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Mount Hood, Oregon, from Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken November 17, 2005.
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Fisher and Fishers Landing ...
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The small community of Fisher and the once thriving docks of Fishers Landing are located at Columbia River Mile (RM) 115, directly across from Government Island and approximately 2 miles upstream of the Vancouver Trout Hatchery and the Interstate 205 Bridge, and 3 miles downstream of Lady Island and Camas, Washington. In the late 1800s Fishers Landing was a steamboat landing. In the early 1900s to the late 1960s it was the Washington end of a ferry which went across to Government Island. Today there is a small community park and beach, and not much left of the old ferry landing.
Throughout the years the community of Fisher has been known as
"Fishers Landing", "Fishers", and "Fishers Wharf", and even at one time "Pumpkin Center".
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Solomon W. Fisher ...
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Fishers Landing was named for Solomon W. Fisher who, in the 1850s, filed a Donation Land Claim on 160 acres on
Government Island, and 160 acres on the north side of the Columbia River, 8 miles east of Vancouver, Washington. The settlement of "Fisher" developed, which later became commonly known as "Fishers Landing". Today "Fisher" is still located along the banks of the Columbia River, while the name "Fishers Landing" refers to a high-tech community development located on the hill a few miles above Fisher.
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The Fisher Family ...
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In 1850 the Fisher Family left Missouri by wagon train to settle in the Pacific Northwest. From "Columbian.com" website (2005):
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"... It was in 1850 that the six brothers and sisters of the famous family left Missouri by wagon train. They included Solomon, John, Adam, Job, Ann Jemima and Rachel. Ann Jemima was married to William Mortimer Simmons while Rachel was to marry H.M. Knapp, another well-known pioneer of the east county area. William and Ann Simmons brought five children with them, two of whom died on the trail, and took out a donation land claim east of 164th Avenue. Solomon also took out a claim, lying west of 164th. Adam Fisher's claim lay to the north, taking in what is now Cascade Park. Solomon, who was to become the best-known member of the family, established a riverboat landing at the foot of 164th Avenue. This evolved into a community called Fisher's Landing, which at one time was considered for the county seat. The entire area today is known as Fisher's Landing, although the docks and most of the historic buildings are long gone. ..."
["Columbian.com" website, 2005]
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The "Landing" ...
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Two docks existed at Fisher's Landing, complete with buildings and warehouses. According to Richenda Fairhurst in "Images of America: Fisher's Landing", published 2008 by Arcadia Publishing:
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"Buisnessman Solomon Welton Fisher built Fisher's Landing in 1851 as a commercial shipping and refueling dock for steamships on the Columbia River, with a second dock added later. The site included a post office, started as early as 1852 but recognized in 1858, a livery stable, C.H. Danforth's blacksmith shop, mercantile shops, and the Pioneer Building. Near the landing were the Mill Plain Shipping and Trading Company, the Washougal and La Camas Transportation Company, the Columbia Fruit Canning Company, the North Pacific Brewing Company, and Prudence Powell Barnes's store. ... Fisher's Landing projected 20 to 30 feet into the river and featured a two-story warehouse. It was wide enough for a wagon and team of horses (and later trucks) to travel down and back and also to accommodate piles of cordwood, milk and butter exports, and sacks of grain and potatoes. The Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway Company stopped at Fishers, but did not ... come out over the water."
[Richenda Fairhurst, 2008, "Images of America: Fisher's Landing", Arcadia Publishing]
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Early Fishers Landing ...
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On November 3, 1805, Lewis and Clark camped on Goverment Island, across the Columbia River from what would become Fisher's Landing.
According to the "Columbian.com" website (2011):
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"Fishers Landing:
Originally named Fisher for Solomon W. Fisher, who filed a land claim in the early 1850s, including 160 acres on the Columbia River's north bank and 160 acres on Government Island. The name later was modified to Fishers Landing by popular usage. At one time Fishers was called Pumpkin Center, a name placed there by a businessman, but the name didn't stick."
The 1852 Cadastral Survey (tax survey) for T1N R2E shows a road from the area of todays Lieser Point, follows the Columbia River until it reaches the Hudson's Bay Company Mills (today the location of the Vancouver Trout Hatchery), swings inland and then heads once again south ending at the location of today's Fishers Landing.
