High Wind Gusts Damage Historic Trees, Surgeon’s Quarters at Fort Dalles Museum

From Denise Dietrich-Bokum at Fort Dalles Museum:

Surgeon’s Quarters southwest corner damage

The severe wind gusts early Wednesday morning, January 13, caused damage to the Fort Dalles Museum.  A massive section of one of the historic pine trees broke during the wind and caused some damage to the roof and southwest corner of the Surgeon’s Quarters.  

“We were fortunate that the damage was not worse, states Elizabeth Wallis, President, Museum Commission, “as the limb fell, it smashed and crushed the buckeye chestnut tree, destroying the tree.  However, the chestnut tree blocked and diverted the large pine limb away from the Surgeon’s Quarters and only a small corner of the building was damaged.  If not for the chestnut tree, the damage could have been much worse.” 

Surgeon’s Quarters damage seen from bedroom

The Surgeon’s Quarters is the only remaining building of the original fort buildings at 15th and Garrison Streets.  It was built in 1856.  Fort Dalles Museum was established and opened to the public in 1905, making it the second oldest museum in Oregon.  Prior to its opening, in spring 1905, city officials and other community notables held a tree-planting ceremony on the grounds.  Trees were donated by attendees and dedicated to presidents, other historic persons, and influential community members.  The buckeye chestnut and pines are among those 1905 trees.  

Clean up has begun, but the Museum consulted an arborist who identified other “at-risk” trees that should be removed.  

Although a small tree branch poked through the roof and into the southwest bedroom (women’s room) the damage is not significant and can be repaired.  More problematic is the impact damage to the building.  The interior walls of the Surgeon’s Quarters are of 1856 lath and plaster construction, and plaster cracks have appeared in the bedroom as well as in a storage closet.  

The Museum Commission has already started clearing the felled trees, assessing the damage, and developing plans to repair and minimize future damage to the Museum and neighboring properties.  Wood from the trees was donated to the Mid-Columbia Community Action firewood program.    Elizabeth Wallis commented, “This is a significant unanticipated expense, and the Commission will be seeking grants and donations, both monetary and in-kind to assist with the tree removal and repairs to the surgeon’s quarters.”  

Chestnut tree stump

Damage to the Surgeon’s Quarter’s roof from a falling pine on Wednesday, Jan. 13, could have been much worse if the fall had not been partially obstructed by a neighboring chestnut tree.