Historic Hood River
First School at Middle Valley
Notes
In the past century there were small schoolhouses scattered around the valley. I think this image really captures the era and the locale. I can practically smell the damp air.
It is captioned “First School at Middle Valley,” and contains some information on the back. The name “Bella Walters” is written in a clear hand, and then faint pencil tracings indicate the names of all the children. The only one I can make out clearly is Bella Steele, second from the left in the front row.
Bella Steele was born in Hood River in 1893, so I’ll date this photo to between 1900 and 1905. She married Stanley Walters at Hood River in 1914.
Reading faintly penciled script on mottled gray cardboard isn’t very easy, even with a good quality scan. I tried all the usual Photoshop tricks but could only make out bits of names. Fortunately the museum also preserves the original material. I suspect examination under different wavelengths of light or with a microscope could identify the rest of these children, but I will leave that task to a future researcher.
l.e.
This is a log school.
The logs are planed flat, but see the dove tailed joints?
Pretty bare bones without any frills isn’t it?
Arthur
I wonder if the joints midway down the side wall indicate an interior divider. Perhaps this was a two room school?
l.e.
This information won’t tell much about the school, but it might help with some further research of names.
I hope I have this right.
Bella Steele was the daughter of James Steele and Christina Joss.
Christina’s father Alexander Joss passed away at Hood River(Mt Hood), in 1895. Christina’s sister Isabella or Isabelle Joss married William F. Davidson, son of Captain Payton S Davidson, the manager of the Lost Lake Lumber Co.
In your photo #176 of the Lost Lake Lumber Co. Mill, Payton Davidson is named Pete Davidson.
l.e.
If Charlott was here, she might know some of this and I wouldn’t be spending time looking for a mysterious school.
1900 census: Bella J is 6 years old and they are living in Mosier, Wasco County. Occupation: sheep herder.
In the 1910 census, the James Steel (spelled Stelle) family was living in the Baldwin precinct. J Bella age 16 and E James age 13. Brother in law James Joss is living with them.
Other school age children in the neighboring area were, Nex, Wright, Hillstrom, Bradford.
l.e.
Roswell Shelley of the HR Glacier, takes a tour of beautiful homes in the Mount Hood Country and writes his article Aug. 17, 1905 page 3.
They stopped at the top of Booth Hill and looked down on the Hillstrum place. They stop at Gribble’s store. You have a photo of that. They end the day by having supper at the J.R. Steele home. The little girl, (it must be Bella), has a pet baby deer with a ribbon and bell.
l.e.
In 1909 another tour was made:
"A representative of the Glacier spent the last week in the Upper Hood River valley, known as the Mt. Hood settlement. He traversed the Mt. Hood stage road from Booth hill as far as China hill, now known as Valley Crest, and visited the homesteaders on the east side of the East Fork, and along Dog river. With few exceptions he visited every ranch and homestead."
Once again, descending Booth Hill they encounter the Hillstrom farm, then the Bradford farm and later, along the stage road and Bone ditch, the J.R. Steele farm.
The author makes this comment:
"The first school house was erected on David Cooper’s homestead in 1883. It was named Mt. Hood.
 The second school was built on Booth Hill, 1897; the third on China Hill, 1904; the fourth, Valley Crest, 1907; and then Parkdale, 1908."
L.E.
January 16, 1903 HR Glacier lists schools, their attendance and who wins the banner.
Pine Grove, Barrett, Rose Hill, Hood River, Crapper, Mount Hood.
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1903-01-16/ed-1/seq-4/