Canoe trip on the Cowlitz River Mt. St. Helens volcano area Page 3

Second Bridge
Cowlitz Way- Peter Crawford Bridge

This bridge is a four-lane structure built in 1952. It directly links Kelso and West Kelso but is also the main link between Longview and Kelso; it is also the most direct connection between I-5 and State Route 4, the route to the Washington ocean beaches, and the road to the Lewis & Clark bridge over the Columbia River to Oregon Highway 30 and the Oregon beaches.

Third Bridge
Allen Street Bridge

This bridge links Kelso and Longview It is a rather narrow two-lane bridge, subject to traffic congestion at certain times. This was the site of the original, solitary bridge across the Cowlitz built in 1904. This bridge was lost in the flood of 1906. Another bridge, also a wooden structure, was then erected on the same spot. B y the 1920's it was in poor condition; its replacement was almost finished. Then the area's greatest tragedy occurred. On January 23rd, 1923, with the river again in flood, the old bridge collapsed, dumping automobiles, teams of horses, and pedestrians into the swift, cold water. Many clung to bridge timbers and debris and were ultimately rescued. But, in the end, 17 people were either known dead or permanently missing. The present Allen St. bridge was quickly completed and put into service. It successfully withstood the log and debris flow after the Mt. St. Helens eruption A new bridge is in the planning stages.

Kelso

On the east side of the river is the city of Kelso (Pop. 11,820). In the 1840's part of Kelso was used as pasture for grazing cattle owned by the Hudson’s Bay Co. The town was founded by a young Scotch immigrant, Peter Crawford. In December, 1847, he laid claim to the land, imprinting his name and the date on an alder tree near the river bank. Crawford subsequently registered the claim in Oregon City, the capital of Oregon Territory, and built a cabin on the property. During the next few years, Crawford was absent from his claim much of the time, surveying for hire and prospecting for gold in California. Sometime in the early 1850's he permanently settled on the claim and started farming. In 1884 he converted his farm into a platted city, with 500 lots, naming it Kelso after his native town in Scotland. In addition to selling the lots, Crawford generously donated man' of them for various worthy purposes. Kelso became the county seat of Cowlitz County in 1922 after years of fierce competition from other towns.

Immediately after the Allen St. bridge, on the west bank, is an imposing modern building, the Hall of Justice, which also marks the border between West Kelso and Longview. The Hall of Justice was completed in December, 1975. It houses the Longview Police Dept., the Cowlitz sheriffs Dept., several courtrooms, judges' offices, and the county jail. Longview

From here on south the land on the west bank is occupied by the city of Longview (Pop. 31,499), which is situated where the old pioneer towns of Monticello and Freeport once stood. Most of Longview, however, is located to the west of the river, including the business district and the industrial area along the Columbia River.

Unlike Kelso, Longview is neither old nor did it grow naturally. Instead it was a "created" city, built from scratch according to a definite plan. It was founded July, 1923, by R. A. Long multimillionaire chairman of the Long-Bell Lumber Company, following the company's purchase of 70,000 acres of timber in the surrounding hills and most of the valley floor. Long-Bell tract exhausted its timber acreage in the South and simply moved the whole company operation to Longview. R. A. Long personally or the Long-Bell Company either paid or partially paid for the construction of several very large, handsome buildings: the Monticello Hotel, R. A. Long High School, the Longview Public Library, the Community Church. These served as "anchor" buildings for a town that was largely yet to be.

Under such circumstances, Longview would normally have developed as a typical "company town." But Mr. Long influenced by his friend I. C. Nichols, decided otherwise. Instead, Longview was created as an "open" town, with the hope of encouraging independent investors and entrepreneurs to develop the commercial, industrial, and residential areas. The land along the Columbia was especially well suited to industrial use.

This notion of an "open" or speculative town, however, was not permitted to produce random growth. Longview was laid out deliberately, with rather rigid zoning requirements, a centrally located square, spoke like arterial boulevards leading from it, with much land set aside for parks. Especially notable was the conversion of Fowler's Slough into Lake Sacajawea, which stretches for one-and-a-half miles through the center of Longview.

Principal industries are Longview Fiber, Weyerhaeuser, and Reynolds Metals, all located at the south end of town, along the Columbia River.

Gearhart Gardens Park

Excellent launching and take-out point. Has two launching ramps, restrooms, oodles of parking space, childre

n's play equipment, picnic tables, swimming beach, etc. Nearest point to the original, pioneer town of Monticello, first town on the Cowlitz. Because of a drastic change in the river channel, the site of the original Monticello now lies about three quarters of a mile directly to the west. It's most visible marker is an exceptionally large Black Walnut tree, 140 years old. It is adjacent to the Lakeside Industries property, just off the highway connecting Longview with I-5. The first structure in Monticello was put up by Harry Darby Huntington. By 1852 it was described by traveler Edward Allen as "a flourishing town consisting of four houses.

The early settlers of the region became convinced that it was not in their best interest to remain a part of Oregon Territory and so decided to petition the U. S. Congress for a separate territorial government north of the Columbia. Accordingly the Monticello Convention was held on November 25, 1852, a memorial drafted and sent to Washington, D. C. A few weeks later, Congress approved the request, and Washington officially became a territory, later a state.

