Historic Hood River
“Herman Struck, Hood River boy”
4-9-2021
Notes
This image was touched up to print in the The Hood River Glacier. The caption read, “Herman Struck, Hood River boy, who wins recognition as painter.” I wasn’t familiar with him, but apparently he grew up in this area and had some success as an artist after moving to San Francisco. In 1915 he returned to Hood River to give a lecture on art.
Here’s a work of his.
Charlott
Though born in Wadsbek, Germany on 31 March 1887, the son of Ludwig and Bertha (Runge) Struck, he did grow up in Hood River, coming to America in about 1891. He would eventually go to San Fransisco to study at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art. The art school was basically completely destroyed by the 1906 earth quake. In order to study he had to go to Chicago for further schooling. He would serve as a Sgt. Co F. 316 Engineers 91st Division in WWII. He would marry a French girl named Jeanne A. Loureau and head back to San Fransisco. In the 1920’s he was an illustrator for Sunset Magazine. He would make his permanent home in California. He did a lot of landscape paints, old west ones with Indians and horses, etc. He and Jeanne would have two sons Richard and Raymond. Upon his death on 13 January 1954 in Novato where he resided he would be buried in Golden Gate Nat’l Cemetery in San Bruno, California. A number of his painting can be viewed in various museums.
Bhuk
Charlotte- is he related to the Strucks in Pdale? Patricia (Pat) Struck Toy still lives on Culbertson Rd in the family home and she is an amateur painter- beautiful stuff. Her brother Jim struck also raised his family in Pdale- 4 boys,
Also owned "Strucks " beach west end of HR on the Columbia….
L.E.
How interesting. I was looking up Herman’s family when I noticed his father Ludwig, and mother Bertha, were living in the Lyle/Appleton area in 1930. In that area, the name Struck, is known to just about everyone. Everyone knew long time rancher Ernie Struck.
Turns out he was Herman’s brother.
In this High Prairie newsletter is a short story about Ernie’s life:
http://www.highprairie.us/%21oldSite/high_prairian/v10n3/v10n3.pdf
Brother Herbert, farmed in the Pine Grove area. Brother Edward passed away in 1912 and is buried at Idlewilde.
Brother Carl/Charles farmed in the Parkdale area and is buried at Idlewilde. Sister, Martha Brunquist is buried at Idlewilde. Brother Ferdinand moved away from the area.
Bhuk
Martha Brunquist was also an upper valley gal- she wrote the Pdale column for the HR news for years- my mom took it over from her…in the late 60s.
I had forgotten that she was a Struck.
Nellie
Herbert Struck farmed down near Panorama Point. His daughter was married to first Byers and then Austin. She continued to live in the Hood River area.
Jeane Struck
Herman Struck was my grandfather. His wife, my grandmother, was Jeanne (Jahney) Taphoureau. They met in Paris at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts where my grandmother was a student, and he was visiting as an American soldier at the end of the War.
Jeane Struck
gayle Rush
My husband grandfather was Charles Struck. We met Herman’s wife in Novato, Ca and she gave us a painting of a Mare and foal. We have now passed it on to a granddaughter to a Struck. My husband’s cousin whose mother was a Struck. My husband’s mother was also a Struck. Charles had 3 children. 1 boy and 2 girls.
Diane Brower Bartlett
I am the granddaughter that received the painting of a mare and foal, thank you Gayle and Robb. My brother (Rich) has another painting by Herman Struck, we call it the Headless Horse painting there are 5 horses under a tree on a hill side one of the horses heads blends in with the tree trunk.
Jeffrey Bryant
Hood River Glacier, 1927-12-01, page 8
Herman Struck Illustrator
Herman Struck, son of a West Side pioneer, L. Struck, who now resides at Lyle, Wash., is now a successful artist and illustrator in San Francisco. Mr. Struck, who was graduated from the Hood River high school, formerly had a studio in Chicago. He went to San Francisco about 10 years ago.
Mr. Struck has illustrated “The Dark Island,” a serial story which begins in the December issue of Sunset magazine, of San Francisco. The work of the former Hood River young man has aroused the admiration of his friends here.
Peter W Randall
I also have a Herman Struck Painting of a group of horses on a hill side that looks like rolling Nor. Cal. hills. It’s a large picture, 54X34″.
I’m 73 years old and it’s hung in all of my family homes. Please list any Bay Area museums that
may have other painting that can be viewed?
Another coincidence is my mom(Sally Childs) was born in Hood River Or. about 1921. Not sure who orginally purchased this painting?