July 10, 2020

When I first started staring at the highway on Google Earth, before locating the Grants Fragment, I wasn't sure if the current highway was the original, or if it was on 2nd Street, just to the south. However, driving through there, I saw that the original bridges in town were actually marked "Route 2," and then, after finding the old road buried under the tracks, it became clear that the alignment I have marked on the map above is the correct one.

Rufus was one of several communities in this area relocated when Celilo Lake flooded the original river banks.

Oregon State Archives: A 1940 Journey Across Oregon

Across the river from RUFUS, 75.5 m. [West of Hwy. 730 Junction] (180 alt., 70 pop.), stands the STONEHENGE MEMORIAL to the World War dead, a reproduction of the ruin in England. It was built by Samuel Hill.

Gurkin Canyon Bridge

John Day Dam Fragment

June 10, 2020

I never noticed this until going through Steve's inventory today, but I do not believe that this is a Columbia River Highway for the reasons discussed above. It is a remnant of the old town, though, before the northern half was abandoned due to the rising waters behind The Dalles Dam.

Steve Hart, Upper Columbia River Highway Survey

John Day Dam Fragment

200 feet. Mile 116.8, Corner of John Day Dam Road and Rockbeach Lane

"Rufus keeps barely existing as a town. Only a couple hundred there now. With all the farms / ranches within 10 miles, I don't get why a grocery or a feed and seed never got built, along with a few other services. Their empty lots are dirt cheap if you want to live there. (I saw a .95 acre lot in town for $ 7,000!)"

Links

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