing such a task. Rural 'market' roads were not much better than the primitive wagon roads built by early settlers -- far too wretched to accommodate the increasing demand of automobile traffic. Paved with little more than packed dirt, macadam, or wooden planks, they were only seasonably usable and provided less than adequate connections between communities."
"In Oregon during the first decade of the century, there were virtually no paved highways. Neither was there a state agency to oversee large-scale highway construction nor any means to identify the resources for accomplishing such a task. Rural 'market' roads were not much better than the primitive wagon roads built by early settlers -- far too wretched to accommodate the increasing demand of automobile traffic. Paved with little more than packed dirt, macadam, or wooden planks, they were only seasonably usable and provided less than adequate connections between communities."
Reddick vii
Detail: Stark Street Viaduct, Interpretive Sign (2014)Stark / Baseline. Historic Columbia River Highway. Oregon. January 6, 2014
Clarence E. Mershon, East of the Sandy: The Columbia River Highway
Clarence E. Mershon, East of the Sandy: The Columbia River Highway
Before the highway was built, most East County residents used Baseline Road (Stark Street) to reach Troutdale, Gresham or Portland. From Portland, the traveler followed Baseline past Twelve-mile Road (and the Twelve-Mile Roadhouse) to reach Troutdale, or turn south to continue east
The eastbound resident turned right at Troutdale Road, continuing for about one-half mile, then turned eastward once again on Sweetbriar Road. When Kerslake Road was reached, the traveler turned left toward the Sandy River, reaching the Portland Auto Club grounds (built in 1912) and the Nielson Bridge.
Across the river, the road turned eastward toward Springdale. In Springdale, the road passed the post office (near the present Northway Road) and took a left at the Y near True's store and the schoolhouse (Bell Grade).
The road to the right led to Gordon Creek, Aims and Bull Run.
The road eastward continued through (Upper) Corbett, following the old wire trail to Chanticleer.
At Upper Corbett, a branch road to the right led to Hurlburt and Gordon Creek; a branch road to the right led to Corbett (now Lower Corbett, or Corbett Station.)
At Chanticleer Point, a road followed the former wire trail to Rooster Rock and the railway station. Beyond Chanticleer, the traveler continued about one-half mile to Brower Road (now Larch Mountain Road), following it for about a mile before turning left on the road to Latourell.
Just before Latourell was reached, a branch road to the right led to Bridal Veil and also to Brower.
Mershon, East of the Sandy III, 4-5
Detail: Sandy River to Rooster RockMultnomah County 1889Atlas: Multnomah County 1889State: OregonHabersham, Robert A 1889http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1638453/Multnomah+County+1889/Multnomah+County+1889/Oregon
"...the writer made several trips over the proposed route of the highway, and it was found that from the western boundary of the county, passing through the city of Portland to Chanticleer Inn, 22 miles to the east, the existing roads, serving a splendid agricultural section, are for the most part comparatively level, and with the exception of some short and dangerous curves in several places, and steep grades on both approaches to the Sandy River, these roads require but little more than drainage and hard surfacing to make them reasonably good, although, of course, the location can be improved materially in many places."
"...the writer made several trips over the proposed route of the highway, and it was found that from the western boundary of the county, passing through the city of Portland to Chanticleer Inn, 22 miles to the east, the existing roads, serving a splendid agricultural section, are for the most part comparatively level, and with the exception of some short and dangerous curves in several places, and steep grades on both approaches to the Sandy River, these roads require but little more than drainage and hard surfacing to make them reasonably good, although, of course, the location can be improved materially in many places."
Lancaster, 1914 58
Robert W. Hadlow, Columbia River Highway Historic District, National Historic Landmark Nomination
Robert W. Hadlow, Columbia River Highway Historic District, National Historic Landmark Nomination
The portion of the CRH from the Sandy River to its junction with Larch Mountain Road (HMP 23), retains its original character as a country road. All of this section, except for 1.5 miles of the 2.5 miles between the Sandy River (Troutdale) Bridge and the Sandy River (Stark St.) Bridge, predates the highway. It was part of an extensive farm-to-market road system in eastern Multnomah County that radiated from Portland to its hinterland.
