Historic Hood River
Cottage Hospital, Circa 1910
Notes
Here’s another view of the Cottage Hospital, circa 1910. The hospital was at 716 Oak Street, and operated from 1905 until the building was condemned about 1924.
With that single chimney and lots of windows I can only imagine this building was cold and drafty in the winter. There were 20 patient beds in this building, which must have been cramped by modern standards. Hopefully the patients got to enjoy the porches when the weather was nice.
This account from The Hood River Glacier offers some interesting history of this institution. It’s interesting one of their initial funding sources was from contracts to treat injured workers of companies like the Stanley Smith Lumber Company. Employer based health care has roots farther back in history than I thought. Given there is hardly an issue of the newspaper without an account of a logging or mill accident, these contracts would have assured a steady stream of customers.
Roger Sheldrake
And to think– I hate cleaning the chimney on my 4:12 roof! Yikes!!
kmb
Love the decorative finials on top of each roof peak. Was this building specifically built to be the hospital at the time, or was this built as someone’s home or other business that was converted into the hospital?
ArthurB
It was a private home. Somewhere I found an owner’s name, but don’t recall at the moment.
nels
Lots of large houses back in those days, and not the insulation that we now have. Maybe built to hold extended family?
L. E.
I think S. H. Cox was the original owner. He has adds in the H R Glaciier as a builder and construction, so maybe he built this house.
L. E.
In the August 29, 1902 HR Glacier p.4: “Two Handsome Hood River Dwellings. Truman Butler and S.H. Cox are adding two fine residences to Hood River’s list of substantial dwelling houses. Tuesday, contractor Cox took a Glacier man through these houses now in process of construction, and it must be said that these buildings are two as well arranged and constructed homes an anyone could desire. The designing of Mr. Butler’s house was done by C.J. Crandall, The Dalles architect. Mr. Crandall also assisted Mr. Cox in the design for his house.
The house being put up by S. H. Cox is three story, $5,000 building, 42×32 feet in extent. The third floor will contain five commodious bed chambers, a bath room and modern closet. On the second floor will be the front and back parlors, a sitting room and library or office room. In the basement or first floor the walls of which are of brick will be located the kitchen, dining room and pantry, furnace room and laundry. Mr. Cox will put in a power washing machine to be operated by a water motor. The whole of the basement will have a cement floor. The dining room and kitchen are two of the best rooms in the house. They both face the west and one whole side of the dining room is lighted by two 5×5 windows. Mr. Cox’s house is on the north side of Oak street, opposite J. R. Nickelsen’s residence. The house will face the south, and will have porches for both floors extending the full length of the house at both front and rear. The view from the north porches is splendid, commanding a stretch of the Columbia river for six miles or more. The summit of Mount Adams is also in view. The handy arrangement of everything in Mr. Cox’s house is almost ideal, and when completed, about the first of the year, it will be the most comfortable home in Hood River. ”
The article then gives a description of Truman Butler’s house which is on the south side of State street, opposite the residence of Captain A. S. Blowers.
Seaman did have property south of town.
A. H. Cox’s wife passed away in 1899 leaving Seaman with six children, the youngest one week old. Then in 1904 daughter Florence died of Typhoid Fever. Seaman remarried in 1907.
The February 15, 1906 HR Glacier has an article explaining how the new hospital came to be. “The Cottage Hospital is located on the north side of Oak Street in what is known as the Cox residence. It was bought by Doctors Dumble, Brosius, Watt and Shaw, to be used as a hospital …..”
nels
Thanks L.E.