A post office was established at Fisher's Landing in 1851 and formally recognized in 1858, with Solomon Fisher being postmaster. This Post Office closed in 1870.
In 1880, residents of the Fisher's area petitioned for another post office, and in 1881 one was opened, again with Solomon Fisher as postmaster. This Post Office was named Fisher's. In 1894 the name was shortened to Fisher. This post office closed in 1917.
From the June 2, 1881 "The Vancouver Independent" newspaper:
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"The post-office at Fisher's Landing is now established and regularly supplied with mail."
The 1863 Cadastral Survey (tax xurvey) for T1N R2E, shows
S.W. Fisher having a DLC of 160.39 acres (Claim No.41), of sections 1 and 12. Just to the east is the DLC of Wm. M Simmons, for 243.13 acres (Claim No.43).
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office (GLO) Records database (2007) shows
Solomon W. Fisher being granted title to 160.39 acres of T1N R2E Sections 1 and 12, on September 1, 1865, under the 1850 Oregon-Donation Act. Solomon W. Fisher was also granted title to 12.4 acres of T1N R2E section 1, on July 2, 1866, under the 1820 Sale-Cash Entry.
There is also a listing for an Adam Fisher being granted title to 162.01 acres of T1N R2E Section 1,
on December 3, 1859, under the 1850 Oregon-Donation Act.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office (GLO) Records database (2007) shows Amy J. Simmons and Willaim M. Simmons being granted title to 639.86 acres of T1N R2E Sections 1, 6, 7, and 12,
on December 22, 1865, under the 1850 Oregon-Donation Act.
Steamers stopped at Fisher's Landing to load cordwood for fuel. A sawmill existed a Hudson's Bay Company mill near today's Vancouver Trout Hatchery and wood was towed upriver to Fisher's Landing or nearby Remington Landing (today the site of Gentry's Landing, a marina and moorage).
The 1888 plat map for Clark County had "Fisher's Landing" mapped on east side of what is now 164th, and "S. Fisher" owning Donation Land Claim (DLC) property on the west side of what is now 164th. No ferry is depicted on this map other than the
"Steam Ferry" downstream between Vancouver and the Oregon shore upstream of Hayden Island.
Early maps of Washington show the development of the early Columbia River communities from Vancouver east to Camas, including Image, Ellsworth, and Fisher.
- Cram's 1883 "Rail road & township map of Washington" shows "Vancouver" and the "Fisher's P.O.".
- Cram's 1889 "Railroad and county map of Washington" shows "Vancouver", "Vancouver Barracks", "Fisher's", and then "La Camas".
- The 1897 Post Route Map of the State of Washington, in operation on the 1st of September, 1897" shows "Vancouver" and "Fisher".
- Cram's 1904 "Map of Washington" shows "Vancouver" and "Vancouver Sta.", "Fisher", and "Camas".
- The 1905 edition of the 1896 U.S. Geological Survey 1:62500 topographic map for "Portland, Oreg." shows "Vancouver", "Vancouver Barracks", "Russell Landing", "Ellsworth", and "Fishers".
- The 1908 "Railroad Commission Map of Washington, 1908" shows "Vancouver", "Ellsworth", "Fisher", and "La Camas".
- The 1910 "Railroad Commission Map of Washington, 1910" shows "Vancouver", "Image", "Ellsworth", "Fisher", "Kiernan", and "Camas".
- Cram's 1911 map shows "Vancouver" and "V. Sta.", "Image", "Ellsworth", "Fisher", and "Camas".
- Cram's 1925 map of Washington shows "Vancouver", "Ellseworth", "Fisher", and "Camas".
- The 1928 "Railroad Map of Washington, 1928" shows "Vancouver", "McLoughlin", "Image", "Ellsworth", "Fisher", "Prune Hill", and then "Camas".
In 1914 the U.S. Board of Geographic Names made "Fisher" the official name.
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Fisher in 1941 ...
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From "The New Washington: A Guide to the Evergreen State, Federal Writers' Project, 1941":
"... FISHER, (48 alt., 35 pop.), is a railroad center among orchard lands. A large camping ground near has picnic facilities. West of Fisher is a junction, with a dirt road. Right on this road to the BIDDLE FISH HATCHERY, 1.3 m., owned by Stephen Biddle, a student of Indian lore. The hatchery is surrounded by timber and enclosed by a waire fence hidden from the road. ..."
