In November 2005, I was fortunate enough to secure a position with the Portland, Oregon Water Bureau's security staff. Our job is to ensure the safety and security of all our bureau facilities, including Portland's watershed. During training, on our first journey to some of our out of town facilities, I spotted a single wooden pin on a tree and determined that after my training phase was complete, would keep a watchful eye on the trees on future trips to the same location. When I finally returned on my own in January, I spotted two CD106 Hemingrays on sidepins about 20 - 25 feet up in some older trees. One insulator was aqua and the other clear. Based on the information I could gather about this site, the campground was established about 1910, so I feel certain the line was probably installed somewhere in that time frame for telephone service. In addition to the glass that's still up, there's some porcelain donuts also still hanging from trees at locations where the road bends. I've included a couple photographs of the insulators still up for you to enjoy. Even though the insulators are not rare, I find it still fascinating that after all these years, these pieces still remain in good condition. Also of interest to me is that it appears to have been a single line circuit - I didn't know they still used those as recently as 1910 or later.

At another location, there's evidence of an old power circuit using porcelain signals and sidepins, which has long been abandoned. I was able to locate an old weathered pin and insulator on the inside of one of the water bureau facilities during the course of my duties one night, but because the property wasn't mine, simply left them a note and a means to contact me if anyone was willing to part with it. After inquiring, I was told the line provided power to a house and power station near one of the dams. There are old twin sidepins in some of the trees along the roadway but I don't know for certain what insulators were used throughout - perhaps more porcelain, but maybe an off chance for glass? According to my source, this line was first constructed about the time the first dam was completed prior to 1900 and then abandoned around 1980. I plan to continue my research on this line as well. Again, I've included a couple photos for your enjoyment. It's incredible to still see old stuff like this still up in the air.

Editor's Note: When traveling in mountainous, timbered terra in I've learned to watch for trees that "wink". You can just be driving along minding your own business when suddenly a giant old pine tree "winks" at you. Tile flash is momentary. But, you know, it's just not natural for trees to sparkle and shine with a bright light. So I've learned to park at a safe location off the roadway and walk back to investigate. If you walk to the back side of the tree you may just find an insulator an a sidepeg. Only a piece of the insulator was visible for only a fraction of a second as you drove by. Your eye only catches a sparkle. But most people never notice, or never take the time to stop and investigate.

Shown below is an insulator I spotted in a tree that "winked" at me as I drove along the Clearwater River an Highway 12 east of Kamiah, Idaho in March of this year. Hidden from general view an the back side of a tree, this Hemingray # 9 has escaped capture by collectors for generations. Fishing along the river is catch-and-release, so I just caught the insulator on camera and left it in place for other collectors to find and enjoy. Thanks, Mike, for sharing your story.            Howard Banks