Historic Hood River
Hesler’s Broiler
Notes
I found this menu sitting on the chair in my office along with a printing plate, but no explanation of where it came from. I don’t even know who left it there!
The map on the reverse shows where Hood River is relative to Mt. Hood, so apparently they were attracting Loop Highway traffic. The map includes a cartoon signed by Ted Schlief, who we met in this post, and includes the name “Betty Hesler.” The prices look like they might be from the 1950’s or 1960’s to me.
Hesler’s Broiler was on Westcliff Drive in Hood River. I’m not sure when it opened, but the business was sold to Charburger in June of 1967. Perhaps this was their final menu? If you have any recollections of Hesler’s Broiler… or know how their menu and printing plate wound up on my chair, please share.
.
Arlen L Sheldrake
Most interesting story Arthur….sure would like to see the UP picture cover. Brother Roger may have different recollections but I have no memory of our family eating a restraunt meal out during my years growing up in HR (1941-1959)….too expensive. now I am hungry………
ArthurB
The UP image is nothing special– just the standard Mt. Hood reflected in Lost Lake. No locomotives!
Norma
Arthur: That is a good one!
Bill Seaton
I do remember Hesler's. It was one of the top restaurants in Hood River, but i did get to eat there a few times for special occasions. I think it opened in the late 1940's and it was first located on 2nd Street between Oak and Cascade. After a couple of years it moved to Westcliff Drive.
kmb
Hesler's may have been an expensive restaurant back in the day, but those prices sure look cheap by today's standards. If you use the inflation calculator and assume these prices are from circa 1960, then their best steak at $2.75 back then would be $27.16 in 2022 dollars. I think a good steak at a decent restaurant would be more at today's prices.
L.E.
Thanks for the info kmb on the inflation. I was curious about the comparison of prices in today's dollars.
Lehman Hesler was born in Oklahoma. In 1945 he was working on a passenger ship as a cook.
In 1950 he is living in Hood River. He and his wife Mary are operator, chef, waitress and hostess of a hotel dining room. His mother Grace, is the pantry lady.
Lehman died in 1956 at age 44 of heart disease. His death certificate says he owns a restaurant, “Hesler's Broiler”, located on Hwy 30 west. I don't know what happened to the restaurant after he died.
In 1968, his wife Mary Elizabeth, is still living in HR.
Lehman's sister Ruby was my high school cafeteria cook in Washougal. She and her husband owned the Fern Prairie Market in Camas.
Susie Irwin
My sister Rita worked for Hesler's as a waitress. She might have worked at both locations, but I remember her at the Westcliff location. That was early 1950's.