Historic Hood River
Butler Bank Construction
9-4-2024
Notes
This image captures the 1924 construction of the Butler Bank Building at 3rd and Oak. There’s a group of workmen who appear to be on lunch break on the corner of Third.
There is a good clear view of the First National Bank Building across the street, as well as the “Electric Kitchen” lunch counter.
The centennial of the Butler Bank Building will be celebrated at “First Friday” this Friday, September 6. Here are some details:
Join us, Friday, September 6 from 5 PM to 7 PM. We will be celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the Butler Bank Building. They will be dancing in the streets and music in the air. We will have the jazz collective playing roaring 20s jazz and a dance floor.
Dress in period costume. Oak and Third Streets…
steffen lunding
Arthur, thanks for this great image of the Butler Bank Building under construction. I f I read the Register of Historic Places correctly, construction took just nine months. Renovating the building in 2012 has given me great pleasure. A special thanks to Cindy Walbridge and Sally Donovan for their helping us navigate the balance between historic renovation and modernizing an old building.
Arthur Babitz
Steffen’s renovation of the Butler Bank is a good example of what the historic preservation world calls “adaptive reuse.” As a matter of public policy, the goal for historic districts is to maintain the integrity of the surviving architecture while still allowing commercial use of the buildings so they won’t be torn down. While banks may not look like this anymore, it makes for a fine art gallery.
Brimstone Boulders is another great example– they’ve turned a church building into a climbing gym without harming the historic nature of the structure.
nels
Is the current deep remodel at 2nd and Cascade under the same remodeling rules? And what is it being designed to be?
Arthur Babitz
nels, both the Butler Bank Building and the Hotel Waucoma Building are considered contributing elements to the Historic District, so they are subject to the same local landmarks rules. The Hotel Waucoma Building is being restored to a hotel.
Judy Lipker Palmer
I have an orginal Butler Bank bag with the name and address on the bag in gold letters. My parents lived in Hood River from 1930 to 1954 and owned a news stand on Oak Street.
Arthur Babitz
Judy, do you know an address or block for the news stand? I haven’t seen a news stand in our photos, but maybe with an address I can find it.