Historic Hood River
Hood River Depot, Circa 1905
2-6-2013
Notes
This attractive portrait of the “gateway” to Hood River probably dates from the first decade of the 1900s. We can see both the OR&N depot and the Mt. Hood Railroad depot, the Mt. Hood Hotel and the Gerdes Hotel. And the photographer threw in a steam locomotive for Arlen.
It’s possible this is a Benjamin Gifford image. It’s from a pair of albums prepared for the Hood River Commercial Club by the agent of the OR&N and Southern Pacific Railroads. All the prints in the other album bear Gifford’s embossed mark. While all the images in this album have the same look and style, they are not marked. I suspect this was a stock Gifford image he used as a front piece to the album, most of which details fruit production in the valley.
charlott
It is a shame that that little depot was not saved. That would have been something wonderful to go along with the tourist attraction of The Mt. Hood Railroad. Surely it could have been to a good use.
Good view of the old water tank on down the track.
nels
Any background available on this attractive depot?
Arlen Sheldrake
An OUTSTANDING photo!!!! I wonder how many of the thousands of visitors to the 1905 Portland Lewis & Clark Exposition visited HR siince vast majority arrived by train. Some time in the near future the volunteers working here in Portland on the OR&N 197 (UP 3203) steam locomotive built in 1905 who visited HR regularly will be back in steam doing what it was built for, pulling passengers. In my dream world, I would pose the 197 in this same spot near the younger HR depot. Your postings continue to amaze me and make my day Arthur. Thanks!
AndrewB
What is the building right behind the train’s smoke? It almost looks like a house.
Arthur
Andrew, the building behind the plume of steam is the OR&N (main line) depot. There were two separate depots back then. Both are sadly gone, but at least our "new" depot is still in use by the Mt. Hood Railroad.
Paul
Is the Ruins what is left of the Gerdes Hotel?
Arthur
Paul, the Gerdes Hotel was where the eyeglass store is now. The "ruins" is the remains of an old cannery, and it would actually be behind us to the left in this picture.
AndrewB
Arthur, do you have any pics of the ruins/cannery? Would love to see what it looked like and what happened to make it into ruins.
Arthur
Andrew, there’s a pretty good view of the cannery/ ruins in image # 40
l.e.
Arthur….looking at the 1918 photo # 212 of a newer train station, do you think both of the older stations have been torn down?
l.e.
From the National Register of Historical Places:
"Plans for a Hood River depot were prepared by P.M. Hall-Lewis, a local architect. Ground was broken on the station in May, 1906, for the 19 foot by 45 foot, two-story depot. The lower floor of the depot was divided into two rooms; one for passengers and one other for freight. The upstairs was divided into an office and living quarters for the agent. The Hood River depot was completed for $2,000"