Historic Hood River
Butler Bank Building Construction, 1923
3-27-2013
Notes
The Butler Bank Building was an ambitious construction project for a small town. Here you can see the rigging they used to lift the sandstone blocks into place to finish the facade and the distinctive columns. This building has been lovingly restored by its present owner, and is currently operating as The Gallery at 301 tapas bar and art gallery.
The handbills on the work shed give some insight into entertainment that summer. “Mutt and Jeff in Havana” came to Hood River May 28th, and the Knights of Pythias were inviting everyone down to Koberg Beach for Fourth of July festivities.
We saw the town this same period from a different perspective here and here.
l.e.
The Butler Bank/Gallery 301 is still an unusual looking building in the HR setting. Or so I think.
Arlen Sheldrake
Father John L. talked a lot about the building from his memories of the period when he was a Deputy Sheriff and the county had their offices and maybe also the school district offices in the building. The very large bank vault was used to store county records. I surmise that the county got the building from a tax foreclosure during the depression. My bucket list says that my next HR visit will include looking inside. Neat construction photo!
Steffen
http://www.wilkesonsandstone.com/Pages/default.aspx. Here is a link to the Wilkeson Quarry that cut the sandstone for the BBC. An early load of stone caught fire on the train from Tacoma near Bridal Vial Falls and had to be requarried. Check this website for the historic fotos.
Judy
HR County kept records there until a quonset hut was erected on what is now the parking lot on the South side of the building & I think this was used until a courthouse of some fashion was erected. LOVE The Gallery at 301! The owners are using the vault, etc. as an office.
Lesa
Dan Hanners, was the Ass’t. Manager and Manager, 1950’s – 80’s, in this building, when it was U.S. National Bank. Somewhere I have a bank bag for the old Butler Bank, that he gave me. He first started Commercial Bank, with two friends, before it was purchased by U.S. Bank. Don’t know if it was in this same building, but think it was.
Emily Ogawa
My 3X great-grandfather & his son, my 2X great-grand uncle, started the Butler Banking Co. & had this building constructed. I look forward to visiting it the next time I visit Hood River!
Jeffrey W Bryant
Butler Bank building is starting in late 1923.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1923-10-18/ed-1/seq-11/
Jeffrey W Bryant
Removal of the old wooden structure was done in late 1923 to early 1924. Excavation for the new Butler Bank building began in February 1924.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1924-02-07/ed-1/seq-11/
Jeffrey W Bryant
Butler Bank building progress.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1924-04-03/ed-1/seq-4/