Cazadero Powerhouse & Bridge, Faraday Road, Estacada, Clackamas County, OR

Significance: The Cazadero Powerhouse and Bridge are significant for their association with the early development of hydroelectric power generation for the City of Portland and the surrounding areas. Construction of the dam for this hydroelectric project was begun in 1902 by the Oregon Water Power and Railway Company, followed by the construction of the bridge over the Clackamas River and the powerhouse below Faraday Lake. The bridge originally served as a railroad bridge to transport workers and materials to the powerhouse site, and was converted to a vehicular bridge following the completion of the powerhouse in February of 1907, when the first three generators were placed in service. The bridge is a steel deck arch with a pin connected center hinge and a wooden road deck, a rare type in the Oregon context of steel bridges. The powerhouse is a five unit plant as originally designed, and all five generators were operational by August of 1910. The powerhouse originally supplied power to the electric railway running between the plant and the Sellwood area of Portland as well as domestic and commercial consumers. The plant currently provides power only to consumers, as the electric railway has been abandoned. The Oregon Water Power and Railway Company was acquired by Portland General Electric in 1906, and the powerhouse retains its original function as a hydroelectric facility under the ownership of Portland General Electric.

Survey number: HAER OR-143

Building/structure dates: 1907 Initial Construction

hydroelectric power plants vehicular bridges estacada cazadero powerhouse cazadero powerhouse bridge faraday faraday road clackamas clackamas county oregon energy generation george i brown historic american engineering record david louter photo ultra high resolution high resolution power plants infrastructure library of congress

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

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