mslangille.html

Portland, Oregon - Its History and Builders, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Portland, 1911
Page 816-9

MRS. S. LANGILLE

Mrs. S. Langille now makes her home at No. 683 Wasco street in Portland. She has a wide and favorable acquaintance in this city and, moreover, is pleasantly remembered by the great majority of tourists who visit the northwest, for during sixteen summers she was in charge of Cloud Cap Inn. She was born in Yarmouth county, Nova Scotia, a daughter of Israel and Elizabeth (Flint) Harding. Her father was also a native of that county and was a tanner by trade. She spent her girlhood days in the parental home, was educated in the place of her nativity and was trained to the duties of the household, so that she was well equipped to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage, which occurred in June, 1867. She became the wife of James E. Langille, who was born in Pictou county, Nova Scotia, March 12, 1840, and is of Swiss-French descent. He attended school where he was born and learned the wheelwright's trade but spent most of his early life as a shipbuilder. In 1867 he went to California and two years later his wife joined him. In 1871 they returned to the east, settling in Yarmouth county, Nova Scotia, but in 1878 removed to Massachusetts. About 1880 they became residents of Chicago, where Mr. Langille followed the carpenter's trade and assisted in building the town of Pullman, Illinois.
In 1883 they removed westward to Oregon, settling in the Hood river valley, where Mr. Langille took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he built a log cabin. In 1889 he had charge of the building of the Cloud Cap Inn.
After living upon the farm about nine years, Mrs. Langille secured a legal separation and in 1891 took charge of Cloud Cap Inn, which, with the aid of her sons, she conducted for sixteen seasons. This is a most unique and attractive hostelry, situated at snow line on Mount Hood. The hotel is built of logs and the structure is chained to the rocks so that it shall not be carried away by the fierce winter winds that sweep over the mountains. While primitive in style, it is thoroughly comfortable, and the air of cheeriness given by the blazing logs in the great fireplace was enhanced by the hospitable welcome which Mrs. Langille always extended to the hotel guests who, gathered around the fire in the evening, seemed more like a large family than transient visitors. The outlook from the hotel is one of rare beauty. The great snow summit of Mount Hood appears above and in the distance are seen the snowy slopes of Mount Rainier. Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens, seen across a broad expanse of valley and lake. One of the chief points of interest to the tourists is the ascent of the mountain, from which on clear days one can look abroad over the great grain fields of eastern Oregon and to the west to the Pacific ocean, while the great Columbia river from that height looks like a tiny ribbon threading the green. The effect of the sunset on Hood and the other snow-capped mountains is beautiful beyond description. It was here that Mrs. Langille spent sixteen summers, attending to the comfort of the guests at the inn, and her hospitable manner as well as the splendid view made a visit there one never to be forgotten.
Mrs. Langille has three Sons: William A., who was born August 18, 1868, is now forest superintendent of the southeast reserve in Alaska. He was one of the first to land supplies at Dawson during the great gold rush in Alaska, and was the first to make an ascent on the north side of Mound Hood, hitherto considered inaccessible. Herbert B., who was born January 27, 1871, is now an electrical engineer living in the Hood river valley. He is a graduate of the Leland Stanford University, and married Tessie Conroy, a native of Ireland. Harold D., born September 19, 1874, is manager for the J. D. Lacy Timber Company. He resides at home with his mother.