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Joseph Latourell's 1890s HouseLatourell and Fall Road. Latourell, Oregon. Photo by A. F. Litt, May 15, 2009
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Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Spring 2022 Fundraiser so far! Your continued support makes this work possible.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Spring 2022 Fundraiser so far! Your continued support makes this work possible.
Not to sound like a PBS pledge drive, but we are still counting on more contributions from viewers like you! To help preserve the history of these highways, follow the link below!
Not to sound like a PBS pledge drive, but we are still counting on more contributions from viewers like you! To help preserve the history of these highways, follow the link below!
"The tiny town of Latourell borders the north side of the park. Homeowners ask that visitors please respect their privacy. A trail underneath the Historic Columbia River Highway bridge leads directly to Latourelle Falls (250' tall), only a few minutes away by foot."
"The tiny town of Latourell borders the north side of the park. Homeowners ask that visitors please respect their privacy. A trail underneath the Historic Columbia River Highway bridge leads directly to Latourelle Falls (250' tall), only a few minutes away by foot."
From Oregon State Parks: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=112
Interpretive Sign at the Talbot State Park picnic areaLatourell, Oregon.May 15, 2009
A. F. Litt, June 20, 2022
A. F. Litt, June 20, 2022
While I am sure that these interpretive signs will be preserved, and replaced if damaged and destroyed, for the time being, I've learned the hard way not to always rely on that. For many years, off and on, I've lived along the Springwater Trail. Back in the 2000s, walking that trail down past the old Cedarville Park was one of my nearly daily routines, and the City of Gresham used to maintain several very interesting interpretive signs along that part of the trail.
While I am sure that these interpretive signs will be preserved, and replaced if damaged and destroyed, for the time being, I've learned the hard way not to always rely on that. For many years, off and on, I've lived along the Springwater Trail. Back in the 2000s, walking that trail down past the old Cedarville Park was one of my nearly daily routines, and the City of Gresham used to maintain several very interesting interpretive signs along that part of the trail.
Then, one day, the signs were severely vandalized, rendered unreadable... Soon after, they were gone completely. Even back then, I was taking the sorts of pictures as you see above, but due to a hard drive crash, I lost about two years of photos from back then, including those ones.
Then, one day, the signs were severely vandalized, rendered unreadable... Soon after, they were gone completely. Even back then, I was taking the sorts of pictures as you see above, but due to a hard drive crash, I lost about two years of photos from back then, including those ones.
Since then, I've been a bit fanatical about capturing interpretive signs in their original locations. Not only for the content of their message, but also just to show what was out in the field at the time. Sure, many times it is possible to find out what used to be there from the original agencies responsible, but not always.
Since then, I've been a bit fanatical about capturing interpretive signs in their original locations. Not only for the content of their message, but also just to show what was out in the field at the time. Sure, many times it is possible to find out what used to be there from the original agencies responsible, but not always.
Plus, it saves me a lot of typing time. I'm a fairly fast typist, but with the volume of backlogged content waiting to be posted to these sites, I'd rather just keep building the new instead of retyping the old. Especially if it can be read in an photograph.
Plus, it saves me a lot of typing time. I'm a fairly fast typist, but with the volume of backlogged content waiting to be posted to these sites, I'd rather just keep building the new instead of retyping the old. Especially if it can be read in an photograph.
1860 survey mapBLM Government Land Office surveys from the 1850s and 60s, Latourell Homestead
"By the turn of the century, the town of Latourell had gained a spicy reputation as quite a 'party town' boasting its own band, a few taverns, a billiard hall, a brothel and other 'attractions.' A popular trip at the time was to ride a sternwheeler to the Rooster Rock landing or take the train to the Latourell depot, go to Latourell for the evening, stay the night and return the next day."
"By the turn of the century, the town of Latourell had gained a spicy reputation as quite a 'party town' boasting its own band, a few taverns, a billiard hall, a brothel and other 'attractions.' A popular trip at the time was to ride a sternwheeler to the Rooster Rock landing or take the train to the Latourell depot, go to Latourell for the evening, stay the night and return the next day."
Ken Manske, A Traveler's Guide to the Historic Columbia River Highway. Gresham, OR: M&A Tour Books. 2003. (Latourell Falls 1 - 2)
Map Currently Unavailable
Map of Latourell by Ken ManskeManske, Ken. A Traveler's Guide to the Historic Columbia River Highway. Gresham, OR: M&A Tour Books. 2003. Print. (Latourell Falls 3)Video (By Others...)
Video (By Others...)
Strong language warning for the video below. I haven't been posting that until today, and it's pretty rare with this sort of content, but I'll try to add warnings moving ahead. (Also, there is some strong man bun here, but the video is actually pretty good!)
Strong language warning for the video below. I haven't been posting that until today, and it's pretty rare with this sort of content, but I'll try to add warnings moving ahead. (Also, there is some strong man bun here, but the video is actually pretty good!)
These guys are pretty goofy, but there are some nice shots of both Bridal Veil and Latourell. The Latourelle content starts with them descending the paved, drivable section of the Old Latourell Road to the village and then they explore the Joseph Latourell house in much more detail than I ever have! Filmed in 2017.
CLICK HERE to skip straight to the Latourell section of the video!
These guys are pretty goofy, but there are some nice shots of both Bridal Veil and Latourell. The Latourelle content starts with them descending the paved, drivable section of the Old Latourell Road to the village and then they explore the Joseph Latourell house in much more detail than I ever have! Filmed in 2017.
CLICK HERE to skip straight to the Latourell section of the video!
Steve the Amateur Historian: Columbia River Gorge Ghost Towns
Steve the Amateur Historian: Columbia River Gorge Ghost Towns
Comment by Carie Albers, 2019
Comment by Carie Albers, 2019
I grew up in this town. We lived across the street from the scary Latourell house. Me & the other kids in the village (that’s what I’ve always called Latourell) would dare each other to go into the scary house. Back then I was 12 or so (I’m 44 now), I would go into the house & look around upstairs. I even went into the basement. I don’t know how I was so brave back then. Thinking about it now scares me still. Great video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSOhpvvN-Zg&t=374s (Accessed:A June 21, 2022)
Links
Links
ColumbiaRiverImages.com: Latourell, Oregon
ColumbiaRiverImages.com: Latourell, Oregon
Includes ... Latourell ... Latourell Falls ...
http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/latourell.html
CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway
CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway
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