Historic Hood River
Dr. Ruth Barnett
Notes
This is an image of Dr. Ruth Barnett and her husband, Paul Barnett, recently donated to the museum by her granddaughter. Dr. Barnett grew up in Hood River as Ruth Hanna, daughter of J.E. and Margaret Hanna, who ran the J.E. Hanna Cheap Cash Store on Oak Street. She became Portland’s most prominent abortion provider, practicing between 1918 and 1968. Rather than attempt a complicated biography myself, here is a good one from the Oregon Encyclopedia, and here is another one from The Oregonian. You can read parts of a longer biography here.
Ruth Barnett published the ghostwritten autobiography “They Weep On My Doorstep: A Woman Against The Law” in 1969, the year of her death. Dr. Barnett was one of the women featured in the History Museum exhibit “Not Just a Footnote” last year.
L. E.
Because of Historic Hood River, I some years ago discovered the story of Ruth Hanna Barnett. I ordered the book. I often think of her story.
DALE NICOL
Any hints or clues on this car. To me it’s possibly a mid 20’s Chevy.
Arthur Babitz
Sorry Dale, we have no other views of this automobile. Many of the details match the 1927 Buicks, but I can’t find a perfect match.
Dale Nicol
Arthur, agree and I was focusing on the very square window and back roof design….Buick roof line was more rounded/stylish. The Chevy also had the aluminum kick plate on the running board and the back of the headlights were flat as opposed to a teardrop back. Chevy offered the solid steel wheels back then too.
Jeffrey Bryant
On Ancestry in the Oregon, Motor Vehicle Registrations, 1911 – 1946, I found the following listings for Mrs. P. V. Barnett:
Jan 1922 – Ford 20 tr
Feb 1923 – Templar 20 tr
Jan 1925 – Ford 24 sdn
I was surprised to see the cars registered in her name.
Arlen L sheldrake
Amazing that we are still fighting about this issue.
Dale Nicol
Jeffrey,
Interesting find on the cars registered Mrs Barnett.
The two Fords would have been Model-T’s and the Templar was a smaller and very expensive car.
They were only made from 1917 to 1924.
Arthur Babitz
I’m a little confused, because I thought “tr” in the DMV records meant “truck” but Templar never made a truck.
Dale Nicol
Arthur, I am with you, but thought “tr” was a tractor?
JEC
I think “tr” might mean “touring car”, which the automobile in the photo clearly is not: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touring_car