Historic Hood River
Company Hotel at Dee
5-10-2011
Notes
The town of Dee was true company town, built in 1906 by the Oregon Railroad Company. It was the southern terminus of the Mount Hood railroad, and included this hotel, the mill, a store, a post office, and a tavern. This photo of the hotel dates to 1908. The town was dismantled in the 1950s, though the mill continued for some time after. The mill was destroyed by fire, though some buildings remain.
l.e.
Neat picture!
I love the porches and verandas but just think of the snow that had to be shoveled off of the top deck, in the winter.
The stage stop in Gilmer Valley, which later became the Kreps family home looked similar to this building. Not as big.
Arthur
Check out the dimension of that leftover lumber in the foreground. That mill put out some nice stuff.
spinsur
hmm, I took those to be railroad ties.
Connie
I wonder how many rooms they had guests for?
Dedilee
My grandfather walked from Mt. Hood over Gilhouley to work at the Dee Mill for many years. It was definitely a company town; there was little "credit" to be had at stores in that time, but the mill would give workers credit at their store to get through the winters. Grandpa would carry flour and other staples back over the mountain, in all weather. But it kept the family fed and a little actual money in the summertime. I doubt he ever went inside the hotel, it was "fancy."
Charlott
I think this is at Winan’s and not where the Dee Mill was. Owened and operated by the Winans family. I could be wrong, have been before.
l.e.
I came across this in a Sept. 10, 1908 HR Glacier article. It might be a description of the hotel.
"A fine improvement at Dee and one which is particularly appreciated by the traveling public, is a new hotel which has just been completed and opened to the public this week. The hotel contains 25 rooms and is equipped with all the improvements of a modern hostelry. A ten foot porch encircles the structure, affording ample room for entertainment of many guests out of doors during the warm weather. On the first floor is situated the office, dining room, parlor, a private dining room and a spacious kitchen with large pantries, and rooms build off the porch for the help required to run the hotel. The main dining room will seat 80 guests and a large range with all modern appliances, including hot water, insures convenience in preparing meals. Spring water for drinking purposes is provided. On the second floor are the bedrooms, well lighted and ventilated and electric lighted. Bathrooms and stationery washstands have also been put in and doors lead from the upper floor to the broad porch roof. The interior is finished in weathered oak and with its furnishings the new hotel will be one of the best appointed in the county. Later the grounds around it will be improved with lawns and several other buildings will be built to provide storage rooms. The cuisine of the hotel is under the management of Mr. and Mrs. N.H. Nelson, who have had wide experience in this line and the meals are excellent."
nels
Does "stationary wash stands" refer to indoor plumbing?
Jeffrey Bryant
There is a description of the planned hotel at Dee in the March 29, 1906 Hood River Glacier:
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1906-03-29/ed-1/seq-5/
Connie Fairfield Ganz
The Dee Hotel photo was taken by Pendleton-based photographer Orla Green "O.G." Allen. Please credit him if you reprint the photo elsewhere.