Historic Hood River
Where Am I?
Notes
Where is this house? It still exists, I promise, and it’s largely unchanged.
While you’re working on it, there is a wonderful story behind this image. It comes from a glass negative which apparently spent its first 60 years in the basement of the Kresse Drug Store downtown. Phil Jensen found it in the 1970s, and transferred it to the safekeeping of the Museum for its next 40 years. We scanned it this summer. Less than a week later I was contacted by a gentleman from back east who wanted to share a digital image of the house his grandparents lived in between 1911 and 1917. I did a double take– it was the same house. I sent him a nice detail of the faces of the women in this view, and sure enough the woman standing on the porch is his grandmother.
He has since shared about a dozen fine images of Hood River from that era, including the interior of this house. One of his images solved another mystery involving a train, a campaign, and a 100 year old negative– but I’ll save that story for another Monday. This Monday you just need to figure out a simple address. For extra credit, tell us the names of these women!
l.e.
Great story Arthur.
I can’t wait to read what the HR locals have to say.
R Hyde
That’s 811 Oak Street.
ArthurB
Not quite…
nels
The house in the left background is another hint. It’s still there also.
Dan
Found the house using Google Street View and it does look the same, but it’s on the north side of Oak and Street view shows 811 to be on the south side. Strange, so I’m going to guess 810 or 812 Oak st.
Tom
814 Oak
Arthur
So close, Dan, but Tom is correct. It is 814 Oak Street. Here’s the modern view: http://g.co/maps/39gva
Anyone have a guess about who these women are?
Dan
When did the city decide to invert the odds and evens? And why?
Arthur
It actually says "814" in this picture, but the font is hard to read at this resolution. But the funny thing is the city ordinance mandated numbering the opposite of the way it has been done for decades. That was fixed about 3 years ago (by changing the ordinance).
Dan
Totally missed that, even after I zoomed in I thought that read 811
Charlott
Could it be the Keir family home, since photo was found in drug store basement?
Arthur
Doh! Charlott used the right logic, but I misled you. The box was found in the Kresse Drug Store basement, not Keir Drug Store. I’ve corrected the note.
I believe one of the women is Herman Kresse’s wife Leah. We know the woman on the porch is Florence Amble Reed, wife of Albert P. Reed, a real estate attorney with an office on Second Street. The Reeds rented this house at 814 Oak when they lived in Hood River, roughly 1911 to 1917.
Mrs. Reed also appears in one of the Dewitt photos, so they knew each other. Herman Kresse bought his house on State Street from Harry Dewitt. Just like today, everyone in Hood River was tied to everyone else in some way.
l.e.
I thought maybe Ella May Davidson would be connected to the house since she was living on Oak St. in 1910.
Harry Dewitt and his wife’s parents were living on State St. in 1910 and Harry’s occupation is listed as Real Estate.
Charlott
Mrs. Reed’s name was Florence. Both of the Reeds were from Minnesota where he had practiced law with his father. They lived in Hood River for six years and he served as mayor for one.
Prior to Kresse’s drug store there had been a grocery store there built in 1891.
I remember Ray Lee as the pharmacist.
Pat Schmuck
Could this be the REED that Reed Road is named after? No one seems to know
who Reed Road was named after.
l.e.
Does this home happen to be for sale right now?
Bill P.
During the 30’s the house was occupied by "Shorty" Morrison, owner of Morrisons Electric Kitchen west of the First National Bank. He was also owner of Morrison Island (now Wells) and Morrison Park on Wasco street. He was the first Cityof Hood River Policeman to ride a motorcycle. Many homes were rented by promanent citizens in those day. From what you have said I would’nt be surpized if Harry Dewitt was the owner. (Titles will tell)
Bill P.
Jarrett Altman
This is our house! We bought it about 8 years ago and have been slowly restoring it – but it does look essentially the same from the exterior. Very cool – when it’s done we want hats like these and take an "after" photo!
Sharon Reed Markley
Reed Road was named after Charles William Reed. He was a teacher. He bought a home on what is now Reed Road and later made the acreage into an apple orchard. They had their own label which I am trying to find a copy of that label. If anyone knows of one please contact me. My father is George Eldred Reed. Charles was his Grandfather. If you would like any information about that Reed family he remembers quite a bit about them. His email address is georgeereed@earthlink.net.