Historic Hood River
Cannery Row
Notes
This 1948 Alva Day photo documented the installation of the “Eng’rs Pump” down by the railroad tracks. I’m not sure if the pump is still there, but I’m more interested in the old cannery building which has been more recently known as “Springhouse Cellars”. We discussed the early history of the building in this post. The new owners are interested in more recent history. This photo shows it as Ray’s Transfer (a trucking/hauling business) in 1948. What businesses do you remember in that building, and when? I recall a pool hall about 2000, following an antique store. Any recollections or details will be appreciated.
If you need a little orientation, we’re down below Front Street. The billboards above Ray’s were at the east end of Oak Street. You can see a little of the Mt. Hood Hotel Annex building peeking out to the left of the billboards.
Tags: 1940s, Alva Day, cannery, construction, livery, railroad, Springhouse Cellars
Stever
Wha’s the smaller wording below “ Rays Transfer “ ? Local ….
Arthur
“Local and Long Distance Haulers”
Bill Seaton
Off the subject–but this is a picture of where I was living in 1948. The building in the upper right hand corner that is furthest to the right was the Downing Building (the Yasui Building before WWII). The 3rd window over to the middle of that top floor was our apartment. As a boy, I used to sometimes play on the railroad tracks. But I can't tell you much about the main part of this picture. I wasn't allowed to go this far up the tracks because this area is close to where the hobo camps used to be.
Arthur
Bill, you can't just mention “hobo camps” without explaining.
Patti
I remember this area well, from my childhood, as my father worked at the “AGA†driving a hyster.. I used to visit him at work… On the right side of Rays Transfer, where cars are parked, near the huge door.. I remember large totes of ‘Red Delicious’ apples sitting outside.. The smell filled the air nearby.. LOL 😠to this day I cannot eat a Red Delicious apple ðŸŽ
L.E.
I know you want information about the Springhouse building, but I would like to know what the pump was for??
LMH
A
LMH
Ah yes, the hobo camps. I was warned as a child, by my parents, about the fellows that occupied the areas close to the railroad tracks even through this area was way beyond my range of travels. As I recall the Mt. Hood Railroad tracks from about this area around the corner, under the bridge, and up to about where the trestle across the Hood River was the most heavily occupied. In the summer time from the east side Highway 30 one could see the wisps of smoke from their camp fires rising up through the trees. It is a wonder the whole hillside didn't go up in flames.
But it wasn't the only place of trouble in that area. I remember going to the train station with my grandfather just to view the trains passing through. I wandered over to the west side of the depot where I saw a fist fight (my first) between two drunk men under the water tank. It was not a pretty sight and scared me the daylights out of me.
Buzz
They were called fruit tramps in the 50's.