Historic Hood River
City Hall Remodel
Notes
Since 1994 I’ve been snapping photos around town capturing changes and events I thought worth documenting. A couple of years ago I started tagging my photos for eventual donation to the museum’s collection. The heavy snow last week gave me some time to finish the job. Somehow in my large digital photo collection I found 727 images I thought worth adding to our archives. They may not be great photographs, but this photoblog is about history, and they tell my part of the story of the last 25 years. Think about my photos in the context of Ella Mae Davidson or Arline Moore, rather than Benjamin Gifford!
This week and next I’ll be sharing some those 727 images with you. As you look at them, think about what photos in your collection you might want to share for future HHR readers to debate, dissect and enjoy.
This is a good one to start with because not only did I get to watch it happen, I got to sign the checks. Our 1920 City Hall building got a major renovation in 2011. The facade was cleaned and restored, and new entrances and windows were cut in the south face. When the building was originally constructed there was plumbers shop on that parcel, so the south face wasn’t built as a facade. The architect needed to follow historic renovation guidelines of not “faking” a 1920’s style facade, while reflecting the historic nature of the building.
L.E.
Because of HHR, I am able to smile and enjoy the comment that your photos are Ella Mae or Arline context, rather than Benjamin.
Thank you Arthur.
It also gives a moment for us to contemplate some of our own photos. They might not be beautiful or eye catching, but do they document something that is or will be history?
Arthur
Matt and I used to joke that if we could do one thing to affect history, it would be to go back in time and give Ella May Davidson a tripod and a lesson in focusing the camera. She had a great eye for a good subject, but her technical abilities were somewhat lacking. Most of the time when I prepare one of her photos for HHR I start by rotating it 20-30 degrees so everything is square to the horizon.
nels
Do you have a biography of Mrs. Davidson? She sounds like an interesting lady.
Charlott
Ella Mae Davidson was born in about 1899 to Charles M. and Elizabeth (Rice) Davidson. Her father was initially a painter of carrieages, but after her brother Horatio moved west and finally to Hood River, that was where the Davidson family ended up. Her mother had died in Canton, Ohio in 1900, so it was just the father and children that moved to Hood River. Her brother Horatio was the first to become involved in the Hood River fruit industry and her and her father went to work there. She was the office manager in the Hood River Fruit Co.
Ella was involved in numerous things throughout her life time in Hood River, but never married. She died in Hood River on 1 July 1969.
Dwaine (Spike) Goodwin
During the 1950’s the HRFD was a part of the City Hall building. It was located in the lower right corner.(only one fire engine)
The Fire Chief was Jim Meyer, whose business was Meyer’s Cleaners located just across from City Hall on the south side of State Streeet.