Historic Hood River
Oaks Confectionery
1-4-2016
Notes
It’s always good to start off a new year with some sweets. This isn’t Hood River, but it’s full of great detail. The rest of the collection that contained this postcard was from the turn of the century, so that seems like a good bet for this view of Vancouver’s (WA)Oaks Confectionery.
Early accounts of Hood River describe a confectionery on First Street right by the train station which was one of the first retail establishments in the city.
We’ve seen a view of the Kresse Drug soda fountain from a few decades later. While it didn’t have any taxidermy, it was at least as grand as this establishment.
May 2016 have its share of sweet moments which we can look back upon nostalgically!
Longshot
What are the items in the lower left corner of the picture?
What can we infer from these workers at a circa 1900 confectionery not being overweight?
kenn
Not being overweight could have to do with spending so much time on your feet, and possible a "no grazing " rule as is common in restaurants and grocery stores.
Arthur, you and this site are so much appreciated, such a great way to start my day.
Arthur
My guess is those objects in the lower left corner are pipes. Frequently confectioneries also sold tobacco products. I think those may be cigars in the display case to the left.
nels
Flowers, stuffed birds, and bird cages in a bakery? And an apparent sketch of an owl. Tables made of tree rounds. Definitely a unique decor, but what is the large thing in the center on a tree?
nels
Sorry, not bird cages. Some kind of decorated cover for tap or faucets. Guess I’d better get some new glasses.
Thanks Arthur for your diligence and dedication to this site. The quality and diversity tells so much about our community, rather like the "Sense of Place" venue, helping people put down roots as they become aware of their own place in the historical picture.
Arthur
I think that’s actually a stuffed owl in a glass case perched in the tree.
Arlen Sheldrake
amazing store……so what is that thing hanging directly left of the stuffed owl?
L.E.
Whew, that place makes me sneeze just looking at a photo.
I can’t find anything about an Oaks Confectionery in Vancouver. I think Sauvie’s Island might have been one of the first places that Chinese Pheasants were planted. I wonder if the stuffed one is a local.
Charlott
We used to have China Pheasants galore in Pine Grove when I was growing up. I think finally a combination of plowing and sprays wiped them out. Here a couple of years ago I was going up Fir Mountain Road and shocked out of my wits when a low flying one went right in front of me………………….First one I had seen in years over there.