Frederic Homer Balch, Author of "The Bridge of the Gods" - c. 1890
Frederic Balch died at the age of 30, shortly after the publication of his famous novel, "The Bridge of the Gods", in 1890. Never out of print, his novel tells the story of warring tribes seeking a confederacy to drive whites from the Northwest. It's based on the legend of a land bridge spanning the Columbia.
A melancholy figure, Balch was a Hood River minister who lived on both sides of the Columbia. His 2nd novel, "Genevieve", published posthumously in 1932, contains much autobiographical material. Balch was greatly affected by the death of the love of his life, Ginevra Whitcomb, who died of pneumonia at the age of 19. He said the most difficult responsibility of his life was to officiate at her funeral.
-- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.
Photographer | Unknown |
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Location | Hood River, Hood River County |
Subject | Portraits |
Decade | 1890s |
Print Maker | Old Oregon |
Original Type | Cabinet Card |
Size of Original | 3.9 x 5.5 inches |