Historic Hood River
Babson Family of Parkdale
Notes
[Ed. note: Here’s another post from a History Museum volunteer. Hope you enjoy it while I enjoy another day off.]
This image of Mr. Sydney Babson and his family was taken about 1913 in front of the family home near Parkdale, Oregon. Sydney Gorman Babson was born in New York and came to Hood River about 1907. His travels took him to a rough undeveloped area in the shadow of Mt. Hood that would become his lifetime home. He bought the west eighty acres of the Knight homestead five miles south of the Mt. Hood post office.
In 1908 Mr. Babson began clearing the land along with his brother Rea Edwin. They planted one of the first commercial apple and pears orchards in the area.
In the fall of the same year Sydney went to New Jersey to marry his sweetheart Grace Campbell. After their marriage, they returned to Parkdale and to their new home built by Lou Baldwin.
Sydney and Grace had three children. Arthur Clifford was born in 1909 and Sydney Gorman, Jr. was born in 1912. Both are in this family photo. Mary Hague was born in 1915. The family operated Avalon Orchards and Sydney was named “Orchardist of the Year� in 1960.
-BB
l.e.
The horses are in good shape! I wonder why the front wagon wheels are smaller than the back.
It looks like an Oak? post is used to support the porch.
l.e.
The wagon must have been used for hauling freight. Or apples and pears.
It looks like two kitchen chairs were used for seats.
And the lady up front appears to be a bit nervous.
Not only are the horses in good shape but probably a bit frisky.
Paul Kollas
Smaller front wheels allow a shorter turning radius. If this wagon were to maintain the same turning radius with wheels the same diameter as the rear wheels, the front axle would have to be much longer– or, the wagon made considerably narrower.
Charlott
Care of horses were generally foremost in farmers minds in that era and earlier. They were the "bread and butter" of farmers. Teams did the plowing, hauling, etc. Without those "teams" the farmers life was nothing.
l.e.
Sure, that makes sense Paul.
I just read the obituary for Arthur Clifford, in the San Francisco Gate newspaper and Mr. Sydney Babson did an article for the Oregon Historical Quarterly about settling in the upper Hood River Valley. Vol. 70, No. 1 Mar., 1969 pp 50-55.
Quite an industrious family.
Gary E Davis
Mary Babson, b.1915 and my mother, Charlotte Eldridge Davis, b.1913 met at the Univ. of Oregon and formed a close friendship that lasted throughout their lives. One result is that I had the privilege of visiting Syd and Gracie Babson in their wonderful home, as pictured, on the edge of the orchard in the Upper Hood River Valley on many occasions throughout my youth growing up in Portland. Sid in particular, I remember fondly as a larger than life character, who took no prisoners at the ping pong table on the porch. He was a whiz, and neither I nor any of his grandchildren were a match for him!
In Portland, my parents were also close friends with Gory Babson, b.1912 and his wife Ruth, who he adored. In my adult life I had my own friendship with Gory as a result of his adventurous travels having brought him to visit me during the 25 years I spent living and working in Africa. My recollection is that he came to visit me and my family in both Kenya and Senegal–perhaps there was a third time also.
But to get to the point: I was prompted to do the Internet search which led me to this website by an interest in getting in touch with any of the Babsons who are still there in the Hood River Valley, because I believe I have an artifact from the Babson family which I would very much love to send to them. It is Sid’s small book of poetry, "From Far Islands and Other Poems", published in 1971 and dedicated with very shaky handwriting to my father, Harlow Davis, b. 1911. I recently uncovered this book in going through my own things, and am enjoying reading it, but feel that it belongs back in the Babson family, library! So, if anyone who happens to read this would be kind enough to put me in touch with any of Syd and Gracie’s descendants, I will be grateful.
Gary Davis, 628 Jessie St,. Monterey, CA 93940, cell: (831)915 1071
vicky horn
great memories of Mr Babson
We lived and dad worked in the orchard
Mr Babson and I had the same birthday . He taught me how to play cribbage and we played almost every day.
We moved to texas in 1972 but kept in touch until his passing,
He always told me to keep smiling and do good in English,
I think about those memories and smile.