Historic Hood River
Homestead Inn
1-11-2012
Notes
This image is a good follow on from yesterday’s view of Cooper Spur in the 1920s. These members of the Hood River Ski Club were visiting the Homestead Inn, right near the ski area. The inn operated from 1922 to 1934.
l.e.
I know you Hood River people will have more to offer than I do, but I wanted to say…..
Those look like cedar fence posts stacked behind the work party, but I can’t imagine a ski area would need a fence, so, I am wondering if they are instead, cedar shake bolts.
Charlott
This is the backside (away from where the Cloud Cap Road is. The main entrance would be to the right of the fireplace. If you walked around the left end that is where the deck or whatever you wish to call it that was shown in yesterdays photo. There is the pole that showed in yesterdays picture also.
The men are standing on what would be the road area up behind. Across that road and along it were cabins. Inside the Inn, it was more like a dormitory type arrangement, if I remember correctly. Wonder if the man with the chain (at least it looks like that to me) used it to pull logs or wood? Wonder if that was Hannum’s "dog of the mountain"?
Hannum’s in the winter would have entertainment. One of the groups that used to come there were the three McBride sisters. I think they were singers and know that they performed in the Portland area. Don’t know where, but I do have a picture of them and my Dad spoke of them also.
No doubt these men are helping Hannum’s get in the winter’s wood supply. There are a couple of the men that look familiar to me, but can’t put any names to anyone.
Charlott
They could be, but keep in mind that fireplace was huge and could accomodate large pieces of wood. I don’t think they look long enough for fence posts. Now I notice he way they are stacked, probably to let the air circulate for drying purposes. Wonder where the wood for the furnace and no doubt cooking stove of Mrs. Hannum’s was stored. Had to have had a large wood shed close by. My Dad used to haul in the wood when he worked there, but he never indicated where he got it.
Charlott
Arthur….can you pull that out to see what the second man from the left is holding in his hand. Might be a clue there.
Charlott
Sorry, it is the third man.
Arthur
The tool the third man is holding has a handle about 12-18 inches long, and a flat blade coming out at an angle a few inches from the end.
Connie
another option – could it be there are going to rework the roof with new cedar shingles? Some of the axes don’t look like they are for cutting firewood?
Charlott
Okay with a tool like that maybe they are splitting shingles. Keep in mind during that time frame there were a number of buildings in the complex. Depending on the year that this photo was actually taken there could have been some of the cabins being built or other structures. I wish my Dad had told more about what buildings were there.
Spinsur
Third guy from left has a whipsaw over his shoulder, handle in hand
Arthur
Good catch, spinsur. I was only seeing one handle.
Charlott
Good eye! Now you can actually see what it is.
spinsur
whipsaw shoulda probably been misery whip.
Nancy Trotic
Very interesting. Apparently my great-uncle Louis Lafferty helped build The Homestead, "working for Mr. Hannum and Clint," per a caption to numerous photos in my great-grandmother’s photo album (which I’m currently scanning). I’m wondering if the man at far right is Louis. Not at all sure, though.
Lorraine Hannum Drievold
My great grandfather, J.O. Hannum owned the Homestead Inn. I have never been to Mt Hood but my Dad told me many stories of when he would visit there as a child. It would be wonderful to see more pictures of the Inn and maybe of my family members.
Thank You for a glimpse of this wonderful history of the Mt Hood region.
Lorraine Hannum Drievold
Maybe they were going to build the split rail fence in front of the Inn that I have seen in other pictures.