Historic Hood River
Gilkerson Ranch
3-20-2017
Notes
Horace Gilkerson is standing while everyone else is picking strawberries at his father’s “ranch” circa 1921.
This seems like a good image to remind us it’s spring.
The History Museum of Hood River County
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Dale Nicol
"Child labor"!
L.E.
I assume this will be out in Charlott’s territory?
Charlott
Horace Gilkerson was an Illinois native, the son of Frank and Eva Gilkerson.
I think this is quite possibly up in the Central Vale area, as there were Gilkerson families living there. This is one of the few times I have seen a strawberry patch on that steep of a hill.
The pickers are Japanese. Earlier than this photo we know that the Indians used to work in the berry fields of which in those days there were ample.
"Child labor" was very good in my day picking berries, as most valley kids did it. Not that we enjoyed it, but it gave us GOOD work ethics, plus spending money that we had worked for. I picked for numerous people that had berries and all were very caring of the children that worked for them. We did start early, but we were send home when it got hot. Ole Blackmer used to go to The Boys and buy pop and popcycles on hot days for us.
Yes, there was a problem in some areas of child labor not being good. Too bad all this was ruined by some of the laws. Some of our local youth could certainly benefit by the summer in the strawberry fields, if there were any.
Kenn
Big for strawberries, up to the knees of an adult and the waist of a child?
L.E.
Irrigation flume running along the hillside? You can see the fruit trees planted amongst the strawberries.
I agree, that the plants look huge. At first I thought it was some sort of vegetable crop.
Arlen Sheldrake
even some "city" kids did picking…….taught me quickly that stoop labor was NOT my idea of a career goal……..
Longshot
Why were such wide strips plowed between the beds?
L.E.
Do you think for planting the trees?
Arthur
Maybe they left room for row crops? I’d think a farmer would want to hedge his bets a little, and have some income later in the summer.
I know John Koberg alternated fruit trees, asparagus, and tomatoes at his farm by Koberg beach. Seems like that covers spring, summer, and fall.