Historic Hood River
Hinrichs, Pope, and Dead Horse
Notes
I have now idea if these three subjects are actually related, but here goes.
This image is from the J.W. Hinrichs family album. We don’t know who this man is, but it’s a safe bet he’s a family member (reminder to write names in your photo album). The photographer O.M. Pope had a studio in Hood River in 1891 and 1892 ($2 for a dozen cabinet cards), so I would date the image to the early 1890s. Searching The Hood River Glacier for some insight about who this might be, I came upon this fine story which gives us great insight into editor Samuel Blythe’s sense of humor:
A singular accident happened to Mr. P. D. Hinrichs one day last week. One of his horses died and he dug a pit in which to bury the carcass. While engaged in digging, the horse rolled in the pit on top of Mr. Hinrichs, and he was struck on the head by one of the horse’s hoods, which cut a gash six inches in length. Although the wound was very painful, Mr. Hinrichs kept on about as usual for a day or two. He finally sent for Dr. Barrett who sewed up the wound. Mr. Hinrichs is getting along all right, but it will be some time before he fully recovers from the kick of a dead horse.
Kenn
Kicked by a dead horse, what a way to go ~
Charlott
Why all the hay there? Was this photography studio a portable one and set up where ever?
O.M Pope was Oliver M. Pope. He had at various times various studios, such as Forest Grove, Hillsboro and in The Dalles. He was noted for the flambouancy of his signature, etc. on the bottom on his photographs. He also did numerous outdoor photos. He no doubt was in business until about 1911 when he sold out to a Winifred Gunther in Washington County.
Arthur
From what I’ve seen, early photo studios were basically shacks with a skylight for lighting. Pope appears to have operated in "popup" space seasonally providing his services in Hood River. I wonder if this space served as a barn when Pope wasn’t in town?
kmb
J.W. Hinrichs was my great-great grandfather – and the basis of my interest in this site and Hood River history in general.
I have no idea of who the gentleman in this picture is. It doesn’t look much like one of the two sons of John W. Hinrichs (Copley or Walter). I would point out the background in this picture is the same as the background in Image 1144, that features Lenora Hinrichs (J.W.’s daughter), another Pope studio photo from the J.W. Hinrichs family album.
Mr. P.D. Hinrichs (Peter Detlef) was the younger brother of John W. Hinrichs. The story about the dead horse kicking him is ironic considering that Peter was killed on October 8, 1910 in an accident where his team of horses on his wagon bolted. There is a file down at the HHR museum that has information on Peter and this accident. Peter is buried in Idlewilde. I believe Peter’s great grandson, Steven J Hinrichs, lives in the Hood River area on Indian Creek Road, but I don’t know him.
In September 2016, I visited the HHR museum and had a look at the Hinrichs file – the same day I met Arthur who happened to be at the museum that afternoon. The next year, when I visited the HHR museum in September 2017, the Hinrichs family album was on display in a photography exhibit. Unfortunately, nobody on duty that day had the key to the cabinet so I wasn’t able to have a look at the album. Someday I will visit the museum again and hope to see this album.