Historic Hood River
Nichols Trading Post
3-30-2023
Notes
It appears the Nichols Trading Post on West Cascade served as the dealership for this innovative portable boat (also available in a welded model). You could also pick up antiques as well as new and used furniture. Nichols Boatworks was known for its innovation, but this is a part of their history I didn’t know about.
Category: Downtown Hood River
Tags: boat, Cascade Avenue, Nichols, Nichols Boat Works, Nichols Trading Post
Tags: boat, Cascade Avenue, Nichols, Nichols Boat Works, Nichols Trading Post
James
Where is this building currently? Or is it gone now? It looks like the old former, Smith’s War Surplus………?
Bhuk
And now Swell City-
Alan Winston
The "Trapper Nelson" reference in the ad caught my attention. I used a hand-me-down as a boy scout sixty years ago. It was pure joy to graduate to a lightweight contoured aluminum frame pack. I also remember using a "kidney-buster" a time or two. The good old days had many not-so-good aspects. That boat does sound fun, though – "only 42 lbs."
Dayne Weatherill
No, the sun would never hit "Smitty’s" at that angle. The building has to be on the North side of Cascade. Maybe the old laundramat they burned down across from Safeway?
Rodger Nichols
The Trading Post was owned and operated by my great-uncle Luke Nichols, brother to my grandfather Mark Nichols. The two originally founded the boat works, but Luke left to start this business.
The folding portage boat was designed by Frank Nichols, one of Mark’s sons.
An item from the January 10, 1955 edition of the Statesman Journal headlined “Flame Victims Succumbs at Hood River,” reads:
“Hood River (AP) Luke Nichols, 64, veteran Columbia riverman, died here Saturday from burns suffered in a gasoline explosion the day before.
“Nichols, who operated a trading post on the outskirts of Hood River, threw a mixture of gasoline and oil in the furnace to revive a dying fire. The mixture blew up, catching Nichols’ clothing on fire. He ran outside and neighbors snuffed out the flames by wrapping him in a blanket.
“He was taken to a hospital here where he died.”