Historic Hood River
Government Rangers of Skamania County
2-13-2014
Notes
We don’t know much about the origin of this great image beyond the label. It was part of a set of glass negatives found in the basement of a local drug store, likely related to Herman Kresse. I suspect this negative was the source for a postcard, though I haven’t ever seen the card.
charlott
Interesting. Suits and chaps…Wonder what they are out there looking for…
Buzz
Probably looking for some of your,or possibly our, ancestors who were horse thieves. LOL. It is obvious from all the pictures I have seen on this site that horses were important in that time. The all appear to be well fed, groomed, and taken care of. More so than too many of the horses that you see in pastures today.
l.e.
Neat photo!!!
I wonder if their names would be familiar local names or if they were government agents that moved on.
Maybe they were checking on the sheep bands moving through the area. Maybe they were checking out the newly established Columbia National Forest. (1908)
Maybe checking on the lumber mills that were stealing government timber.
It looks previous to prohibition days so probably not checking for stills.
The road appears to be well used and in good shape.
Interesting breast collar on the second horse.
Arlen Sheldrake
I can hear the photographer yelling……TIP THOSE HATS BACK SO I CAN SEE YOUR FACES!!!!! Nice chaps or whatever those leg things are called…all seem to be matching.
Jill Stanford
Arlen, they are all wearing buffalo "woolies" (chaps) which is pretty unusual. And yes, I think they did tip back their hats for the picture. I also think they are Native American. Buzz, that breast collar is the same one that trick rider Prairie Rose Henderson has on her horse, Valentine. My photo says 1912. This is a very interesting picture.
Buzz
Jill, I wouldn’t have guessed Native American, but you may be right. And I believe those chaps were normally used more for warmth as opposed to the leather chaps which were used more for protection from brush. But I make no claim to being an expert.
Jill Stanford
But you nailed it Buzz! They were worn for warmth.So, why are they on these guys? It is obviously not mid-winter.
Buzz
My guess is this is for show. Can’t imagine government rangers working dressed like this.
nels
Looking at the background carefully, there might be a pile of supplies on the far left, and the road MIGHT curve around behind them as it looks like more light is coming through behind them.
Phyllis Crews
Love the history of this area and the historical pictures of the early days and lives of the people. Interesting weather changes over the years! Brings to life all the stories I have heard from the senior women who lived here in the 1920’s in Stevenson and Carson.
l.e.
Well….I have done some interesting searching around for early Mt Adams area forest rangers. I found photos of some, but they all had beards or mustaches.
The guys in this photo are definitely wearing the Ranger hat.
Oregon has the very interesting character Cy Bingham. He was a legend, both as Ranger and sheriff. There is even a photo of him in the curly sheep skin chaps.
http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Publications/region/6/willamette/photos.htm
OPB did a program about him and here is a short article about him.
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19901123&slug=1105661
Tina
Are you sure its not a photo taken before they bury someone ? The two guys on the right look dead which would explain the fancy cloths and chaps.
mitch patton
Has anyone figured out how theses riders are and if this pic was for a post card or taken in real time for the years the riders were patrolling Skamania County?