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Views ...
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Beach, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken September 8, 2016.
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Beach, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Interstate 205 Bridge is in the background.
Image taken November 23, 2005.
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Beach, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Interstate 205 Bridge is in the background.
Image taken October 25, 2005.
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Trader on the beach, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Interstate 205 Bridge is in the background.
Image taken October 25, 2005.
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Rocks at Fishers Landing as seen from downstream.
Government Island is in the background.
Image taken October 25, 2005.
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No Parking, Standing, or Stopping sign, Fishers Landing.
Image taken October 25, 2005.
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- Fisher Cemetery ...
- Fisher Quarry ...
- Government Island to Fishers Landing Ferry ...
- North Bank Road ...
- "Pumpkin Center" ...
- Simmons, Remington, and Gentry Landings ...
- Views from Fishers Landing ...
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Fisher Cemetery ...
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In 1852 William Simmons donated land for a cemetery, making it the first public cemetery in Washington State. The cemetery is located near the Columbia River at the base of todays' 164th Street.
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"... the cemetery's original graves may pre-date the 1850s, and the first wooden grave markers, perhaps identifying Hudson's Bay men or early pioneers, have long eroded away. Monuments to mothers lost and children drowned chronicle the stories and tragedies of Fishers Landing's first families. ... Norman Powell served as Fishers Cemetery caretaker for 30 years. He relates that his aunt Clara Powell Kreeger "lost sleep" thinking about those buried in the unmarked graves. At her urgings, Powell erected a memorial for the adventurers, laborers, and pioneers buried -- with and without markers -- at Fishers. The monument, erected with community donations and support, features a marble top that Powell purchased himself."
[Richenda Fairhurst, 2008, "Images of America: Fisher's Landing", Arcadia Publishing]
The scripture on the reverse of the marble top says:
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"This memorial is dedicated to the memory of th early Pioneers who lie here in unmarked graves. Fishers Cemetery Association, 1988."
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Fisher Cemetery, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken August 24, 2009.
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Fisher Cemetery, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken August 24, 2009.
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Fisher Cemetery, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken August 24, 2009.
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Fisher Cemetery, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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Granite top, Fisher Cemetery, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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Fisher Cemetery, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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Fisher Quarry ...
Also known as "Fishers Quarry" or "Fishers Landing Quarry", the Fisher Quarry lies at Columbia River Mile (RM) 116. The quarry began operations about 1881 and is still in operation today. Early rock went for the the Gray's Harbor jetty and the major part of the Columbia River jetty and rock today is used in road beds and landscaping. Fisher Quarry is located in basalt flows which erupted from a vent located on the slope of Prune Hill, a Boring Lava cone.
Fisher Quarry is located a little over one mile east of Fishers Landing and approximately 3.5 miles west of the community of Camas. The edge of the Quarry can be seen from Washington State Highway 14.
[More]
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HISTORICAL PHOTO, Fisher Quarry as seen ca.1909.
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"Quarry near Fishers Landing, Columbia River, Washington. Shows loading incline."
Source: N.H. Darton, 1909, Structural Materials in Parts of Oregon and Washington:
USGS Bulletin 387.
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Fisher Quarry as seen from SE 192nd Ave, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken July 31, 2014.
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Fisher Quarry west of 192nd, Vancouver, Washington.
View from overlook off of SE 192nd Avenue.
Image taken May 17, 2015.
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Government Island to Fishers Landing Ferry ...
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A ferry once ran between Government Island and Fishers Landing.
The 1948 NOAA Chart "Columbia River Vancouver to Bonneville" shows "Fisher" as the Washington end of a ferry, with the Government Island end of the ferry located on the downstream side of today's Jewitt Lake drainage, near today's "Government Island Dock". Also shown was "Bartlett Ldg.", located upstream on Government Island, with a road extending from Bartlett Landing across Government Island to the southern shore.
