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"Camas Pride" banner, Camas, Washington.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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Camas ...
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The small community of Camas lies on the Washington side of the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 121, just west of Washougal, and situated behind Lady Island.
The Washougal River joins the Columbia River at Camas.
The Crown-Zellerback pulp and paper mill is the major industry in Camas. A Boring Lava cone, Prune Hill, rises to the north of Camas. The name "Camas" refers to a local edible root, the Camassari quamash, a staple food item native inhabitants along the Columbia River.
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Camas flowers -- "resembles a lake of fine clear water".
Taken from moving car while on highway.
View from north of Camas, Washington.
Image taken April 28, 2007.
"... the quawmash is now in blume at a Short distance it resemhles a lake of
fine clear water, So complete is this deseption that on first Sight I
could have Sworn it was water. ..."
[Clark, June 12, 1806, at Weippe Prairie, Idaho]
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Camas fields near Round Lake, Camas, Washington.
Image taken April 28, 2007.
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Early Camas ...
An early name for the Camas Post Office was "La Camas", a name given to the local camas plant by the French-Canadians employed by the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1894 the Post Office switched to "Camas" to avoid confusion with "La Center" and "La Conner", two other Pacific Northwest towns.
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"... Residents continued to use La Camas as the town's name, except on mail, until 1909, when the present name was adopted, by petition, as official. ..."
[Hitchman, 1985, Place Names of Washington]
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Camas in 1941 ...
From "Washington: A Guide to the Evergreen State", 1941, by the Washington State Historical Society, Federal Works Agency, Works Projects Administration (WPA):
"... CAMAS, 90.3 m. ... in a semicircle of evergreen hills dropping to cultiveated prairie land bordering the Columbia River on the south, is a "City of Paper." Wide, concrete-paved streets and modern brick business and residential buildings give a pleasant, lively appearance to the town. The mill buildings and the ever-present odor of sulphite suggest the industrial background of the city.
Construction of a sawmill by Jacob Hunsacker in 1846 on Lake Lackamas brought the first industrial activity to the district. First settlement was in 1860 near a sand bar where the camas, a blue-flowered, sweet-flavored bulb, grew prolifically; the village retained the name of this favorite food of the Indians.
The growth of Camas was the direct result of paper manufacture. The uncertainty of paper delivery from eastern mills, because of slow sailing around Cape Horn and oxteam transportation across the coutnry, long handicapped the newspapers of the Northwest. In 1884 constuction of a paper mill began on Lake Lackamas; after 18 months of operation, it was completely destroyed by at $150,000 fire. The mill was rebuilt the following year, with provision for new methods of pulp production and additional machinery. With its unlimited pulpwood resources, Camas grew as the factory expanded. ...
Docks on the river fron handle shipments of materials and products for the paper mill. Fruit from near-by prune orchards is packed and prepared for shipment by water and rail. Smelt fishing during the spring and salmon fishing during the summer also contribute to Camas' revenue. Pails, basin, and washboilers are used during the smelt run to scoop the tiny, oily fish from the streams. ..."
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Street Scenes ...
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Street scene, Camas mill, Camas, Washington.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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Street scene, Camas mill, Camas, Washington.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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Street scene, Flutes and Rocks Lounge, Camas, Washington.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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- Camas Moose Lodge 1042 (and Lacamas Lake Lodge) ...
- Camas Slough ...
- Flood of 1894 ...
- Heritage Park ...
- Lacamas Creek, Lacamas Lake, and Round Lake ...
- Lacamas Lake Regional Park ...
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Camas Moose Lodge 1042 (and Lacamas Lake Lodge) ...
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The Camas Moose Lodge 1042 use to occupy a building on the shore of Lacamas Lake. The building was built in the 1940s as a boat repair shop. The Lodge purchased the property and then sold it to the city of Camas in 2000 with the Lodge remaining as renters until 2012 when they made the move to a new home in Washougal. The lakeside property has since been developed into a Camas community center called "Lacamas Lake Lodge". Improvements include the property, building, dock replacement, walkways, and trail connections to next door Heritage Park.
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Camas Moose Lodge 1042, at Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington.
This location is now a community center, with the Moose Lodge moving into Washougal in 2012.
Image taken April 28, 2007.
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Camas Slough ...
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The "Camas Slough" separates the Washington shore and the community of Camas from nearby Lady Island. Washington State Highway 14 crosses the Camas Slough.
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Camas Slough, Washington.
The Camas Slough separates Camas, Washington (left) from Lady Island (right).
View from moving car on Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken July 2, 2006.
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Flood of 1894 ...
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At La Camas.
"The little town of La Camas, on the Washington side, above Vancovuer, is having its full share of high water trouble. Work has been suspended at the paper mill, the flat north of town is many feet under water, and the boundary of the flood is now on a line of McMaster's store, which the water just reaches. From the steps in front of Cowan's store, opposite the mill, crizens now put in their spare hours fishing, and make good hauls of trout and other fish. The first floor of the residence of Supt. West, of the paper mill, is under five feet of water, and the family has been obliged to seek safer and more comfortable quarters. Another loss to Mr. and Mrs. West was the destruction of their handsome garden of flowers, the pride of all La Camas. The steamer Ione now makes its landings immediately in front of the La Camas hotel.
Lady's island, in front of the town, is completely submerged, and steamers cross and recross the water over the island. The buildings on the island have all been securely anchored, and residents have deserted their homes for safer quarters."
Source:
"The Daily Astorian", June 12, 1894, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspapers Archives, Unviversity of Oregon Libraries, 2016.
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[More]
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Heritage Park ...
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Camas's Heritage Park is a 5 1/2 acre developed park at Lacamas Lake and is located next to the Lacamas Lake Lodge (old Moose Lodge). The park has a two-lane boat launch, floating dock, boat and vehicle parking, picnic tables, open grass area, walking path, and restroom facilities.
"Lacamas Heritage Trail along Lacamas Lake is a long continuous nature corridor that receives considerable use. Paved and unpaved trails in Lacamas Park and Lacamas Creek Park provide a good outdoor experience that is easily accessible to the public.
Source:
Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce website, 2016.
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[More]
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Lacamas Creek, Lacamas Lake, and Round Lake ...
Lacamas Lake is a narrow 2-mile-long lake located one mile north of Camas, Washington, and Round Lake joins Lacamas Lake on its southeast side. Lacamas Lake was formed by building two dams along Lacamas Creek at Round Lake.
Lacamas Lake is used as a fresh-water supply for the Crown-Zellerback pulp and papermills at Camas.
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Lacamas Creek, Washington.
View from moving car on highway.
Image taken April 28, 2007.
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Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington.
Image taken April 28, 2007.
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Autumn, Round Lake, Washington.
Image taken November 3, 2008.
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Lacamas Lake Regional Park ...
The 312-acre Lacamas Lake Regional Park surrounds Round Lake, and features a picnic shelter, barbecue grills, picnic tables, a playground, and 6 miles of scenic hiking trails. This park is popular in the spring when the Camas is in bloom.
[More]
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Map, Lacamas Park, Camas, Washington.
Image taken February 5, 2012.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 3, 1805 ...
Clark, March 31, 1806 ...
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