Historic Hood River
Calkins Farm, 1888
11-2-2011
Notes
Here we have Mr. and Mrs. Edward Davis Calkins along with their son Tom Calkins at their farmhouse. Notes on the photo indicate it was located on Frankton Road near Country Club. The Frankton Cemetery is visible in the background.
If you look in the front window even at this resolution you can make out several potted plants. I assumed the potted plant was a relatively recent custom– a way to bring a little bit of greenery into the urban environment. I am surprised to see people give up any space in a small farmhouse for something an non-utilitarian as a houseplant.
Charlott
Edward Davis was born in Ohio. He served in Co. A 6th Wisconsin in the Civil War. the 6th Wisconsin was one of the regiment in the famous Iron Brigade. At the Battle of Antietam he had his arm shattered which resulted in amputation in a field hospital. (NOTE: in this picture you can see his right arm is missing.) He eventually went to Kansas where he married and had an only child, Thomas David Calkins, who later married Edna Garrabrant.
He owned and operated a harness shop in Hood River coming from Kansas in 1888.
His son Tom opened up a nursery on that Frankton property, located across the road from Alpine Veterinary Clinic. He and Edna had wonderful bedding plants and vegetable. Been there many many times with my father to get his bedding plants and things for our garden.
They grew their plants in flats. If you ordered say 10 tomato plants, they took them out of the flat and wrapped them in newspaper for you.
This house no doubt was down about the corner of Frankton and the road that parallels the freeway, as the cemetery is actually located more behind Alpine.
Tom Calkin house still remains on the sharp corner that goes up around towards Frankton School.
l.e.
It appears they had the convenience of gravity flow water.
Where would this photo have been taken from that the photographer is up so high?
Dan
What ever happened to the cemetery? Still there?
Melanee
The houseplants probably weren’t non-utilitarian… Many houseplants are medicinal or culinary. And if they had nurseries this could be late enough in the year they’re protecting something like basil from cold nights.
Charlott
Yes, that old cemetery is still there. For years and years it was left unattended. Finally it was cleaned up. Don’t know for certain if the Boy Scouts did it or not, but some one did.
No doubt who ever took the photo had to have been in a tree. Maybe Calkins had a barn there and someone was in it.
Allen
About Edward Davis, Charlott wrote:
"(NOTE: in this picture you can see his right arm is missing.)"
In the picture it looks more like he is leaning on a crutch under his right arm. Does it also look like his left leg is missing?
Charlott
Certainly does, but documentation states he lost his arm. If that were a crutch it would not do him a bit of good having it on the same side as his leg.
It appears to me that that is part of the post for the gate.
Best idea is to try and bring his figure out of the photo to be certain.
Arthur
Matt and I examined this photo carefully when we scanned it to figure out what was going on with Mr. Calkins. I think Charlott is right that what looks like a crutch is actually part of the fencepost. But it also seems you can see both hands, and that he is missing his lower left leg. His pants are pinned up. I cannot figure out how he is standing in that position.
I’ve posted the full scan resolution image on flickr: flic.kr/p/aBxB5k
You can form your own opinions, but my best guess is he’s missing a lower leg, and has incredible balance.
Charlott
I had somewhat wondered how he could have been harness maker with only one arm. With only one leg he could have done his work sitting down. Documents can be proven not correct……..
l.e.
I read in a geneology page last night…..
"The battle of Antietam ended Comrade Calkins’ career as a soldier. He received a shot that shattered his right leg which was amputated in a field hospital.
Comrade Calkins in his younger days was energetic and ambitious in all his business enterprises. Coming to Hood River 40 years ago he opened and conducted a harness shop in the town. He engaged at one time in stock raising on a ranch in eastern Klickitat county, Washington. Later he retired to his small farm at Frankton until, overtaken by ill health, he was compelled to aandon all activities and was a "shut in" for years."
Arthur
l.e.’s geneology seems to match the picture a little better, except it his is left leg which is missing. I would guess the negative is printed reversed, except there is the word "STATE" and a smaller unreadable word above the doorway– so the photo is printed correctly. Looks like both the record Charlott and l.e. found are slightly incorrect, which is very common with such records. I am finding errors all the time. I’m always a little skeptical when I don’t know who added the notes or when.
Charlott
I stand corrected then……..
l.e.
Charlott, I read the same as you, that Calkins lost his arm, but in the photo it appeared that he was leaning on a crutch and missing his left leg.
With further reading, I found his obit. which said he lost his right leg.
As Arthur says….lots of errors.
I can find no record that he was in Klickitat county. If he was, it could not have been for long since the 1880 census shows him in Kansas.
Calkins had a sister in HR. Mrs. Edgar (Nellie) Locke. Evidently, the beautiful white home that sits west of HR on the south side of I84 near Mitchell Point, was built by Edgar and Nellie. Their daughter married Wilbur Galligan and it appears that Galligans may still reside in the home.
Charlott
I know which house you are referring to., as we have always referred to it as the Galligan House. My cousin was married to one of the Galligan sons.
Charlott
Today, November 8th, I had reason to go down Frankton Road. Pulled over near the entrance of both roads to observe. I am convinced that this house was about at the corner of the two roads, because as I looked up the cemetery would be in this location. No doubtr at a much later time son Tom built the house that sits right on the sharp corner of Frankton Rd.
Bill Pattison
I agree with Charlott and the progression of the Calkins family. Tom did the landscaping for my grandmother on the Stonehege Gardens Restoraunt property. After he sold the homestead property on the Frankton Road ,he purchased the home (another story) and land west of today’s "Hood River Crossing". He continued with the green house business and selling plants as Charlott has mentioned. The history of the Frankton District is wonderful and contributed to our Valley as we know it today.
Bill
Jeffrey Bryant
The cemetery was referred to as the Irving Cemetery in old obituaries. I’ve posted a list of 18 known burials (although some were relocated) on Findagrave.com.
l.e.
I don’t know who you are Jeffrey, but I see your name at the bottom of many of the history articles I read.
Just want to say thank you for all of your work.
NormaJ
I can remember going to the Calkins every spring to buy our bedding plants. They also had a row of cages along the north side of the property where they were raising minks.
L.E.
From the June 20, 106 HR Glacier page 7;
Daniel Calkins of Oregon City attended the encampment and visited his cousin, E.D. Calkins at Frankton. The two comrades enjoyed themselves talking over the days when they marched with Sherman to the sea.
L.E.
The June 17, 1915 Hood River Glacier page 6 has an interesting column about E.D. Calkins, who lost a leg at Antietam, and his recent correspondence with a soldier of the Confederacy who was among the forces who had faced Calkins when he was shot.