Historic Hood River
Davidson Building Detail
Notes
I chose this post for today to let you know about a special opportunity tomorrow. Sally Donovan, historic preservationist, is going to be addressing a meeting of the Hood River City Landmarks Board on the differences between remodels, rehabilitation, renovation and restoration. The meeting will be tomorrow, March 11, at 3:30 PM in city hall.
And now for today’s post: When the Davidson Building was built in 1905 it was one of the architectural highlights of Hood River. The other day I was wondering why it seemed so undistinguished today, so I tried to find the best views to compare “then and now”. As you can see, it’s all about the detail. It’s hard to be sure of materials from the photos, but it looks like the original building had wooden cornices with patterned insets which really made the facade stand out. With those details removed it looks much more plain. It’s hard to know if they were removed to make the building look more “modern” or if the materials didn’t last and they started to look shabby.
The “now” picture in this pair is from 1993. The building owners have done considerable work since then, with far more attractive doors and windows than you see here. The current Google street view (2012) is much closer to today’s version of this Hood River Landmark:
Tags: 1910s, 2000s, Cascade Avenue, Davidson, Davidson Building, then and now
L.E.
Craftsmanship takes time and paying a craftsman for his time, costs money. I suspect that is why much of the intricate work was removed from buildings rather than replaced.
When our daughter was working at her first teaching job, she lived with her grandmother. I often think of her observation. She said….
"For me, time is more valuable than money. For Grandma, money is more valuable than time."
When her socks got a hole in them, she threw them away and bought a new pair. Grandma would dig them out of the garbage and mend the hole.
I think it became the same with buildings.
nels
Don’t know if that white horse can make it back to the barn.
Kenn
Nice comparison, before and after photos are very much appreciated.
Arthur
nels, the condition of that horse (and the dog) make me cringe, but it’s the best image from that angle. I am sure there is a story behind that odd looking rig and pathetic team, but I don’t think we’ll ever know.
Charlott
I, too, am surprised in the condition of those horses. Generally people took great care of them. I liked the building in the old photo better.
judy
My boss, Brooke Hull Accountant, and father of Don Hull, had his offices there for a while with a HUGE walk- in safe I am sure the safe was left there by Diamond Fruit. and I am sure the office was built around the safe. The walkway from that building to the "88 cent Store" was wooden and underneath the walkway was a storage area.
Steve r
The period wooden trim details also offered the wooden windows some protection from the rain I suspect.