Historic Hood River
In a Desperate Hurry
8-22-2019
Notes
This image reminds us why the automobile caught on so quickly and transformed our society. The caption in Dr. Marion Shaw’s photo album says, “In a Desperate Hurry.” Dr. Shaw was no doubt rushing to a patient’s home, which meant he had to hook up his carriage to his horse and prepare the horse, which required constant care, for the trip. The bicycle and then the automobile could start up virtually immediately, and required much less care between trips.
You are probably familiar with the Shaw-Dumble house which still stands overlooking 9th Street at Sherman. I don’t think the current garage is the same as this one.
L.E.
Hard to imagine now, keeping a horse stabled at 9th and Sherman.
Winter travel had to be the biggest transformation.
Although, I have heard stories of the doctor sleeping while the horse took him back home. Cars don’t have that ability perfected yet.
nels
That particular address must have led to some precarious downhill trips when there was ice or snow or mud.
Always love your horse and buggy/wagon pictures Arthur. Have come to realize that the quality/style of your horse is similar to our choice of quality/style of our present day transportation.
Gladys
This reminds me of a story that came down in my family. My great-great grandmother’s brother was a doctor in Wisconsin. He got a call one very wintery Wisconsin night to go quite a ways from home to attend a patient. She said being it was so nasty her father decided to go with him. She said the hours past and her mother became very anxious when they didn’t come back, at least when she thought they should be. My great-great grandmother said every chance she got she turned the clock back a little bit……………She said they had lamps in all the windows and at long last they did make it back through a blizzard. They said it was almost too much for the horses to get through with the wagon that they had……
Jim
Hello. We own the old Lutheran church at 9th and State, just below the Shaw/Dumble house. I’m not so sure this carriage barn stood right next to the house as was implied by the Google Street View photo. I’m only suggesting this barn might not have been in that spot because if it was then the house should clearly be visible in the photo, but here’s no house there. Assuming Sherman existed as a street in front of the house at that time, in roughly the same alignment as today’s paved street, then there’s no way this photo could have been taken without the house also visible. My guess is that the neighbor’s lot to the west (and maybe several lots that direction) all belonged to the Shaws and that the carriage barn sat farther away from the house, probably on land currently occupied by houses at 912 or 914 Sherman. Or…I suppose it’s also possible that this barn was located all the way at the back of the property (northwest corner) and sat on the precipice of the hill that drops down into my neighbor’s backyard on State Street. Either way, those are the only possibilities I can think of where this photo of the carriage barn (taken from this angle) would not have at least a piece of the main house showing.
Arthur Babitz
Interesting point, Jim. Turns out we have an image which offers more perspective. The carriage barn is on the same side of the house but there is a separation of maybe 20-25 feet. I think you are right that it has been moved to the west, but not by a lot. The house is just out of frame in this view.