The confluence of the Cowlitz with the Columbia is about a mile and a half downstream.

The End


Second Bridge Cowlitz Way- Peter Crawford Bridge This bridge is a four-lane structure built in 1952. It directly links Kelso and West Kelso but is also the main link between Longview and Kelso; it is also the most direct connection between I-5 and State Route 4, the route to the Washington ocean beaches, and the road to the Lewis & Clark bridge over the Columbia River to Oregon Highway 30 and the Oregon beaches. Third Bridge Allen Street Bridge This bridge links Kelso and Longview It is a rather narrow two-lane bridge, subject to traffic congestion at certain times. This was the site of the original, solitary bridge across the Cowlitz built in 1904. This bridge was lost in the flood of 1906. Another bridge, also a wooden structure, was then erected on the same spot. B y the 1920's it was in poor condition; its replacement was almost finished. Then the area's greatest tragedy occurred. On January 23rd, 1923, with the river again in flood, the old bridge collapsed, dumping automobiles, teams of horses, and pedestrians into the swift, cold water. Many clung to bridge timbers and debris and were ultimately rescued. But, in the end, 17 people were either known dead or permanently missing. The present Allen St. bridge was quickly completed and put into service. It successfully withstood the log and debris flow after the Mt. St. Helens eruption A new bridge is in the planning stages. Kelso On the east side of the river is the city of Kelso (Pop. 11,820). In the 1840's part of Kelso was used as pasture for grazing cattle owned by the Hudson’s Bay Co. The town was founded by a young Scotch immigrant, Peter Crawford. In December, 1847, he laid claim to the land, imprinting his name and the date on an alder tree near the river bank. Crawford subsequently registered the claim in Oregon City, the capital of Oregon Territory, and built a cabin on the property. During the next few years, Crawford was absent from his claim much of the time, surveying for hire and prospecting for gold in California. Sometime in the early 1850's he permanently settled on the claim and started farming. In 1884 he converted his farm into a platted city, with 500 lots, naming it Kelso after his native town in Scotland. In addition to selling the lots, Crawford generously donated man' of them for various worthy purposes. Kelso became the county seat of Cowlitz County in 1922 after years of fierce competition from other towns. Immediately after the Allen St. bridge, on the west bank, is an imposing modern building, the Hall of Justice, which also marks the border between West Kelso and Longview. The Hall of Justice was completed in December, 1975. It houses the Longview Police Dept., the Cowlitz sheriffs Dept., several courtrooms, judges' offices, and the county jail. Longview From here on south the land on the west bank is occupied by the city of Longview (Pop. 31,499), which is situated where the old pioneer towns of Monticello and Freeport once stood. Most of Longview, however, is located to the west of the river, including the business district and the industrial area along the Columbia River. Unlike Kelso, Longview is neither old nor did it grow naturally. Instead it was a "created" city, built from scratch according to a definite plan. It was founded July, 1923, by R. A. Long multimillionaire chairman of the Long-Bell Lumber Company, following the company's purchase of 70,000 acres of timber in the surrounding hills and most of the valley floor. Long-Bell tract exhausted its timber acreage in the South and simply moved the whole company operation to Longview. R. A. Long personally or the Long-Bell Company either paid or partially paid for the construction of several very large, handsome buildings: the Monticello Hotel, R. A. Long High School, the Longview Public Library, the Community Church. These served as "anchor" buildings for a town that was largely yet to be. Under such circumstances, Longview would normally have developed as a typical "company town." But Mr. Long influenced by his friend I. C. Nichols, decided otherwise. Instead, Longview was created as an "open" town, with the hope of encouraging independent investors and entrepreneurs to develop the commercial, industrial, and residential areas. The land along the Columbia was especially well suited to industrial use. This notion of an "open" or speculative town, however, was not permitted to produce random growth. Longview was laid out deliberately, with rather rigid zoning requirements, a centrally located square, spoke like arterial boulevards leading from it, with much land set aside for parks. Especially notable was the conversion of Fowler's Slough into Lake Sacajawea, which stretches for one-and-a-half miles through the center of Longview. Principal industries are Longview Fiber, Weyerhaeuser, and Reynolds Metals, all located at the south end of town, along the Columbia River. Gearhart Gardens Park Excellent launching and take-out point. Has two launching ramps, restrooms, oodles of parking space, children's play equipment, picnic tables, swimming beach, etc. Nearest point to the original, pioneer town of Monticello, first town on the Cowlitz. Because of a drastic change in the river channel, the site of the original Monticello now lies about three quarters of a mile directly to the west. It's most visible marker is an exceptionally large Black Walnut tree, 140 years old. It is adjacent to the Lakeside Industries property, just off the highway connecting Longview with I-5. The first structure in Monticello was put up by Harry Darby Huntington. By 1852 it was described by traveler Edward Allen as "a flourishing town consisting of four houses. The early settlers of the region became convinced that it was not in their best interest to remain a part of Oregon Territory and so decided to petition the U. S. Congress for a separate territorial government north of the Columbia. Accordingly the Monticello Convention was held on November 25, 1852, a memorial drafted and sent to Washington, D. C. A few weeks later, Congress approved the request, and Washington officially became a territory, later a state. The confluence of the Cowlitz with the Columbia is about a mile and a half downstream. The End
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