Notes
Alva Day must have been pretty excited about the Bonneville Dam project, given the number of dams he visited earlier in his life. He took this photo of the Bonneville Dam in December 1937. The first powerhouse was completed in 1937 and the dam had just started generating power.
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Tags: 1930s Alva_Day Bonneville dam electricity
Comments
The property that the dam is built on was owned by Sam Hill, who also owned Maryhill further up the Columbia. The government bought that from Sam Hill.
MaryBartmessKramer on 1st November 2021 @ 8:21am
What is the building to the right? I'm assuming this is looking upstream so that is Oregon on the right?
nels on 1st November 2021 @ 9:20am
My step-grandfather, John Walker, was a guard at this dam during World War II.
Bill Seaton on 1st November 2021 @ 9:32am
nels, I think you got twisted around. We're looking downstream from below the Toothrock Tunnel.
I've added a current Google Maps view.
ArthurB on 1st November 2021 @ 10:19am
I think you are looking at Hamilton Mtn. on the left. Aldrich Butte in the middle and Table Mtn on the right.
I suspect with Alva Day's love of power poles, producing more electric energy was exciting for him. On the other hand, who knows how he felt about the Columbia River totally changing in appearance and flow.
L.E. on 1st November 2021 @ 1:39pm
I think I read about Mona Bell in John Tuhy"s biography of Sam Hill and always try to guess where this mansion was when passing Bonneville today. Suspect it was visible in my childhood but of course I didn't know the story. https://www.thebridgeofthegods.com/2020/10/26/332717/the-mansion-on-bonneville-rock
cg on 1st November 2021 @ 4:57pm
Foundation of Mona Bells mansion remain on the hill on the north side of 84, and flowers still bloom each year.
Kenn on 2nd November 2021 @ 4:13pm
we need a picture Kenn.....
Arlen L Sheldrake on 2nd November 2021 @ 4:34pm