Historic Hood River
Oregon Centennial
2-14-2012
Notes
February 14, 1959 was the centennial of Oregon’s statehood, and Hood River residents were not going to let the wintery slush and rain mix ruin their fun. In addition to these baton twirlers and the marching band, there were antique cars and trucks, pioneer reenactors in horse-drawn wagons, and all manner of celebrants in period costume.
l.e.
What is 3 MILES SOUTH?
Arthur
The marquee at the theater is directing people to the drive-in theater by Windmaster. The old Liberty/ Cascadia theater had closed by 1959.
Charlott
Remember this day well….Notice the band. It is a combination of a number of bands. Hood River High and Wy’east High are definitely there. The majorette with her back to the camera is Joan Yasui (Wy’east). I will look in my year book and see who the other two Wy’east majorettes are. I also see Nell Hellyer(Wy’east), who is on the left hand side of the photo with a trumpet (?) under her arm. The people, whom I don’t know in the white pants are from Hood River High. I have no idea who the majorettes in red and gray are, unless they are from White Salmon and I don’t know their colors.
This photo also puts to rest the discussion of some time back concerning the Cascadia theatre and Pastime. Pastime definitely between the theatre and the bank. As to the sign "3 Miles South" The theatre was closed by then so that certainly was a movie. If you note there is something on a sign above it and I think they were using it as a billboard to advertize something else.
Oh yes, all the oldster men, including some in my family had grown beards for the occasion. Mothers made long dresses with the sunbonnets. Rather a fun time.
Charlott
Sorry, didn’t see Arthurs posting about The Trail Drive In. Makes good sense.
l.e.
Notice the woman on the right wearing the headscarf.
All the women in my family, during this era, mom, aunts, grandmas, wore headscarves when they went outside.
And every girl wanted to take tap or baton lessons.
judy
I remember these "bonnets" . Plastic with a tie to keep it on and came with a little case a variety of colors. Some beauty salons still sell them.
Charlott
The other two Wy’east majorettes are: Gloria Young obscured by Joan Yasui and Patsy Campbell.
Parade was at 11 o’clock because the old bank clock was working in those days.
At least when Moms and Grandmas put on their rain bonnets to go to town they took off the aprons they were all attached to morning, noon and night.
Oh yes, baton and tap. You forgot ballet. Took them all, at one time or another. Fredova Kruger was a wonderful tap and ballet teacher and her daughter Bobbie taught baton…..
Is that Reddi Kilowatt up on the PP&L building?
Jim Gray
Looks like the kids got out of school to watch the parade, I remember wearing a cowboy hat and western ties for the celebration in 2nd grade, it was a time of celebration and the schools highlighting the Oregon Trail in history lessons.
Charlott
I don’t remember, but very well might have been a state authorized holiday, but know I was at the parade. Wouldn’t have mattered if school was in session, because from the historical standpoint my Dad would have let me go…he was a history buff as well.
Arthur
February 14th, 1959 was a Saturday, so almost everyone got to enjoy the parade.
Jim Gray
I wonder if the majorettes in question are from The Dalles, I think their colors were crimson and gray. White Salmon was red and white I believe, as were May Street if this might be 8th graders, don’t remember what Mid Valley colors were.
Arthur
Good point Jim, I was wondering why White Salmon would celebrate Oregon’s centennial (unless they just couldn’t pass up a parade).
Bill Seaton
While the prospect of the Centennial stirred some excitement, it should be noted that there were some mixed reactions to this parade. Feelings about the HRHS/Wy’east split were still strong in the Valley in 1959. I was a senior at HRHS at the time, and I recall that some of the HRHS student’s reaction to that parade was a kind of resentment that Wy’east would invade our territory. And maybe jealousy that they had a flashier band than ours and wanted to show it off.
Charlott
It wasn’t the kids that had the problem, it was the parents who kept things brewing….
hannah jos
I am looking for henry engel resident of hood river and he was known for years for driving a steam traction engine in the parades, I would like to find a picture of him doing so
Barbara Parsons
Are we sure that little theater was,’t called the CascadiaN?
William C. Seaton
Yes, that theater was the Cascading.