Historic Hood River
Budget Request
10-10-2022

Notes
This is a budget request from the Hood River Library Finance Committee to the Hood River City council for annual operations. We don’t know the exact year, but it was in city records circa 1905-1910. It was definitely before the construction of the city’s Carnegie library in 1913, since their greatest expense in renting space for their operations. The $850 requested had roughly the purchasing power of $26,000 today. No word on how the city council responded to the request.
L.E.
I just read Offbeat Oregon’s article on Carnegie Libraries in Oregon and how they changed the atmosphere, use and learning experiences of a library.
http://offbeatoregon.com/o1109d-carnegie-libraries-in-oregon.html
patti
LE, thanks for sharing the link, it was super interesting!
Arlen L Sheldrake
yes, the Carnegie librarys are most intersting…..1679 built, 31 in oregon…..what an impact!! a side bar, when sandblasting the soon to be ire-installed turntable at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland the Carnegie steel with Homestead plant imprint was found on multiple areas of the steel. the 1924 built turntable was some years after Andrew sold his interests….another history mystery.
ArthurB
Hood River’s first attempt to pass a bond to fund the construction of the library failed. The second attempt leveraged a city street vacation (5th Street) to present a more frugal option, which passed in 1912.
nels
Next year will be the 90th year celebration of our library. Love that place, and the people who work there and keep it going.
(Have you ever been downstairs to walk thru and check out the childrens’ library?)
ArthurB
90th? Try 110th anniversary!
Bill Seaton
Nels, when I think of it’s basement, I remember just the basement of the Carnegie building. It had a large room with a small stage in it. The Hood River Civic Theater used to hold many of their rehearsals there in the 1940’s and 50’s. My Mom was in a lot of those plays and since she couldn’t afford a babysitter, I used to go to all the rehearsals.