Until 1853, the only transportation across the unpredictable Clackamas River was by ferryboat. That summer, Jacob Hunsaker, a settler living on the river's south bank (now Park Place) erected the first bridge across the river. A wooden span, the flood of 1856 washed it away. Hunsaker rebuilt his bridge. And in 1861, he sold it to Adroniram (Ad) Cason (the oldest son of Fendal Cason) who owned a gun shop at the northern end of the bridge. Ad Cason began operating Hunsaker's bridge a toll bridge. |
Christmas Day 1869 - Ben Holladay (of Overland Stage fame and cousin of Gladstone pioneer Rebecca Cason) is shown crossing the Clackamas River and bringing the O & C Railroad to Gladstone. Courtesy Clackamas County Historical Society |
On Christmas day of 1869, Ben Holladay (Overland Stage)
brought the railroad to Gladstone. Six-hundred Chinese laborers helped him
build a railroad bridge over the Clackamas River near what is now called
High Rocks. Holladay's rail line now connected Oregon City to all points
north, and it would one day become the Southern Pacific Railroad. | |
