Historic Hood River
Art Deco in the Gorge?
3-14-2016
Notes
How do I spin a 1958 image of Hood River Memorial Hospital into a good Mystery Monday question? This is one of a handful of Art Deco influenced buildings in the Gorge. Can you list any others?
Don’t worry if you can’t, just come to the museum Tuesday evening for a lecture on Art Deco. Dr. Lynn Orr, Director of the History Museum will be speaking on the subject at 6:30 PM. She recently published a book on the subject. She will be joined by Ellen Shapley, and Architectural Historian, who will tell us where she has found Art Deco design in the Gorge. $5 museum entrance fee gets you in the door.
Charlott
I assume that the work along the top of the building would be considered "art deco."
The room on the left behind the tree is where I was when I had my tonsils out, but that was some time before this was taken in 1958. My fugure mother-in-law would have been working at the hospital at the time this photo was taken.
A whole bunch of us took our first breath in this building……Most certainly has changed….
L.E.
Is this door facing 12th street or May street?
Oh look…..windows that actually open.
I don’t know about art decor on the outside, but I know that if you take the wrong turn in the new hospital, you eventually take a hallway that looks like you are in a much older building.
Arlen Sheldrake
Many memories….spent a couple of summers as a custodian helper in the mid-1950s…Remember the in building furnace and the burning of the trash. Waxing the floors, one half at a time so folk could use the hallways. Repainting the hospital beds on the roof of this building so as to not get paint fumes in the hospital. The MANY very nice staff members. Starting the emergency lighting generator diesel…..and yes, getting the tonsils removed and the jelllo diet…so many memories
Arlen Sheldrake
and more: the chimney is the same that came from the furnance room where we burned the trash…the elevator room on the roof is how I got the beds to the roof for painting. all three of the John L. & Lois (Sheirbon) Sheldrake boys were born here.
Arthur
This entrance is on May Street, L.E., between 12th and 13th. I believe it is the Occupational Health entrance now.
Melody Shellman
Let’s see. Was the building at the base of the water tower in the Art Deco style? And what about Sheppards? Hmm. The Coe Primary building came to mind, but that’s more Egyptian Revival. Wow, you’ve got me thinking…
Arthur
Melody, the powerhouse on the Hood River is on my list. Not sure about the others you mention– I’ll have to take a closer look.
Bill P
Wow ! ! does this building bring back a life time of memories. My wife Patricia was the first baby born in the HRMH in 1932. Our two sons were born here and my father died in the west room. Pat served on the Hospital BOD as secretary and was instramental in the construction of Dethman Manor. I chaired the fund campaign for the construction of the north patient tower and served on the Foundation for many years. It is "patient confidentiality" that I can’t reveal the number of nights and reasons for my numerous vilsits to this wonderful building.
Bill P.
L.E.
Is the post office Art Deco?
Judy
As nice as the old hospital was, the remodel and up-date is wonderful. I remember the old switchboard also. Love the parking annex! Yep, I imagine many HR people were born there and still live here in the Valley. Many HR people have never left this valley.
Lynn Orr
Hi Bill, I see your question about whether the Post Office is has an Art Deco favor. Last night at the History Museum architectural historian Ellen Shapley did indeed have it among her lecture images of Deco buildings in the area. It is fascinating how we fail to notice details on buildings we pass everyday. Ellen’s talk brought many local examples into focus. The bold geometric detailing on the post office, realized in dramatic dark/light contrasts, is definitely characteristic of ‘Le Style moderne,’ as Deco was called before the term ‘Art Deco’ was coined in the 1960s at the moment the style was being reevaluated in a positive light. There is a marvelous high resolution image of the post office’s decorative trim available on Google. As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words".
Ellen
Nice to see the Art Deco ornamentation in good shape after 25 years…needs some repair these days. Love the original windows. Nice photo, will add this to my presentation. Arthur do you have any photos from the 30’s?