The 1966 NOAA Chart #6156, "Columbia River Vancouver to Bonneville", also shows the ferry between Fisher and Government Island, with a road heading across the island from the Government Island ferry location. The 1969 and 1971 editions still show the ferry, however the 1973 edition shows no ferry.
The 1975 edition shows simply a "ramp" located at the point of land at Fisher, while the 1977 edition has no "ramp".
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Government Island old ferry landing as seen from Fishers Landing.
Image taken November 23, 2005.
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Pilings, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken October 21, 2005.
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Pilings, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken October 25, 2005.
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Piling remains, Fishers Landing, Vancouver, Washington.
Image taken October 25, 2005.
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North Bank Road ...
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The Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railroad, competitors in the transcontinental business, launched the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway in 1905 and built a line along the north side of the Columbia River. This line was known as "The North Bank Railroad", "The North Bank Road", "Columbia River Scenic Route", and "The Northwests Own Railway". The tracks were started in October 1905 and completed in February 1908, with a celebration being held on March 11th at Sheridan Point upstream of the Fort Rains Blockhouse location. On March 19th, regular passenger service between Vancouver and Pasco was begun. The journey took eight hours.
STATIONS ON THE NORTH BANK
Between Vancouver and Pasco There Will Be 43 Stops.
"LYLE, Wash., July 24, 1907. -- (Special.) -- Chief Surgeon Irvine, of the North Bank Road says there will be 43 stations about five miles apart on the line between Vancouver and Pasco. From west to east the stations will appear on the new map as Image, Fisher, Bourne, Seal, Cruzatt, Butler, Cascades, Stevenson, Ash, Collins, Cooks, Hood, Bingen, Villa, Lyle, Skadat, Grandalles, Spedis, Avery, Timms, Columbus, Cliffs, Towal, Harbin, Fountain, Sanda, Roosevelt, Moonax, McCredie, Carley, Luzon, Sage, Patterson, Coolide, Gravel, Plymouth, Colbia, Mottinger, Tomar, Yellepit, Hoover and Finley. He also reports the track is being blasted as fast as laid."
Source:
"Morning Oregonian", July 25, 1907, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspapers Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2019.
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"Pumpkin Center" ...
Between the 1930s to the 1950s a gas and grocery stop called "Pumpkin Center" operated next to the Fisher's Cemetery. A local move to rename "Fisher" to "Pumpkin Center" never succeeded. Today the foundation is all that remains.
"Fishers' heyday as a thriving river port diminished after the construction of the rialroad in 1908, and by the time of the automobile, it had become a quiet riverside community of farmers and worker cabins. From the 1930s through the 1950s, many knew the area as Pumpkin Center. George Allen owned a general store and gas station at the bottom of today's 164th Avenue and named the store Pumpkin Center. He had high hopes for rekindling some of Fishers' old steam and tried to rename the region Pumpkin Center as well. The name, though well remembered, did not stick. As George Allen's wife reportedly said, "There aren't any pumpkins around here.""
Source:
Richenda Fairhurst, 2008, "Fishers Landing": Arcadia Publishing.
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"Pumpkin Center" location, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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"Pumpkin Center", remains, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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"Pumpkin Center", remains, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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"Pumpkin Center" foundation, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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"Pumpkin Center" foundation, Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken March 17, 2009.
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Simmons, Remington, and Gentry Landings ...
Simmons Landing was a landing located on the Washington side of the Columbia River at Columbia River Mile (RM) 115.5, immediately east of Fisher's Landing and west of Fisher Creek. Remington Landing and Gentry Landing were subsequent landings at the Simmons location.
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Views from Fishers Landing ...
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Views of Mount Hood, Oregon, can be seen from the original Columbia River "landing" site while views of Mount St. Helens can be seen from the plain above the original Columbia River Fishers Landing. This plain is the home to the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory, established in the early 1980s in response to the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
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Mount Hood, Oregon, from Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken October 21, 2005.
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Early morning, Mount St. Helens, from top of hill at Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken January 3, 2005.
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Evening sunset, Mount St. Helens with steam, from top of hill at Fishers Landing, Washington.
Image taken October 13, 2004.
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Mount St. Helens eruption plume, from Fishers Landing, Washington.
Taken at approximately 5:30 pm.
Image taken March 8, 2005.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 3, 1805 ...
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