The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., February 22, 1929, page 1

CROSSING COLUMBIA RIVER ON THE ICE

The first time since 1910, according to the weather man, the Columbia river is frozen over from shore to shore, and people and teams are able to cross over on the ice.
Roosevelt residents have been crossing over to Arlington frequently. The ice is said to be of considerable thickness.
All of the ferries plying across the Columbia have been tied up for some time and at present no certain date can be given as to when they will resume operations.
Over at Arlington, according to the Bulletin, everything is frozen as tight as a brick. In an editorial on the continuing cold spell, the editor goes on as follows:
"It is safe to say that there are faces in Arlington that has not been washed since the beginning of the cold spell, and it also a safe bet that there are wash pans full of water that has washed a score of faces. It is used over and over again until it assumes the same appearance as molasses. It has been around the house so long that it becomes a pet, like a cat, and there are tears in the children's eyes and a lump in the throat of the man and woman of the house when it is at last disposed of! Old timers will tell you it is the longest cold spell since '93."
From Bingen we are informed where a complete record is kept, it is said to be the longest and coldest winter now in the northwest. This is disclosed by a weather chart recorded by E.S. Joslyn, one of the earliest pioneers of Klickitat. Mr. Joslyn goes back to 1862 in his record. That year the mercury ranged as low as 25 below zero most of the time for 60 days.
The log was kept from the middle of December to the first of March. On January 17 the Columbia river was frozen solid from shore to shore, and traffic crossed at almost any point.
Joslyn and his wife came to western Klickitat in 1852. They were the first to settle in this part of the country, but some 25 years later moved over to Oregon.

Thanks to Jeffrey Elmer for saving this to the internet.

L.E. on 15th November 2017 @ 8:00am

A fitting photo for Alva Day Day!

spinsur on 15th November 2017 @ 8:25am

father John L told the story of driving a car on the Columbia probably at this time.....

Arlen Sheldrake on 15th November 2017 @ 8:49am

How did I miss the fact today is Alva Day Day???

Arthur on 15th November 2017 @ 10:32am

Can you refresh us on this date being chosen for Alva?

nels on 15th November 2017 @ 10:53am

I had to look that up, nels. It is the anniversary of his death date. I think Connie chose it instead of his birth date because she wanted the exhibit in November!

Arthur on 15th November 2017 @ 4:49pm

I have pictures of Tex Rankin standing in front of his plane after landing on the Columbia the same winter. It is at the 99 bridge with a Portland- Vancouver streetcar crossing overhead.
Also have one of a touring car at the same location driven out by two men, others climbed in just for the photo.

Kenn on 16th November 2017 @ 9:01am