Historic Hood River
George Lawrence Home
8-7-2014
Notes
We learned a little about prominent Portland businessman George Lawrence in this image. Here is his house on Belmont Street at Avalon Way. I’m guessing that is Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence and their son on the porch. The house has since burned down.
The Lawrence’s reportedly built this house in Hood River so their son, who was suffering from a respiratory disease, could benefit from better air quality. Unfortunately it did not save their son.
l.e.
Definitely looks like the Belmont area.
Beautiful home. The way the roof line slopes up is a bit unusual.
When you read HR history, it seems that a lot of people came here for health reasons.
I wonder if the drier air was the reason.
nels
What is the architectural style of this home? Seems it was common for that age and can still be spotted back in some orchards. Since so many of our early residents came from back east I’ve always called it New England cottage style but I’m sure there must be some name to it. What a loss to the uptown architectural style, especially the few that remain along Belmont.
l.e.
If you want to know more about George Lawrence and his saddlery business, click on the "Lawrence" tag.
Here is a link about George Lawrence saddles.
https://gorgediscovery.org/georgeLawrenceExhibit.html
Jill Stanford
Oddly enough, there is a house up the street from me that has the same roof line – 3 stories, with windows. I like the striped canvas ‘curtain" to keep the breezes at bay.
clevlend
this is beautiful house!
Ellen
Tagline for Lawrence’s leather business…"When you own a Lawrence Leather, you own a legend. In business from 1857 to 1985, first under the name of Sherlock, Lawrence’s in- law. He moved into sporting goods products when the market for saddles & harnesses declined.
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, May 4, 1911
Avalon Way
The farmers living on the first lane running south from the road leading west past the ball grounds have swung a sign-board cross the lane bearing the name "Avalon Way" by which this road may be designated. Heretofore it was difficult for people to direct inquiries to the ranches on this lane, but now it will be easy enough.
Avalon Way is connected with the main road at both ends. The west end, being between the a. Butts and Gus Miller ranches. Another name board will be put up this end of Avalon Way as soon as it is completed.
The ranches adjoining Avalon Way are for the most part small, mostly five acre tracts, and are all well kept, the chief product being strawberries which are planted between apple trees.
Improvements of buildings and ranches are being made along this road all of the time. So when you are out for a ride don’t fail to travel Avalon Way.
Don Mays
I think this was the auction house back in the fifties and I do remember as the bushes ran the auction house and I was friends of Jim and David Bush.
Dennis Smith was passed away just recently was my best friend and he lived on Avalon Way so did my Grandmother Mattie Mays where Avalon Way makes a right turn and she had a big white two story house on the left with two smaller houses at the back and side of the big house.