Historic Hood River
603 Sherman
8-6-2019
Notes
I was going to use this as a “Where am I” but it didn’t seem fair. According to notes this home at 603 Sherman was built for Miss McLaren about 1910. This photo is from the 1920s. In the 1990s it was renovated extensively, as you can see below.
Nellie
Personally I think the old house was much more attractive than it is now.
L.E.
Well, the renovated version definitely does not quietly blend into the surrounding hillside.
So….who was Miss McLaren?
kmb
I like both versions, except the "lookout" they added to the top floor didn’t do much to improve the curb appeal. It’s a Tale of Two Cities: the Old Hood River and the New Hood River.
nels
Was not the current color(s) the result of a govt. agency dispute over control of color and design visible from ridge line to ridge line in the newly recognized Columbia Gorge Scenic designation? Or is that an urban legend?
Thom Turner
I remember the Ekker family living there in the 1960’s.
James
Urban legend @ nels. An artistic type named Penny, and her partner Dick, did this extensive remodel, paint job. The rock work is sure nice, as is the landscaping. The colors are, well, rainbow like………!
starboard
Actually a little bit of both as I recall nels and James. It’s in the City, so Scenic area rules don’t apply; but it seems to me the owners had a dispute with the City regarding an addition or such, and when denied they went with the carnival colors.
Norma
I remember the Miller twins living there in the 50’s and early 60’s.
ArthurB
As @starboard says the NSA color rules don’t apply within cities. An architecture magazine reviewing the house in the 1990s said the colors were inspired by the bright colors of the windsurfing sails of the era. They also had a brightly colored (was it lime green?) van. The article also said the interior is entirely white, in contrast to the exterior.
I’m skeptical of the "spite" stories. The magazine version based on interviews with the owners makes perfect sense. Neon colors were popular back then.
James
Yes Arthur, Dick’s van was lime green, could see it coming and going, and at the various windsurfing sites…., ah, the days before kiteboarding…..,so many changes here, drives some of our locals a bit nutty….., right…?
Kyle
I am astounded at how pretty that house used to be.
L.E.
If you click the McLaren tag, you will see Mary McLaren, in 1913, taking a shovel of dirt for the ground breaking celebration for the library.
The 1910 Hood River census shows Harriet McLaren, widowed, age 78, head of house, living at 603 Sherman Ave.
Living with her, is daughter Mary McLaren age 45.
Harriet was born to Jonas Wyeth of Massachusetts. I don’t know if this is the same Wyeth family of artists.
She married William Pratt McLaren, who passed away in Wisconsin in 1904. Harriet passed away in Seattle in 1928. Mary passed away in Seattle in 1960.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The 1910 census shows Mary McLaren, b. about 1865 in Wisconsin, living at 603 Sherman Ave. I don’t have any other sources for her yet.
L.E.
I gave up waiting for you Jeffrey, so did some research myself. It would be interesting to know if Harriet was a member of the famed Wyeth family.
nels
Any info on the source of their wealth to build and maintain such a lovely house?
L.E.
In the August 10, 1911 Glacier, there is a news item that George S. McLaren age 31, who lived in Seattle but was well know in Hood River died of ptomaine poisoning after eating canned mushrooms. He was the son of Harriet McLaren and a leading Seattle business man.
LMH
The Hood River glacier., July 26, 1917, Image 7
Mrs. Mary McLaren and daughter, Miss Mary McLaren, left yesterday for Seattle, where they will make an extended visit.
The Hood River glacier., September 06, 1917, Image 3
CHICAGO CAPITALIST
BUYS SUMMER HOME
After a month’s vacation spent at various mid-Columbia resorts L. O. Meacham. a Chicago capitalist, has decided to make Hood River his permanent summer home. Last week Mr. Meacham purchased through the agency of J. M. Culbertson the residence property of Mrs. W. P. McLaren,
who now resides in Seattle.
The place bought by the Chicago man is known as one of the most beautiful in Hood River. Set on the Columbia gorge in effective landscaping. it is of the shingle bungalow type, two stories in height. The home when built several years ago cost $13,000.
The Hood River glacier., October 18, 1917, Image 7
Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Meacham. of Chicago, are here looking after extensive improvements to their newly purchased home, formerly the property of
Mrs. W. P. McLaren.
LMH
L.E. – your question the relationship between the McLaren and Wyeth families. According to the February 25, 1915 Glacier Miss McLaren revealed at a Women’s club meeting through a paper presentation that her grandmother’s cousin was Nathaniel Wyeth. Miss McLaren who told of incidents connected with the pilgrimage of Nathaniel Wyeth, of Boston, he came to Oregon with plans for the colonization of the country, but who soon returned east on account of disagreements with Captain John McLaughlin.
ArthurB
I wasn’t familiar with Nathaniel Wyeth’s story, but it is worth reading his Wikipedia page. I used to live within spitting distance of Fresh Pond near Boston but never knew about Wyeth’s ice harvesting enterprise there.
L.E.
Great find LMH. Thanks. Some good history reading to look up.
starboard
Dunno how long this link will remain valid, compared to the "history" of HHR. But the house is now on the market, and the interior pix are stunning!
Spring Ford
The interior is at least as dramatic as the outside and this makes the "argument with the City" theory much less credible.
https://cottagecozy.blogspot.com/2010/08/rainbow-house.html
Actually that’s my moms house and she just loves bright fun colors. The blue roof she saw on a house in paia Maui and had to have it! There is some truth to a pissing match with the city and that can be found on the side walk on 6th street. Those little colored tiles in the cement were her protest to them not allowing her to garden in an area that is on her property but they decided was an easement. And yes the inside (for the most part) is just as colorful as the outside. The garage doors were done by artist Dorothy Gillespie.
September 08, 2016 5:25 PM
# # #
https://www.thedailybeast.com/omg-i-want-this-house-hood-river-or?ref=scroll
https://www.trulia.com/p/or/hood-river/603-sherman-ave-hood-river-or-97031–2086709027
Seems to be known locally as The Rainbow House.
Kim Ekker
My family (Ekker) Marty,Polly, brother Dane and I lived at 603 Sherman from 1960-1973.
Our property (I was told an acre) bordered 7th street (Catholic Hill) and Serpentine.
My parents (and us kids) worked refinishing birds eye maple floors, wall paper, etc. it’s nice to see it lived in and taken care of but I wish they would have restored it instead of making it look like a day care center!
Kim Ekker
I just want to thank the folks who commented on how nice the house looked previously. I understand there’s a new owner and the house no longer looks like crayolas!
I just remember all the blood, sweat and (I’m sure) tears that my parents put into the house and yard.
I have such fond memories – what a great house to grow up in and two blocks to downtown! Walk to town!