Notes
We saw this image a while ago but it's worth zooming in to see more detail. This is the depot at Viento, home of the Oregon Lumber Company mill circa 1900. This lumber started at logs high up along the Little White Salmon River. It went through the first stages of processing at the Chenowith Mill, then traveled by the flume to the Columbia, where the tug Pearl pulled it across the river to the Viento mill for final processing.
This passenger train won't be picking up any freight, but you can be sure all this lumber traveled by rail to markets around the region.
Category: [default]
Tags: 1900s Columbia_River logging lumber mill Oregon_Lumber_Company railroad Viento
Comments
Much of the lumber was sent to Utah.
Jeffrey W Bryant on 20th December 2021 @ 7:25am
Great photo. A bit of local history that very few today know about.
I suspect the wood stacked at the front of the photo is for the steam engine?
L.E. on 20th December 2021 @ 7:30am
Agee that this an excellent photo. The Archives/Reseach committee is focusing on the valley's lumber history right now. Do you know if David Eccles actually started the Chenowith Mill and/or the Viento mill?
cg on 20th December 2021 @ 8:09am
L.E.: The stacked wood appears to be much too long to fit in a locomotive firebox, I suspect those are ties. Railroads were often constructed in the 19th century with untreated (with creosote) ties, sometimes fresh cut green wood, that required a frequent replacement schedule.
JEC on 20th December 2021 @ 9:32am
Is this the site of the current park/campground?
Will on 20th December 2021 @ 1:59pm
Yes, this is roughly where the park sits today. The tracks run through the park. I understand there was a fire sometime after the state acquired the land and the traces of the mill and town are no longer visible.
ArthurB on 20th December 2021 @ 2:18pm
The book, David Eccles, by Leonard J. Arrington, indicates that the Viento and Chenowith sawmills were started by David Eccles.
Jeffrey W Bryant on 23rd December 2021 @ 9:39am
RR water tank was to the right and the tracks are straightened now just to the south of this location
Kenn on 1st January 2022 @ 7:00pm