The Diablo Dam was built by Seattle City Light at a location 7-1/2 miles upstream from Newhalem and completed August 27, 1930. Due to the Great Depression, the Diablo Powerhouse was not completed until 1935, with the first power being generated in 1936. The Davis Ranch was a homestead belonging to Mrs. Lucinda J. Davis and her three children, sons Frank and Glee and daughter Idessa. The family settled on the upper Skagit River in 1897, to a site eight miles above Goodell's Landing known as Cedar Bar. The Davis family's decision in selecting Cedar Bar as a homesite was a shrewd one. Not only was there a perpetual water source nearby (Stetattle Creek) and potentially good soil for a garden, but Cedar Bar was eight miles from Dohne's and a logical place to open another roadhouse. It was a reasonable distance for a traveler to achieve in a day if on foot and carrying a load. It did not take many years for the "Davis Ranch" to become an established stopping place for hundreds of miners and other travelers heading into the North Cascades. Seattle City Light's expanding hydroelectric activities along the Skagit River resulted in the condemnation of the entire Davis Ranch in 1928. Although mining in the North Cascades had subsided years earlier, the Davis roadhouse had continued rather successfully catering to increasing numbers of tourists and fisherman in the region. The Davises argued with City Light that the ranch was not only their home and farm for almost two decades, but that it had become an established business operation and a valuable asset to their existence. With this argument clearly stated, they sought $40,000 from City Light for damages resulting from the condemnation of their property. In the hearings and condemnation proceedings that followed, the family realized they were no match for the monolithic electric company. In 1929, the last trial was held and, despite an appeal to the State Supreme Court, City Light succeeded in acquiring the Davis homestead for $15,000. [Source: North Cascades National Park web site, http://www.nps.gov/noca/hrs3-4l.htm]

Caption on image: Davis Ranch, Mile 21-1/2. 5019.

PH Coll 1124.18

• Subjects (LCTGM): Ranches--Washington (State)
• Subjects (LCSH): Davis Ranch; Cedar Bar (Wash.)