The portion of the CRH from the Sandy River to its junction with Larch Mountain Road (HMP 23), retains its original character as a country road. All of this section, except for 1.5 miles of the 2.5 miles between the Sandy River (Troutdale) Bridge and the Sandy River (Stark St.) Bridge, predates the highway. It was part of an extensive farm-to-market road system in eastern Multnomah County that radiated from Portland to its hinterland.
The 1.5 miles of improvements, which is immediately north and west of the Sandy River (Stark Street) Bridge, is a water-level alignment created through substantial cliff side cuts along the Sandy River. It was built in 1916 as part of the CRH’s original construction and bypassed a county road connecting with the Sandy River Bridge at Troutdale that had 20 percent grades.
The 1.5 miles of improvements, which is immediately north and west of the Sandy River (Stark Street) Bridge, is a water-level alignment created through substantial cliff side cuts along the Sandy River. It was built in 1916 as part of the CRH’s original construction and bypassed a county road connecting with the Sandy River Bridge at Troutdale that had 20 percent grades.
Hadlow, Landmark Nomination, 5
Detail: Chanticleer Point to Bridal VeilMultnomah County 1889Atlas: Multnomah County 1889State: OregonHabersham, Robert A 1889http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1638453/Multnomah+County+1889/Multnomah+County+1889/Oregon
"From Chanticleer to the east line of Multnomah County, a distance of 20.48 miles, there existed no road. There was a narrow, steep and crooked link from Chanticleer down the side of the gorge to Latourelle, then up and over and down again to Bridal Veil, connecting with the short piece of road built in response to the petition previously referred to of Henry Wemme and others, when the Columbia Highway was inaugurated and where it had ended its course abruptly against a rugged mountainside some distance above the track of a trans-continental railway."
"From Chanticleer to the east line of Multnomah County, a distance of 20.48 miles, there existed no road. There was a narrow, steep and crooked link from Chanticleer down the side of the gorge to Latourelle, then up and over and down again to Bridal Veil, connecting with the short piece of road built in response to the petition previously referred to of Henry Wemme and others, when the Columbia Highway was inaugurated and where it had ended its course abruptly against a rugged mountainside some distance above the track of a trans-continental railway."
Lancaster, 1914 58
Above, Lancaster is referencing the 1.8 mile road at Bridal Veil discussed on a later page.
Above, Lancaster is referencing the 1.8 mile road at Bridal Veil discussed on a later page.
Below, Lancaster may be referring to a route climbing up out of the Gorge following what is now called the Alex Barr Road and then descending via the Palmer Mill Road.
Below, Lancaster may be referring to a route climbing up out of the Gorge following what is now called the Alex Barr Road and then descending via the Palmer Mill Road.
"On leaving Latourelle the old county road climbed up the side of the mountain by heavy grades and hairpin turns, reaching an elevation of 555 feet (just about the height of the Washington Monument) before it turned and came down again on the other side by many a bend and crook. The side of the mountain was rugged and steep, and at its base was the main line track of a great railway reaching to Chicago."
"On leaving Latourelle the old county road climbed up the side of the mountain by heavy grades and hairpin turns, reaching an elevation of 555 feet (just about the height of the Washington Monument) before it turned and came down again on the other side by many a bend and crook. The side of the mountain was rugged and steep, and at its base was the main line track of a great railway reaching to Chicago."
Lancaster, 1914 62
Detail: Beyond Bridal VeilMultnomah County 1889Atlas: Multnomah County 1889State: OregonHabersham, Robert A 1889http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1638453/Multnomah+County+1889/Multnomah+County+1889/Oregon
On the 1889 map, beyond Bridal Veil, there were no more roads all the way to the county line. The wagon road may have been abandoned or just wiped out by the railroad by 1889.
On the 1889 map, beyond Bridal Veil, there were no more roads all the way to the county line. The wagon road may have been abandoned or just wiped out by the railroad by 1889.
CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway
CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway
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