Troutdale Historical Society gets wagon wheel

Dec. 13, 2011                                                                                                                      11-91 R1

For More Information:

Don Hamilton, 503.731.8265, Don.B.Hamilton@odot.state.or.us

Note: Two photos attached                                                                                 

 Troutdale Historical Society gets wagon wheel

The 19^th century artifact was found in the Sandy River by workers on the new I-84 bridge

ODOT gave custody Tuesday of what may be a mid-19^th century wagon wheel to the Troutdale Historical Society.

The wooden wheel, four-and-a-half feet in diameter, was discovered last summer by contractors excavating for the new Interstate 84 bridge over the Sandy River near Troutdale. The wheel was found about 12 feet below the typical riverbed.

On Tuesday, officials from the Troutdale Historical Society picked up the wheel from the bridge construction office and plan to add the wheel to its collection.

The wheel features a metal outer rim covering a wooden main rim that receives wooden spokes emanating from the rusty hub. The site is downstream from a wagon road chartered by the Legislature around the time Oregon achieved statehood, which was in 1859.

The discovery of historical artifacts in and around the Sandy River isn’t unusual although items the size and age of the wagon wheel are rare.

 ##ODOT##