Historic Hood River
“Main Street” Hood River Postcard
Notes
This postcard is another nice combination of image and message. The image was a popular one of Oak Street circa 1905, just after the George Crowell General Store was replaced by the brick Hall Building.
The message is from May 9, 1910, from Earl Bartmess to his wife Zella:
Dear Zella, Well this morning I was up to see the comet but no comet was in sight as it was cloudy on the east, so I was not up more than a few seconds but waked soon enough to plant the roses before coming down. It has been raining easy all afternoon. Love from me.
“The comet” of course was Halley’s Comet, which made a visit in 1910. How many of you remember its next visit in 1986? I remember a freezing hour in the woods of northern New Hampshire to capture a glimpse of the fuzzy ball. I hope Earl Bartmess was more successful later in the week.
l.e.
My grandmother told about her father getting her out of bed and carrying her outside to watch Halley’s Comet.
There are some clear skies in this photo.
Is that a yellow sandwich board out in the street for a restaurant?
Arthur
Most hand colored postcards of this era were made in Germany. Frequently the colors chosen were just a guess, though in this case I suspect the photographer sent some notes, as they knew the Hall Building had a different color of brick than all the others.
Jill Stanford
The comment "raining easy" is delightful!
I remember the Hale-Bopp (spelled wrong, I am sure!) comet but could not see Halleys here in Central Oregon.
Susan Baldwin
I remember watching the comet from the playground of May Street Elementary. Quite a sight. What I don’t remember are all of the power poles on the downtown sidewalks. Downtown is so beautiful now! Hopefully the Heights urban renewal project isn’t far behind.
hrweather
Great postcards, Arthur! I do remember Halley’s comet’s return in 1986, here in Hood River. Not as impressive as I thought it might be, but later this year, in November 2013, a potentially dazzling comet swings around the sun: http://news.yahoo.com/dazzling-comet-2013-may-among-brightest-ever-seen-171559283.html
Elda Marie Small McMillan
I remember my aunt, Marie Louise Bartmess, telling of her father, Sam Bartmess, taking her out to see Halley’s Comet. From then on she had a love of the skies, a passion that was with her to the day she died. Marie was Earl’s younger sister here in Hood River.
Arthur
What a wonderful story. If Earl’s younger sister got to see the comet, I’ll trust that Earl eventually did also.