Historic Hood River
Watch Out Below
12-21-2023
Notes
This set of conveyor belts is an interesting detail on an Apple Growers Association building. It looks like boxes from the upper level could be quickly dropped down to a waiting truck.
Do any of you remember seeing this in action? I imagine it was quite a sight. Based on the automobile I’m guessing early 1950s. I think this was the building that used to be between 4th and 6th Streets, between Cascade and Columbia– but it could also be one of their buildings that faced onto Industrial Street.
This looks like the same era as this image.
Category: Downtown Hood River
Tags: 1950s, AGA, Apple Growers Association, fruit packing, fruit processing
Tags: 1950s, AGA, Apple Growers Association, fruit packing, fruit processing
Dale Nicol
Arthur, I think the photo of the car is more likely a mid to late 30’s model as the bustle-back style trunk was used by many GM cars.
JEC
This is the east side of the Cascade Packing House (we see the west side in the linked photo). The photographer is looking up Fifth Street (south) from near Columbia Street. Conveyor systems were a primary means of moving boxes of fruit between AGA’s downtown facilities. They crossed streets like Columbia and Industrial in covered overpasses like the one seen int the linked photo to reach railcar loading facilities and cold storages next to the Union Pacific.
JEC
This is the same side of the packing house seen in the “Diamond Fruit Fire” photo dated 9-16-2014. These conveyors must have been installed after the 1937 fire, so an early 1950’s date would seem to be reasonable, It would not be unusual for an AGA employee to own a twenty year old car at that time.