History
Highway Of The Past
The highway we call the Mountain Loop was preceded by railroads that ran supplies to the miners digging for gold in the mountains, in the late 1800's. When mining started to dwindle, in large part because the "Stilly" kept washing away the railroad tracks, logging took over as the main resource harvested. During that time Robe was a bustling business center for mills and tourists often rode the train in to the Big Four Inn, at the foot of Big Four Mountain.
As more and more people got automobiles, and the cost of maintaining the railway became prohibitive, the highway was built... not where the railroad ran, of course. The trains stayed pretty close to the river, and you can see reminants of it still today.
The history of the area the Highway travels through is very interesting. Many relics still exist. You can see former mines and reminance of the mill workers era, and the building known as Green Gables still stands and still services locals and tourists.
The building was converted into a general store in the '70's with rental space on the top floor. The entire building is now leased and run by the current proprietors, who offer an amazing array of products and services to local residents and seasonal tourists.
On any given morning you may run into local folks who congregate for morning coffee and catch up on the latest news. You may run into actual pioneers of Robe Valley who gladly recount the colorful history of this robust valley when logging and mining rued the day; when the Monte Cristo & Everett Railroad chugged by delivering supplies, and tourist to the Big Four Inn.
Highway Of The Past
The highway we call the Mountain Loop was preceded by railroads that ran supplies to the miners digging for gold in the mountains, in the late 1800's. When mining started to dwindle, in large part because the "Stilly" kept washing away the railroad tracks, logging took over as the main resource harvested. During that time Robe was a bustling business center for mills and tourists often rode the train in to the Big Four Inn, at the foot of Big Four Mountain.
As more and more people got automobiles, and the cost of maintaining the railway became prohibitive, the highway was built... not where the railroad ran, of course. The trains stayed pretty close to the river, and you can see reminants of it still today.
The history of the area the Highway travels through is very interesting. Many relics still exist. You can see former mines and reminance of the mill workers era, and the building known as Green Gables still stands and still services locals and tourists.
Green Gables is a historic site in the Cascade Foothills with a robust and colorful history. It was built in 1938 by Alber "Ab" Gosa, and was originally billed as an "Eatery" for weary mountain travelers, hunters, campers and local residence.
Ab didn't get to see the finished building because he died shortly before its completion. Alber could often be seen with his Mule and companion, "Jerry".
Ab didn't get to see the finished building because he died shortly before its completion. Alber could often be seen with his Mule and companion, "Jerry".
Green Gables as it looked in the 30's as an Eatery. Compare this photo with the next one, which was taken in approxamately the same angle, in 2006.
Green Gables as it looks
today as the General
Store of the Mountain
Loop. This version has the tire-air pump in it. Of course, back in Alber's day, old Jerry probably didn't need much inflating.