Beverly, Washington, (Right Center) is a small community along the banks of the Columbia River in central Washington state. The community, which consists of a few hundred residents, is a few miles downriver from Wanapum Dam and is nestled at the base of what locals call Sentinel Gap, a huge basalt formation that juts out into the river.
History
Beverly was named around 1905 by H.R. Williams, after Beverly, Massachusetts.[1]
Beverly played host to hundreds of railroad workers from 1905-1920s when the Milwaukee Railroad was being built. The Milwaukee constructed a million-dollar bridge across the Columbia just north of Beverly, which was completed in 1909. Supplies to build the bridge were shipped via steamboat from points upstream, and were hauled in on other rail lines. The bridge took nearly two years to complete.
Beverly's early success depended partially on steep grades on the railroad, which meant helper locomotives were require to drive the trains. Colorful brochures were printed and distributed back east by companies touting Beverly's long growing season and sheltered location.
""The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes…""
— Arthur Conan Doyle
“The Hound of the Baskervilles”
""Mathematics...
Very striking landscape with nice historical narrative. Is that the dam in the background? And the modern version of the bridge? As luck would have it I posted a pic of a Milwaukee Road caboose in our city park just the other day. Now that sounds like another fun railroad to research. How neat that they made it all the way out to Washington!
@gratefulness That is the dam that you see in the background. The railroad bridge that you see have been convert in the rails to trails program, However, I have some questions as to whether you can cross that bridge on foot due to safety concerns, have to research.
Great landscape! We have some property in Tonasket - and that trip over the mountains from wet and green to barren and brown never ceases to amaze me. Beautiful in it's own right.
I'm sure, more information then you wanted to know. :-) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Milwaukee_Road_Bridge,_Beverly_WA.jpg http://bridgehunter.com/wa/grant/beverly-railroad/ http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=iron%20horse