Historic Hood River
Davidson Box Factory
5-23-2013
Notes
The Davidson Fruit Company operated a box factory on the lot which is now the Elks parking lot. The photo is undated but the Sanborn maps from 1905 and 1909 show the factory at the corner of Columbia (or Ash) and Third Street. The lot was vacant by 1916.
Identification was apparently made by Ella Mae Davidson in 1963, though there is some confusion in the notes:
- 1) ?
- 2) Lane
- 3) Evenger
- 4) Geo. Howe
- 5) Sade Samuel
- 6) Len Norton
- 7) Taylor
- 8) Jeff Wall
- 9) Newton
- 10) Glen Lane
- 11) Geo Nelson
- 12) Roy Evenger
- 13) Howard Rabestraw
- 14) Charlie Hart
- 15) Alley Hart
- 16) Billy Evenger
charlott
George Howe at one time worked in the postal service in Hood
River. Charles Hart lived most of his life in Hood River, and was the son of Willliam and Mary Ellen Hart.
Rawhyde
Now them there is some rough gutters…
Note the apparent walkway on the ridgepole.
Buzz
Noted apparent walkway. What is its purpose?
Chase
I like the composition. Two point perspective!
Arthur
I think roof repair was pretty much continuous in those days. I notice ladders and walkways on roofs in many pictures from this era.
Lesa
Having worked for a small fruit box making business, back in the 70’s, one thing they would all have is hearing damage. The business I worked for was in an old barn. The business consisted of two people, myself, and my twin sister. We did everything, from running the saws, to making the boxes. I am deaf, to certain pitches of sound, as we were never given ear plugs. The head saw had this terrible high pitched whine, and the sawdust was something else. The hours were long and the pay was bad, but as teenagers, with a widowed mother to support and several siblings, we took what we could get. It was actually relaxing compared to my other job, loading and unloading hay trucks.
fmw
I have a invoice/statement from the Davidson Fruit Company for the year 1904, doesn’t show the address but the phone number listed is Main 71 This statement was for 1463 apple boxes @ .8 1/2 cents ea. / or $ 124.25. Also, 31 crates for $ 4.96, ( I assume these were for strawberries)
Lesa
I have an old Hood River Bottling Works crate. I wonder now if Davidson made it? Does anyone know when the name changed to Hood River Bottling Co? I know Ken Jernstadt bought Hood River Bottling Works in 1946, but did he change the name? I have seen crates on-line with the latter name, but not like mine.
Lesa
I am thinking that #2 is most likely, Albert Edward Lane, Sr, the grandfather of Glenard, "Glen" G. Lane, #10. For some reason, Glen is living with his grandparents, Albert & Lydia Lane, by 1910, and is 7 years old, according to the census. His father, Albert Edward Lane, Jr shows up in a WWI draft registration in 1918, as living at 816 9th St. Hood River, and is a logging foreman working for Oak Grove Lumber Co., & Brydal Veil Lumber Co., {their spelling}, his son on the reg., is Glenard G. Lane, of the same address. The 1920 census has Glen living with his grandparents again, and there is no sign of his parents. Albert Sr. was born abt 1852 in New York, his wife, Lydia C. was born abt 1855 in Wisconsin, Glen was born abt 1903 in Oregon. Death records have Albert Sr dying February 28, 1938 in Hood River.
Lesa
I believe #3 is Oscar B. Evenger, the father of #12, who is Charles Leroy "Roy" Evenger, and #16 who is William "Billy" A. Levenger. Oregon death records show that Billy died Jul 23, 1911, age 21. Which would certainly make this picture, no older than that.
Lesa
#5 Assade "Sade" Samuel, was the father of George Jacob "Jake" Samuel. Jake was a very good friend of grandmother, Dale Roberts-Scearce.
Lesa
The 1900 Census for Hood River states that Albert Edward Lane was a saw filer at a saw mill, his son Edward, laborer at a saw mill.
Lesa
#13 is Howard Rakeshaw, this family lived in the Wind River area. They were living in Carson in 1910. Along with a bunch of other relatives.
Jeffrey Bryant
My step-grandfather, John Couch, worked at a box factory before starting college. When he had his physical they thought his right arm was deformed, since his right forearm was twice as large as his left one!
charlott
There was a box factory in Odell. Not many people realize how many small mills were operated up on Fir Mountain, supplying the Odell box factory with wood. I have a map showing these various Fir Mountain mills.
l.e.
Reading some Matthew Harbison history, he says:
"About 1903 brother Sam and I began to divide our interests and some three years later I disposed of all my holdings and moved into town. In 1908 and 1909 was half owner and manager of the Hood River Box Company, the other stock being owned by the Davidson Fruit Company. In 1911 sold out everything and moved to Hillsboro, Ore."