Historic Hood River
Bridge Building
1-25-2022
Notes
While I found this in a completely different collection, this image is the setup to another fruit picking image we saw earlier. This one is from the Benjamin Gifford album prepared for the Commercial Club, but it also appears in a series in the A. I. Mason Liberty Home Orchard album. The Mason album has several different views of the same event. They moved the “bridge” around to a few different spots for effect.
It adds to my appreciation of these images to know they spent some time thinking about how to make a dramatic image, then constructing a bridge of ladders and getting everyone in place for the photographer, presumably Mr. Gifford. This says to me they were proud of what they were doing and wanted to share it.
Jeffrey W Bryant
I can't imagine picking fruit using a bridge of ladders. Thank goodness for the Tallman aluminum ladders, made in Hood River. I use mine every year.
JKG
I don't normally stand on 15 foot ladders, but when I do, I ensure that they're precariously balanced in a terrifying pyramid of death.
ArthurB
Yes, it looks very sketchy but photos like this remind me these are real people who were playful, adventurous, or even silly. One of the following photos has a dog on the bridge. I believe that is Floyd Mason setting up the tripod.
L.E.
Not to put a damper on an interesting and fun photo, but it is a bit of orchard history.
A lady from a pioneer family in my area was picking apples in an orchard in the Yakima Valley. She fell, broke her leg and died from tetanus.