Historic Hood River
Fire in the Heights?
6-11-2014
Notes
This fire has destroyed a good part of a block of stores. I believe this is on the Heights. The only store signs I can clearly read are Talbot Electric and the Tip Top Tavern.
Note the parking meters.
charlott
Yes, it would be on The Heights as that is where Tip-Top was.
l.e.
Note the wringer washing machine.
Is this where Paddock’s and Radio Shack stand today?
Are the lamp posts still there?
Norma Jubitz Simpson
Wonder if Talbot Electric was connected to Lois Talbot. As I remember she had her piano studio on the alley behind this store.
Jim Gray
Tip Top was near where 13th and 12th merge
OrMtnMaid
True Gorge Stoves and Spas is now located in the burned building. 1414 12th Street. Brick building still stands as in this photo.
Thomas Turner
I took lessons from Mrs. Talbot; her studio was behind the old Sears store on Twelfth Street. Her parents were ministers.
Dan
You can see the Tip Top sign over the building to the far left.
nels
That is the NW corner of 12th and Belmont. The Tip Top was a local watering hole. It is a block farther south from the present Radio Shack and Paddocks. Looks as though 2 houses behind were involved as well. No longer there.
brian murray
tip top tavern was previously a service station. my uncle warren murray operated it from 1927 to 1931. he was not the first operator. junking cars out became a big part of his business, and in 1931 he bought a parcel at 12th and pine where he opened "Murrays Wrecking House". It was later called Murray Auto Parts. It was on the site now occupied by E & L auto parts.
l.e.
Larry Fisher, owner of the Tip Top for many years, passed away in March of this year.
He spent time in your neighborhood Buzz.
http://www.andersonstributecenter.com/book-of-memories/1818231/Fisher–Larry-/obituary.php?Printable=true
Rountree
I’m pretty sure The Talbot Electric building is now Volcanic Bottle Shoppe. The guy on the roof on the right is standing right above their beer coolers.
Charlott
The first building on the corner was Pennywise Grocery. The middle building had some apartments in the upstairs. It was a very hot fire with flames going 50 or 60 feet in the air. Took a very long time to get it beat down and out.
When that corner was rebuilt, that is where Donahue’s had a war surplus store. Both Mr. and Mrs. Donahue were murdered in the store. Sad time for Hood River and especially for their son, whom some of you had to have gone to school with. I knew him. They were into horses and I think they were members of the Hood River Saddle Club.
Tip Top was owned for about 30 or 40 years by Thane Applegate. I know Della Glaze worked there for a good many years.
l.e.
Does anyone know who owned Talbot Electric?
Lois Talbot was a very interesting person from HR, but I don’t think it was she. She was a "preacher’s kid" hiker, piano teacher and artist.
The other interesting Talbot is Guy Talbot. He was General Manager of Pacific Power and Light. His daughter cut the ribbon for the Powerdale ceremony. He was a very industrious person, involved in many electrical projects and railroads, but I think he lived in Portland. The family donated their summer home property for a Columbia River Gorge State Park.
Buzz
l.e., I lived out on about 16th and Belmont. Was aware of some of the businesses named, but was so busy doing the high school thing I didn’t pay much attention to them.
nels
Larry Fisher’s son Gary got in to competitive weight lifting for a while. A special training bench out at the sports club has his name on it. Now he does fancy concrete and paving. Neighbors.
l.e.
Gosh Charlott, you are right. What a sad story for little peaceful HR.
March of 1954.
andyb
What is the story of the murder? Was it a robbery?
l.e.
Story here from The Eugene Register-Guard under "Sisters of Shooting Victims to Care for Orphaned Boy."
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19540326&id=VCNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5641,3630372
clevlend
the buildings are very old and there is a lot of people on the sidewalks
LMH
The Sunday Oregonian, June 26, 1949 carried this report.
Flames Gut
2 Buildings
Two Families
Lose Possessions
Hood River, June 25 (AP)
A fire burned out two frame building and damaged two others in the heights business section of Hood River Saturday.
The fire, which broke out from an undetermined cause shortly after midday, caused more than $15,000 damage. Fire Marshall Claude Collins said.
2 Families Burned Out
The interior of the Heights food store and the Van Riper food lockers both owned by Lawrence E. Van Riper were burned out. The Van Riper family and the Joseph Wolf family, who lived above the grocery, lost all their possessions.
The fire stated in a stairway, in the grocery and spread to the food lockers. The adjoining Talbot Electric company and storeroom were slightly damaged.
I remember this fire. I was in our backyard when I saw the great dark plume of smoke rising into the sky. I ran in the house and told my mother. We ended up in Gurthie and Tony Easterly’s front yard, at 12th and Wilson St. to watch the show unfold. Pretty exciting for a 5 year old kid.
John Dorsey
The nickle and dime store was right in there close. The Tip Topseen generations. Go to it. I did with my pa Digger Dean