Historic Hood River
Hood River Circa 1940
1-26-2015
Notes
This Sawyers postcard is extremely sharp, and because it was taken in the winter the you can see wonderful detail of downtown. Based on the cars I’m guessing this is about 1940.
The Hood River Distillers building at the base of State Street advertises “‘Old Delicious’ Brandies”. I can see a Ritchfield gas station, as well as Texaco and I think Mobil. Signposts give distances to Cascade Locks and Portland, as well as Odell, Cloud Cap and Government Camp. Visitors are encouraged to drive 30 miles to Mount Hood and “Try Our Water.” The top of the First National Bank Building proclaims “Hood River” to passing aircraft.
l.e.
And there is that square water tower, or whatever it is, that we so often see in Button Farm photos.
This photo is so clear, that I suspect some HR residents will be able to pick out their house on the hill.
I have come to the conclusion that Livery Stables were more attractive than gas stations.
Arlen Sheldrake
I continue to be amazed at how much history was captured by the "lowly" postcard…..glad organizations like the Webfooters Postcard Club and HR County Museum keep these artifacts preserved.
Longshot
Not many cars to be seen either driving or parked.
Cliff McArthur
My Cousin Wayne Bowlby ran the Standard station across the bridge from 1945 after he returned from the war. I was only 12, born in one of those houses upper right of this pic 711 columbia st in sept 1933, Hood River apples were very famous in those days. Thanks for pics and comments.
Jan McNaught
I was born in Hood River in 1943. Family lived at 711 Columbia Street till 1950. Grandparents managed the Oak Apts for years. I remember the Paris Fair store, the cannery, the little Nazarene Church, the library. This photo brings back many memories. Still love that small town on the Columbia River. Jan
Brian Carlstrom
The hill to the right of the road was blasted 40′ down. The material was used to fix a highway blowout at Whiskey Creek up highway 35. Harry English, who bought the Button Farm around 1959, had the Dupont dealership for dynamite in this area. He sold the contractor the dynamite for the blasting, and then they brought the material up the highway with huge Euclid dump trucks, and dumped it into the void. Harry used to tell me that the contractor told him "you give me that hill, and I’ll patch the highway by Chrismas! Harry told him "What are you doing standing there with your teeth in your mouth". I guess that meant that he could have the hill. Harry warned him that he had better not leave him with a big hole in the ground. It was levelled out at 36′ below the original grade, and that is where Tum a Lum is located now. My wife and I bought the remainder of the Button farm, which included the Windance building, Mother’s Marketplace, and the Button home. In 1959, Harry took the top off the house, and tossed it off the hillside, and added bricks to the exterior. He also moved the barn over to the top of the cliff by the Hood River, and removed the second story. That is where Mother’s Marketplace is currently located. In 1984, I opened Windance in the building where Harry stored his dynamite trucks.
L.E.
Thanks for the great history Brian!!
Sara Button Conboy
Greetings! My great-grandparents were Frank and Ethel Button, my grandparents were Allyn and Kay Button and my father, Alan, and his brother, Steve, grew up in Hood River. The last my family visited Hood River a few years ago, we heard about the Button bridge but didn’t know its location. Now, through this wonderful site, I have learned that there is a Button Junction and that the Button home may be still standing. Are these locations marked? We will be in Hood River again in September 2024 and would love to visit them.
Arthur Babitz
Sara, Button Junction is the intersection of SR35 and State Street in Hood River. The China Gorge Restaurant and Tumalum Lumber are at the intersection. Just north of there next to the parking lot with Windance and Treebird Market is what remains of the Button House. Unfortunately the top floor was removed since these photos. The Button farm included the Tumalum and Windance property, and possibly the China Gorge property. SR 35 from Button Junction to I-84 is known locally as Button Bridge Road, with the elevated section being the “bridge.”
My favorite Button photo is this one: https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org/mal-button-1919/
Jeffrey Bryant
My father built the Hood River Nursey building on Tucker Road using some of the timbers from the first Button Bridge.
Sara Button Conboy
Thank you Arthur and Jeffrey for this detailed information! I really appreciate it. And, yes, that is a great photo of Mal playing the trombone in the snow!