Historic Hood River
Highway Auto Company
6-13-2017
Notes
We’ve seen this building before, but not quite as early a view. This is 408-416 Oak Street in 1920, soon after its construction for Hal Nesbit, Jack Stewart, and Herb Fields Highway Auto Company. We saw this slightly later view after the Rialto Theater was constructed.
Here is an article in the The Hood River Glacier describing the plans for the building.
I am surprised to see Moore Electric was in the building just to the east. They later moved to the far east end of Oak Street.
Category: Downtown Hood River
Tags: 1920s, Columbia River Highway, Fields, garage, Highway Auto Company, Nesbit, Oak Street, Stewart
Tags: 1920s, Columbia River Highway, Fields, garage, Highway Auto Company, Nesbit, Oak Street, Stewart
Mary Bartmess Kramer
I have a picture of 4th and Oak that shows Hal Nesbit’s tire shop and gas station. This is where Oak St. Pub is located now. It states it was built in 1925.
Arthur
Mary, I think you’re talking about his next gas station: https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=974. Not sure if he had a falling out with his partners or if they were expanding, but just a couple of years after opening this garage Hal Nesbit opened another one two blocks away.
Mary Bartmess Kramer
Arthur, I was not saying you were wrong, but in 1925 Hal had a station at 403 Oak St. That is the same block. He moved around some, because I think you are right that he also had one two blocks east.
L.E.
Was this building also a bus depot and bowling alley?
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=560
Photo #1576 has a comment that says the Blue Diamond bowling alley was in the basement of the Highway Auto Co. in 1920.
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=1576
Arthur
Yes, there was a bowling alley in the basement for some time. Legend has it that’s where the old American LaFrance fire truck was found in deep storage.
Arlen Sheldrake
and that bowling alley was the home to demons according to grandma Della Sheribon; not a place for a Christian young man.
Roger Sheldrake
With that WCTU anchor it’s a wonder any of the Sheldrake boys survived!