Historic Hood River
Election Day, 1948
11-8-2011
Notes
This group posed for a portrait in front of the Frankton School on Election Day in 1948. Not only do we know all of their names, we have the names of their horses:
- Glenn Sloat (Judy)
- Jesse Puddy (Trigger)
- Mildred Puddy (Flossie?)
- Eldon Bradley (Belle)
- John Dixon (Ribbon)
- Mr. and Mrs. Sid Linn (Joe & ?)
- Harry DeWitt (Sheba)
- Vern Pitts (Echo)
- Florence Tucker (Spice)
This was the day that Harry Truman defeated Thomas Dewey, surprising all the pundits. Dewey actually visited Hood River during the primaries. I’ll post some pictures of that event later.
Connie
And the dog’s name? 🙂
Charlott
Hood River Saddle Club was very active during that period and the grounds were located where they are now. Huge arena and used to have actual rodeos. Recall as a child when a big bull got loose and basically Hood River went on "shut down" until it was rounded up. Seems it ended up on the east side of town.
I know that the majority of these people were active members in the Hood River Saddle Club and wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they weren’t all. These people actively particiaped in all the parades held in Hood River.
Eldon Bradley was known as Fred and was a postal employee. Jesse and Mildred, naturally were husband and wife.
l.e.
What was the significance of a horse group gathering on election day?
By the way Connie, the dog is only there to eat the horse biscuits.
Charlott
I think there are two dogs. Isn’t that one over to the left under the tree.
I don’t know what the significants would be if any. People who were "horse people" just gathered. They may have had a function up the hill at the Saddle Grounds and it just happened on that election day.
Richard BRADLEY LaBille
Eldon / Fred is related to me… Eber is my Great Grand Uncle…See his site
for Comment. RBL
Peggy Gastonn (Bradley)
There were two Eldon Bradleys’, Eldon Russell (my grandfather) and Eldon Frederick (my father). This picture is of my grandfather, Dad was much taller. Our family was very active in the Saddle Club. I have home movies from the 1950’s of their local rodeo with my family riding in it, including my brother Patrick (must be about 6 years old.
Lesa
I remember a chant about Dewey, but it was about the 1944 election. It went, "Roosevelt’s in the White House, waiting to be elected. Dewey’s in the garbage can, waiting to be collected." As a kid growing up in the sixties, we still chanted it, even if we didn’t know what it meant.