Historic Hood River
Hood River Meat Market, 1898
11-21-2011
Notes
Before refrigeration was available city dwellers needed to visit a butcher daily if they were to have meat on the dinner table. Here’s Clyde Bonney’s Meat Market in 1898. Those present are identified as (left to right): Rick Ellison, ?, Everett Sherill, Clyde Bonney, Henry McGuire, Mr. Hendrich, ?, Walter McGuire. A few years later Mr. Bonney would own a general store at the SE corner of Oak and Second Street, but we’re not sure where this meat market was located.
And yes, those cans stacked in the store are lard, which seemed to be in ample supply in every market we’ve looked at.
l.e.
What the heck is that hanging off to the left?
It looks like a gigantic goose.
I have a saddle made by Bonney. I wonder if it is the same family.
Neat photo, but can you imagine the flies?
l.e.
Arthur, I am going to guess the market is located by the river so they could dump the waste into the water to be washed away.
Arthur
Period maps show a meat market where the Paris Fair Building is now, another in the middle of Oak between 2nd and 3rd (north side), and another on the SE corner of Oak and 3rd– but none of them match the physical layout of the market in this photo.
I know the early city council minutes (1895-1900) discuss removal of animal carcasses from the downtown, so it is certainly an issue they identified as "needing improvement."
Charlott
In that era lard was a must item. Somewhat a staple, like sugar and flour. I don’t recall my grandmother ever using anything but lard. Generally the farmers had their own source of meat. I would imagine that the butcher in town would buy his meat from some of the local farmers? Without refrigeration it is very doubtful it would have been transported in.
Everett Sherill (Wesley Everett Sherrell) was a draftsman and contractor in Hood River for a number of years.
Bonney was related to the Bonney family that had the saddlry and blacksmith shop in The Dalles.
Charlott
Notice the chicken wire fence. I wonder if that was a holding area for live chickens?
That horse needs a little more feed per day.
Don’t see any flies, but don’t you know they were pretty thick, especially with meat, which seems to be uncovered hanging there, not very sanitary was it? No USDA in those days, that is for certain.
ArthurB
Another image verifies this shop was on Oak Street at 4th, where the Paris Fair building is now located
L.E.
The April 14 1899 HR Glacier page 2 has a similar photo with an advertisement for Hood River’s Leading Business House.
Combination Meat Market and Grocery Store.
The ad says All Teams stop at Reciprocity Corner and there is a list of the products Proprietor Clyde T Bonney has to offer.
The rendered lard is guaranteed first class.
L.E.
The March 16, 1900 HR Glacier page 3:
"Col. Hartley returned from Camas Prairie Wed. with 19 head of fat cattle for C.T. Bonney. Frank Frazier came in with Col Hartley to help drive the stock."
Camas Prairie is another name for Glenwood in Klickitat Co. Frank Frazier was an early resident in the area. It must have been a mild winter for the cattle to be fat in March.