In the early 1900s, Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood was home to one of its most fascinating figures: Dr. William DeVeny. Known as the “Buffalo Bill of Portland,” William DeVeny was a community leader, civic advocate, and larger-than-life character. His influence stretched beyond Montavilla and into the Mount Hood region, where he worked to improve access to the wilderness.
Have you ever driven along Barlow Trail Road or Lolo Pass Road and wondered about their origins? These quiet, winding roads are more than just modern routes—they are living pieces of history.
For generations the native people would come each season from all directions between Spring and Autumn to stay and live their lives here on Mount Hood.
On September 13, 1914, motorcyclist Axel Kildahl of Lents, Oregon, made history on Mount Hood. Riding his Dayton motorcycle, he pushed his machine to an astounding 7,600 feet above Government Camp, setting a new altitude record for motor-driven vehicles on the mountain.
The following account of the sense of humor of the legendary Adolph Aschoff, from Marmot Oregon, is from an entry to The Mountain Magazine in the early 1970’s.
