In what direction are we viewing this picture? Is it from the Washington side looking to the SE, or from the Oregon side looking NW? Thanks.

RALPH on 18th April 2013 @ 7:09am

Isn't that the boat locks on the far left, which would put Washington on the right side of the picture. Sort of appears that they have where the locks are blocked off.

charlott on 18th April 2013 @ 7:55am

"Who will ever use all that electricity?" A comment from my now deceased father that he remembered hearing from the day. Yes, an enormous impact including helping with the war effort. One hell of a stimulus project that we continue to reap the rewards and pay the penalty for.
In my opinion Arthur, most had no clue what this dam would do other than generate some electricity that someone would use for something and help control flooding and create a pile of much needed construction jobs.

Arlen Sheldrake on 18th April 2013 @ 8:25am

Good ole Bonneville! This pic is looking NW with WA's Table Mtn in the background. I say "good ole Bonneville" in reference mostly to the notion that the "unneeded"electricity from both Bonneville and Grand Coulee largely contributed to the USA's success in the WWII Pacific theater. Hydropower proved to be the "ace in the hole" that enabled the Kaiser shipyards to turn the tide of the war effort...and then the Manhattan Project finally ending the fray. The world might have been a far different place had it not been for Bonneville Dam. Way to go FDR!

Scott Cook on 18th April 2013 @ 8:32am

I think Arlen's statement pretty well sums it up.
"One hell of a stimulus project that we continue to reap the rewards and pay the penalty for."

I think Bonneville was a typical example of the Federal Government having the money and power to envision the overall project. The small land owner and businessman living along the river banks could only catch a glimpse, even though entire towns were moved and good bottom ground for farming was lost.

Anyone know how long it took to fill up the pool behind the dam? I often wonder what it must have been like, those first few months to be living on the hill in HR or WS and get up in the morning and look out your window to see a totally different river.

Having grown up below Bonneville Dam, I was used to sloughs all along the river. I just realized a few years ago, that there aren't sloughs behind the dam.

l.e. on 18th April 2013 @ 10:04am

The ability for ship and airplane building totally changed the economy of the Portland, Vancouver area.
McLoughlin Heights in Vancouver was a huge tract housing development for the shipyard workers.
I once asked my mother in law if it depressed her to see the area being built up.
She said no...it was good to see people working.
My grandfather, supposedly was never paid for the BPA right of way line through his property.
On the other hand, my dad, as a young man was able to make money clearing the right of way.

l.e. on 18th April 2013 @ 10:13am

Notice the photo is April 8 and there is quite a bit of snow up on Hamilton and Table Mtn.

l.e. on 18th April 2013 @ 12:58pm

For l.e., When I was a boy in the early 1950's, Albo Horn used to take me fishing in the Little Button Slough, just to the east of Hood River. At that time, there was also the Big Button Slough--so there still will sloughs for some time after the dam was completed.

Bill Seaton on 18th April 2013 @ 3:18pm