Welcome to my Mount Hood history blog.
I’m Gary Randall and I live in Brightwood, Oregon. I’m not an expert on the history of the Mount Hood area, but I am an enthusiastic hobbyist and researcher.
The posts on this website include subjects about the area around Mount Hood, including the Columbia River Gorge. Most of the photos that I include with my blog posts are from my personal collection or used with permission from other websites and private collections.
Thank you for stopping by. Please leave a comment if you enjoy a post, or have any feedback.
I hope that you enjoy the website!
Gary
Please support your local museums:
NOTE: Most photos on this website are from my personal collection but some articles on MountHoodHistory.com include modern visual reconstructions created to help illustrate lost or undocumented structures. These images are clearly labeled and are based on primary sources, but they are not original historical photographs.
Hello I am a 6th grader and I have to do a project on one of Oregons 7 wonders I chose mount hood. But I know nothing about Mount Hood because I moved here from Texas
There’s a great wiki page. Ask me ten questions about Mount Hood. 🙂
I just discovered your website, and am enjoying the first story I read about the murder on Mt. Hood.
I have a group of the Cross & Dimmit Columbia River Highway photo postcards. Know of any one who might want them?
Hi, I’m trying to study Samuel Welch and his family line. I am also a Welch and wanted to see if there was a relationship. I am a direct line to John Westly Welch a pioneer of 1845 from Astoria. James Clyman brought a wagon train across the trail in 1844 that included J Welch. Assumed to be my G, G, G, G Grandfather of sorts. I’m wondering if Samuel was a brother or relative of James Westley Welch.
Thanks for any assistance.
I’m unsure if there’s a connection. I’d go to Ancestry.com and try to trace it back.
You can also use Family Search with a free account, or wiki tree also free.
Hi there. My name is Christy Nielsen and I am the editor of Old Stuff News. We are a quarterly publication featuring antiques, collectibles, history and nostalgia for the pacific northwest. Here is a link to the most recent issue: https://simplebooklet.com/oldstufffebmarapr2024#page=1
I’d love to feature your post about Murder on Mt Hood in our next edition with your permission. We would include a small bio on you and link info to your website.
Let me know what you think – thanks!
Hi Christy. I’d be glad for the story to be featured. You can email me directly at [email protected]
HI! I’M lLaura Dajelli,from italy and I’d like to understand my genealogic tree because I know that Emil Franzetti, my great-grandmother’s brother e Susette Kopp, his wife ran the Rhododendron Inn and the Tavern until 1916. Do you have any preciuos information about this please?
tks a lot
Laura
Hi Laura. I am going to be writing a post about the Franzettis’s soon.
Hi Laura. I have written a story about Emil and Suzette Franzetti. I hope that you enjoy it.
https://mounthoodhistory.com/mt-hood-loop-highway/emil-and-suzette-franzetti/
Gary: My given name is Arrahwannah and I am unable to find the origin nor the meaning of my name. Do you know where the name Arrah Wanna for the original Hotel came from and why they named it Arrah Wanna. The only trace of the name Arrah Wanna I could find is the 1906 old song (words by Jack Drislane) entitled Arrah Wanna. I am native American (Cherokee/Chickasaw) and would appreciate any information you might have on the origin and possible meaning of Arrah Wanna. Thank you.
Hello Arrawannah.
As far as I’m aware the lodges built in the early 20th century in this area were commonly named with names that were or sounded like Native names. The song was popular about the same era as the construction of the lodge. I suspect that is the source of the name of the lodge. Also, I can’t find any information about whether it is a native name or one that was created for a song.
Thank you. Please let me know if you find out more about your beautiful name.
Hi Arrahwannah, my family has been in the Arrahwanna area in Brightwood for a couple of generations. Id love to also figure out the origins of the name. If you way to team up let me know!
Hi Arrahwannah, my family has been in the Arrahwanna area in Brightwood for a couple of generations. Id love to also figure out the origins of the name. If you way to team up let me know!
Hi Gary, so cool that you are doing this! Can you tell me the history of the Bowman family in the area?
My grandparents Everett J. and Belle (Pierce) Sickler built the Battle Axe Inn. They operated it from 1925-1929. Belle had graduated from The Oregon State Agricultural College with a bachelor of science excelled at large quantity cooking. According to EJ people drove up from Vancouver just to eat her cooking.
Hi Tanya! Thank you for leaving a comment. I really appreciate it. Here’s a link to a story that I wrote about the Battle Axe Inn. If you have any more information that I could add, that would be great. I don’t really have a good photo of them. I’d love to include one in the article if you have one.
https://mounthoodhistory.com/mount-hood/battle-axe-inn/
I have a number of digitized photos from USFS files of the Still Creek Burn. The best I can make is that the burn happened maybe as early as 1900. I would be happy to share them with you and to know anything about the fire. I think it burned from somewhere in Hoodland up into the Wildcat area ne of Estacada.
Dan Green
Hi Dan. I’d love to see them. Here are two stories that I have written about the Burnt Lake Fire in 1904 and the big burn in 1910. Perhaps you’ll find them interesting.
https://mounthoodhistory.com/mount-hood/burnt-lake-fire-1904/
https://mounthoodhistory.com/mount-hood/mt-hood-forest-fires-of-1910/