Historic Hood River
Country Club Inn
Notes
Okay, history sleuths, here’s a mystery which needs solving. In the early part of the twentieth Century there was an establishment in Hood River called the “Country Club Inn.” As you see here it burned in 1911.
This article describes its construction and location in 1903. You can read here about Grandma Munra, who prepared the food. Several articles speak quite fondly of her. And you can read some more about it here. But where was it? We have great hints like “Riverview Park” and “sloping bank of the Columbia to the west of town near the old ice house site.”
I’m a little confused how a hotel constructed in 1903 was considered “old and well-known” just eight years later. Let’s figure this out. And when you have solved this problem, get back to work locating “Shushula”.
Charlott
Haven't a clue to the location, but the Mrs. Ingraham I do know. She was Rosabelle Ingraham and the wife of Philip Sheridan ingraham.
Charlott
Country Club Inn could be somewhere out there by Country Club Road, which is west of Hood River. Stands to reason. Do we know why Country Club Road is called that?
Kalley
Is the chimney still visibly near exit 62?
Charlott
That chimney you are talking about is where the old Crag Rat Hut was located. They built a new facility in Pine Grove.
Jeffrey W Bryant
I seem to remember seeing a record book at the Hood River County Court House Annex that included farm or estate names. If so, perhaps it would list the locations of the Country Club Inn, Shushula, etc.
Jeffrey W Bryant
https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/records/county/Pages/hood-river-inventory.aspx
Farm Name Registration Records
1911-1931
Series documents the application for and registration of farm names with the county clerk or recorder. Records may include registers, original applications, or certificates. Information includes owner's name and address; farm name, location, and description; and date and number of application and final application. Series may also include an index arranged either alphabetically by name of owner or by farm name. Farm name records have been inventoried through 1964.
Records at the Hood River County Business Admin. (Dean) Bldg., County Archives:
Register of Farm Names, vol. 1, 1911-1931 (1 volume).
Jeffrey W Bryant
Assumed Business Names Registers︿
1913-1963
Series documents the registration of business names with the county clerk or recorder. Information includes assumed business name; description of business; filing date; and business owner, notary public, witness, clerk or recorder, and deputy's name. Series may also include an index arranged alphabetically by business name. Businesses which were registered were typically automotive sales, motorcycle repair, merchandise shops, butchers, and feed stores. Since 1964, assumed business names have been filed with the Secretary of State. Assumed business names have been inventoried through 1964. For more recent records, contact the Secretary of State, Business Registry Section​.
Records at the Hood River County Business Admin. (Dean) Bldg., County Archives:
Assumed Business Name Record [with index], vol. 3-4, 1956-1963 (2 volumes);
Record of Assumed Business Names [with index], vol. 1-2, 1913-1956 (2 volumes).
ArthurB
Charlott, Country Club Road was built in 1922 by improving several other roads, and was named because it accessed the brand new Country Club. Country Club Inn doesn't appear to have any actual club associated with it, and predates the road. I'm guessing this was somewhere close to the State Road (Cascade) like maybe near where Safeway is now.
L.E.
From the August 14, 1903 Oregonian:
“Articles were today filed in the County Clerk's office for the incorporators …J. Wesley Ladd, A.P. Tifft and J.F. Batchelder, all of Portland with a capital stock of $25,000, …….The purpose of the club is to build and operate an inn for the accommodation of its members near the town of Hood River on a tract of 160 acres known as the old Watson property, situated about three quarters of a mile west of the present railway station.
A cottage has already been built on the property which will be ready for occupancy in a few days, and will be presided over by Mrs. M. Munra. The stone foundations for a $20,000 inn are now being laid.
The October 18, 1903 Oregonian, page 31 has a photo of Mt Adams taken from the Country Club Inn annex and a photo of Mrs. Munra. The White Salmon River is straight across from the Inn and just slightly upstream. The actual Inn will be completed next summer. The ground extends over 75 acres including an orchard and vegetable garden.
Arlen L Sheldrake
WOW….amazing research!!!! makes a whole lot of sense that it would be close to the RR station……
L.E.
I didn't find any more information in the Oregonian. There is a duplicate description of the fire that destroyed the inn, but no follow up.
Looking once again at the photo looking toward Mt Adams from the Annex, the WS River is directly across.
There appears to be a gully running down the hill in front of the annex.
Further landscape description: “The place selected for the larger bilding is certainly one of the most beautiful spots in Oregon. Surrounding the inn is a forest of pines, oaks and firs, most of it quite steep, but nature has accommodatingly left several of the high acres so nicely level that the ground is all ready for lawns and tennis courts.
A deep ravine rounds the cliff below the inn and at the top there is to be a rough stone wall bordering the picturesque driveway…..The ground slopes down to the Columbia and at the bottom of the grade is a lake, very narrow, but two miles long, and excellent for rowing. At high water the river sweeps over it, but in midsummer and autumn a high sand bar leaves if safely fenced in. At the Hood River end of the lake there is an Indian Village where one can drive splendid bargains in baskets……”
Stever
“ The ground slopes down …. “ …. perhaps that’s the notch off of the E end Of Westcliff Rd – Leading now down to the RR tracks .. ( my guess )
Pete
I live at the 15th Street easement on Lincoln and the geographical description sounds like my property (or nearby) and/or the vacant lots across the street, just below Columbia. Just east of 15th is what used to be a stream which has changed course to create springs at various points on Lincoln just in the few decades I've lived here. Not sure if it'd be considered “deep” or a “cliff”, but we are directly aligned with the mouth of the WS River and have a picture-frame view of Mt Adams. On several of the vacant lots on the south side of Lincoln there are large chunks of what look to be granite blocks from structures long gone. (This is total speculation, of course, but maybe it's this section of Columbia/Lincoln; I have been told this was once a 30-acre undivided property containing what's now Cascade/Columbia/Lincoln/Wasco).
ArthurB
Pete, I think that's a reasonable guess. I've been poking around your neighborhood on Google Earth as a likely location. I'm hoping for some record of “Riverview Park”. We know the Idlewilde Addition is just to the east of you.
Pete
Also Arthur, it's been years… hope you're doing well my friend. 🙂