Historic Hood River
Hood River Valley Horticultural Fair (detail)
7-28-2011
Notes
Here’s some more detail from the great glass negative of the Hood River Valley Horticultural Fair, circa 1900. I’ve commented before on the talented sign painters in Hood River during that era, and here’s another example of commercial art.
The gathering of gentlemen with canes could very well include some of Hood River’s founding fathers. They would remember when the railroad arrived in 1881, and would have seen the city grow from a handful of residents to almost 800.
l.e.
I love this picture.
Don’t you wish you could listen to the conversations?
It sure would eliminate a lot of our questions.
Looks like the one gentleman is using two canes. Before the days of hip and knee replacements.
I really am surprised at the men’s hats. That had to be quite an expense in those days.
Arthur
Funny you mention the cost of the hats. We just processed a picture of the hat department at the Paris Fair. They had a stack of hats for sale, assorted styles, for $0.98. That would be something between $20 and $30 in current dollars.
Connie
I have never heard of the Hunt Sign Company. I wonder if they were local or someone that came from elsewhere just for the fair? I too would love to know what they are all talking about. What do you think they would say about our Hood River County Fair today?
nels
wow! Check out the facial hair on those gentlemen. Between three piece suits, hats, high collars, and facial hair and no air conditioners, how does one keep cooled off?
Charlott
I imagine like everything else we know they would be totally mind boggled.
If one had always worn wool suits, beards, etc, I guess you would just accept it. Women in those corsets and layers and layers of petticoats. With our AC’s and "sippy" cups to keep cool they might think we were a weak generation (s)
Charlott
I don’t know how many times I have come back and looked at this picture. I have a VERY strong feeling that the short man with his hands in his pockets talking to the tall man is none other than my own great grandfather. If I could see a closer picture of his face I could be more certain. I have photos of him wearing a hat much like this, plus the mustache is very much like his. The time frame is pretty correct, maybe 1901 or 1902 as that is when he started farming in the Hood River Valley and would have been very interested in this fair.