Guy W. Talbot State Park
Encyclopedia
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to deep, the canyon stretches for over as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south...
, near Troutdale
Troutdale, Oregon
Troutdale is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, north of Gresham and east of Wood Village. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,962....
, Oregon, United States. Although the main feature of the park is Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls is a waterfall along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, within Guy W. Talbot State Park.The Historic Columbia River Highway passes nearby, and at certain locations the waterfall is visible from the road...
, the parkland stretches west to the Crown Point State Scenic Corridor. Here the Historic Columbia River Highway descends from Crown Point via the Figure-Eight Loops, a series of horseshoe curves that "develop distance" and thus keep the grade to a minimum.
History
Guy Webster Talbot and his family used this property as a summer estate. The falls itself was located on the property of Guy W. Talbot of Portland, who, in 1929, donated 220 acre (0.8903092 km²) of property to the State of Oregon.In 1903, Mr. Talbot was united in marriage to Miss Geraldine Wallace, of Kingman, Kansas
Kingman, Kansas
Kingman is a city in and the county seat of Kingman County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,177.-Geography:Kingman is located at...
, and they were the parents of three children: Sara Jane, who was the wife of Charles G. Dimon, of New York; Prudence and Guy W., Jr. Mr. Dimon was the sole heir to the Smith & Dimon Shipbuilder empire in New York. Smith and Dimon were the builders of the Sea Witch
Sea Witch (clipper)
The Sea Witch was an American clipper ship designed by naval architect John W. Griffiths for the China trading firm of Howland & Aspinwall. She was launched in Manhattan on December 8, 1846.-Model for American clipper ship design:...
, whose record-breaking run from China to New York was great news of that day.
In 1906 Mr. Talbot came to Portland as vice president and general manager of the Astoria & Columbia River Railroad and the Corvallis & Eastern Railroad, and was later made vice president and general manager of the Oregon Electric Railway
Oregon Electric Railway
The Oregon Electric Railway was an interurban railroad line in the U.S. state of Oregon that linked Portland to Eugene. Service from Portland to Salem, Oregon, began in 1907. The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway purchased the system in 1910, and extended service to Eugene in 1912...
, which he completed, holding that position until the road was sold, when he went to the American Power & Light Company of New York, which bought the Portland Gas & Coke Company, of which Mr. Talbot was made president, still holding that position.
In 1910, he was also made president of the Pacific Power & Light Company. In 1915 the American Power & Light Company purchased the control of the Northwestern Electric Company and at that time he was also elected to the presidency of that Company. He was also president of the Walla Walla Valley Railroad, which was sold to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, but he still remained as vice president and director. He was president of the Deschutes Power & Light Company, a director of the Electric Products Corporation and a director of the Pacific Properties Company. A man of alert mentality, progressive ideas and intensely practical in his methods, he has shown marked ability in the management of the important interests of which he was the head, and earned the respect of all who knew him. His great-grandson David Talbot Dimon still resides in Oregon. Mr. Dimon and his wife continue to be benefactors of the park.