Historic Hood River
“Canteen Girls”
7-1-2014
Notes
Notes indicate these “canteen girls” posing for a portrait during WW I are (l-r):
- Gladys Reavis (Gilbert)
- Hazel Hollenbeck (Shoendler)
- Mrs. Gertrude Ingalls
- Minnie Manner
It’s hard to imagine traveling from Hood River to war-torn Europe in 1918.
charlott
I am wondering if when the train stopped in Hood River, they served food and beverages to the soldiers head east. This was a common practice even during the Civil War when northern troops were headed south to their staging areas around Washington D.C.
Only one that rings a bell, Gertrude Ingalls, was a Balch. Her husband was James Ingalls.
Norma
Gladys Gilbert was one of our advisors for Rainbow Girls in the 1950s.
Buzz
Do you think this picture was taken in Europe? Can’t imagine a married woman going to Europe to be a canteen girl.
charlott
Buzz, think what it mean was the soldiers traveling to Europe, not the "canteen girls."
Buzz
Know that canteen girls went to Europe during WW I, but I would guess they were single.
Melody Shellman
I suppose their location could have been any number of places in Hood River, but it does remind me of the old post office on 2nd between Oak and State.
Jill
Don’t they look "snappy"?
What a great picture.
Matt
As far as I know, this is the only image in the collection of Gladys Reavis. I believe that we have seen some of her’ postcards on the blog before. Arthur, you should consider a Gladys Reavis postcard week. You know, it’s funny that you posted the image with the big hair above Gladys’ head. I re-scanned the image without the hair, but now I wonder if anyone really noticed it.
Matt
I take that back, we’ve also seen Gladys in the production of Robin Hood.
nels
Speaking of WW II, I have a 94 year old friend who worked at the ice cream shop that would have been next to HR Jewelers and was called "Andy’s" after ________ Anderson. Anyone have recollections of that or possibly pictures? It would just thrill her.
cg
Because I happen to be reading an old novel about WWI and a Red Cross worker in France, I googled "canteen workers, WWI" and found that "canteen" workers did, indeed, serve in France near the front under the auspices of the YWCA and the Red Cross. Canteen refers to the huts in which they served coffee, etc. Could the women have been identified later when their married names were known? And thanks, Norma, I had forgotten about Gladys Gilbert being an advisor to Rainbow Girls.
Charlott
The ice cream place might have been one owned and/or operated by Andy Anderson. Don’t know for certain.
Norma
The Andy Anderson I remember had a women’s dress shop on Oak Street between 1st and 2nd. Bought my first formal there when he was going out of business about 1956 or 1957. He lived up the street from us on Prospect. His wife used to step out on the front porch when she wanted her sons home for dinner and blow a horn. ( trumpet?)
Arlen Sheldrake
visited the military museum here in Paris a couple of days ago….reminding me of the vast slaughter that WW 1 was as was WW 2….nice museum.
Barbara Parsons
Gladys Gilbert was
Principal Durland’s secretary at May Street Upper Elementary in the ‘fifties when I attended. She was a cheerful and positive woman.
I always wondered who chose the name for our school. Try fitting it into a cheer or a song…"We’re loyal to you, May Street Upper Elementary, To your colors we’re true, May Street Upper Elementary…." Ugh.
Wasn’t that ice cream store between Penneys and the jewelry store called Lang’s Super Creme ? They sold sweet rolls there that were called "butter horns".
Barbara Parsons
I remember Mrs. Anderson blowing her horn for Billy and Donny. Everybody’s mother had some kind of noisemaker to call their kids in, it seemed. Wasn’t it those Andersons who had Andersons’ Apparel downtown? Wasn’t that where you bought your formal, Norma?