Historic Hood River
Happy Fourth
Notes
I wonder when the last time was that Hood River didn’t have a parade on the 4th? I’ve shared images of Hood River residents marching downtown and in the Heights, on dirt roads and pavement. This image is from 2012, and shows one of my favorite events. I hope you’ve all had a chance to see this amazing equestrian display featuring dancing horses. Hopefully someone can fill in some details on the men and women who put on this display.
The Hood River Glacier from July 9 1892 tells of the parade that year:
Independence Day was appropriately celebrated here and despite the unusual wind and consequent dust the crowd was large and persistent. The parade formed on Third and Oak, with E.S. Olinger marshal of the day, and marched to the grounds. Quite a large number of carriages were in the procession principally from the valley. The plug uglies were a special feature and it is safe to say that a more astonishing outfit than that of Will Haynes, Bert Stranahan and the mule, was not seen in the universe on that day. The language is not rich enough in adjectives and adverbs to do the “toot assemble.” There was some unnecessary delay in carrying out the programme and this applies to the whole day, but with one or two exceptions, notably the football game, and the chase after the unctuous porker, it was carried out as published in the columns of the Glacier. We did not reach the grounds until after Mr. Isenberg had delivered the oration, but have heard it spoken of as a masterly effort. Mr. W.P. Watson pleased his old friends here by a short address, and Rev. Rigby gave a response to a a toast “the public schools of America,” after which the lunch baskets were brought out and interviewed to some purpose. After lunch the baseball game between local teams, followed by the tug of war, races, etc., filled up the afternoon. There were four races run by the girls being won by Clara Blythe, a daughter of Mr. W. Smith of Portland, Pauline Shelley, and Mrs. Tate’s sister, a young lady from the valley but we were unable to learn her name. The boys races were won by James Ellison, Roy Watson, and Delbert Rand. The fireworks in the evening were in charge of James Langille, and were set off on the river bank below the depot; they were creditable for so small a town and were thoroughly enjoyed by all. The band furnished excellent music, and lots of it, being on hand from early morning until the last rocket was sent up at night. Taken all in all, the celebration was a success.
I hope you all enjoy this very unusual 4th of July. I expect a very special parade and festivities next year.
Charlott
This is a very good friend of mine, Tony Galvez. He is wonderful with these "dancing horses." He not only rides them, but raises them and trains them.
I haven’t a clue what his training methods are. I do know that there are those that are quite cruel to the horses, but KNOW Tony’s love of horses that he would be a good, kind and gentle trainer.
I have seen him on this horse numerous times.
L.E.
My goodness, look at the mane on that horse.
Thanks Arthur for a view of an early HR 4th of July. Races, baseball games, picnic baskets and fireworks. A day of fun despite the wind.
Today, so many have an attitude of criticizing this country’s beginnings and why we celebrate the 4th. Not only that, for health safety reasons, we cannot gather in large crowds and celebrate. What an unusual year.
Hopefully next year will be extra special.
Arlen Sheldrake
one of my favorite memories of being in the HRHS band…..YES, a most unusual year…and I agree not all our foundings are bad. I like Tony’s horse!!!
a HAPPY 4th to all.
ArthurB
Charlott, thanks so much for sharing the gentleman’s name.
LE, next year you will have to come to town to see Tony’s Galvez’ horse dancing.
nels
Tony Galvez and his beautiful horse is always the highlight of the parade for me. What a gorgeous horse and what a dignified man. And so much work to make the horse such a dazzling gem.
nels
I think the breed is a friesian.
L.E.
Yes I will Arthur. See you and Tony Galvez next year at the HR 4th of July Parade.
Kalley
Tony is an awesome man and wonderful to his horses. He’s been living here for many years.
Harold
Strange that the article called the wind "unusual" (??).
Barbara Parsons
In the ’40s we always went to Parkdale for the 4th of July parade and festival. My dad bought us "capless cap guns" one year for the " doin’s". The ammo was narrow rolls of plain white paper, and the mechanism was a spring-loaded paper punch. It made a loud "snap" rather than a bang, but it was enough to scare a posse horse, which I did, not knowing much about parade etiquette at that age.
After the parade, we always patronized the food booth of County Nurse Emma Hanby’s mother, Angeline, who was from England and made delectable fish and chips. She was Ray and Phil Wach’s grandmother, and THEIR mother, Ann Wach, was one of our lunch ladies at Park Street School.
Kids remembering her from her mass inoculations at school give her a bad rap. She was an Army nurse in the war, and after vaccinating whole regiments at a time, she learned to vaccinate with dispatch. There was no malice in her, though.
While I’m on the subject of Hanbys, let me just tell one thing about the father of the family, George, who was also from England. In those post-war times, Mormons had a system where every family received a visit from two men of the congregation every month, to see if anybody was sick or in need, and just to have a little chat. Brother Hanby used to bring Dorothy and me each an imported English chocolate bar. He told Mother he didn’t want us to grow up without knowing what "real" chocolate was.
Okay, two things, then. He told us that when he was a boy, he and his "mates" dug up a Viking burial. We were so impressed. "Did you get your pictures in the paper?" Mother wondered. "No," he said with at winkle in his eye. "We put a pair of sunglasses on him and buried him back."