Historic Hood River
Hood River Post Office, Circa 1890
Notes
Happy Birthday, Historic Hood River! One year ago today I posted the first image for your enjoyment and edification. We now have over 250 images and their stories online. Almost 2000 of your comments, rich with recollections, observations and research are creating a dynamic archive of Hood River history.
Today’s image is just a few feet uphill from that first image. In the 1890’s Hood River’s post office was located at the NE corner of Oak and First Street, facing onto First. There was an apartment upstairs. In later years this site held the Yasui Japanese Market, and now it is the home to the new Yasui Building.
And in case you’re wondering about the toddler hanging out of the second story window– yes, her perch is as precarious as it looks. Both her feet are out over edge, though Mom has at least one hand nearby.
Historic Hood River is an ongoing experiment. I hope you’ll consider leaving a birthday greeting. Maybe share with us your favorite post, what you would like to see in the next year, or where you are from. Thanks for dropping by!
Charlott
Too bad we don’t know who all the little folk are. I noticed that ornate medallion up over the stairs.
Kevin
I begin every weekday looking at Historic Hood River. Living in Underwood, it is fun to see the occasional picture looking from Hood River north. The Underwood "skyline" hasn’t changed that much in over 100 years!
Happy Birthday and looking forward to many more pictures!!!
Maggie73
Happy birthday! Thank you SO much for all this effort. I love love love seeing the pictures and reading the comments each day. Everyone involved is greatly appreciated.
judy
We do not realize how these pictures could be lost without your efforts! Keep up the good work and thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Happy Birthday!!!
l.e.
I enjoy and look forward to the comments from long time residents of the area.
I bet there are more out there who have something to add to some of the photos, but are too shy.
Happy Birthday HHR and thanks to Arthur and whomever else has worked on this project.
Ranger
Happy Birthday! This is a great project, just keep bringing out the history of Hood RIver.
Jim
Happy b-day HHR, this is a great site Arthur; I check in daily and look forward to your notes and reader comments.
I must give a special thanks to l.e. and Charlott, your historical notes and personal anecdotes have deepened my understanding and appreciation of this area, I look forward to many, many more.
l.e.
Thanks Jim. A love of history and old photos helps.
I would like to remind everyone, if you are not already receiving an RSS feed from this site, then check the "COMMENT RSS" tab down below.
Viewers, often times make comments on previous photos with interesting information.
l.e.
From Hood River Glacier May 12, 1933 by Geo. T. Prather:
The town of Hood River, Wasco county, Oregon, was laid out and platted as a town in the forepart of March 1881, by Eugene F. and Henry C. Coe"¦..
 The first seller was John Park and his wife, A.L. Parker and their two children, James and Maud. They came from Cascade Locks on the last day of June, 1881. Henry C. Coe told Mr. Parker if he built a good building he would give him a lot, so on July 28, 1881, started and finished a good two story frame building, 24×40; using the lower floor for store and upper floor for a dwelling. This also being the first store and was at the S.W. corner of Oak and First streets"¦.
 During 1882 the town took on quite a boon, the postoffice was moved from off the hill to town, to John Parker’s store,"¦.
 Since post office was moved downtown the following have served as postmaster: Mrs. A.A. Stranahan, R.J. Rogers, Geo. T. Prather, Mrs. Jennie Champlain, L.E. Morse, Wm. E. Yates, Jay Lucas, Mr. Reavis, Thomas F. Johnson.
Bill Seaton
Arthur,
Do you have any pictures of the Yasui Japanese Market?
Arthur
Bill, I have a great picture taken in front of the Yasui Market which will be posted soon. I’ll bump it up a few weeks in the queue. I don’t know if we have any interior pictures. We also have some exteriors from its earlier location at 3rd N of State (now the parking lot behind the Butler Bank Building).
Arlen Sheldrake
Need some guidance: What is a "Comment RSS feed"?? In other words, what does this do. thanks
Arthur
Arlen, if you look at the second line from the bottom of this page you’ll see two links: one for RSS 2.0, and the other for COMMENT RSS. While features depend on your browser, these rss feeds let you see the most recent posts or the most recent comments, no matter what post they are attached to. Just click on it to try it out. You may also be able to "subscribe" to an rss feed in your mail program, so you receive an email every time someone posts a comment.
Elke Geiger
Thanks so much, Arthur. We thoroughly enjoy this site 🙂
Jim Gray
Thanks Arthur for your hard work over this past year, I have really enjoyed all the history, was this location also the site of the Cramer Texaco in the fifties?
l.e.
So"¦.the Parker home/store was built on the southwest corner of First and Oak and in 1886 they sold to Middleton.
Photo #8 shows the setting for the Parker/Middleton store.
George Champlin, also built one of the first buildings in the newly platted town. H.C. Coe says it was on First and Oak and diagonal from the Parker building.
Arthur refers to it in photo #8.
I assume photo #9 was taken from the upstairs window of this building.
The Hood River Glacier, Feb. 14, 1896, mentions Mrs. Jennie Champlin was post mistress during the Harrison administration. That would have been 1889-1893. About the time of this photo.
l.e.
From the HR Glacier June 29, 1889
"Mrs. Jennie Champlin will take charge of the postoffice Monday next."
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1889-06-29/ed-1/seq-3/
l.e.
Ooops, I should have read a little further:
"Mr. George Prather, the retiring postmaster, has been in office three years and has made a most excellent officer."
L.E.
From the August 03, 1889 HR Glacier page 2 :
To Rent
Six pleasant rooms suitable for housekeeping for small family. Water in kitchen. Rooms up stairs over postoffice. For terms inquire at postoffice.
L.E.
JULY 06, 1889 HR GLACIER
Mrs. Champlin has moved the post office to the corner of Oak and Second streets, and has employed Miss Carrie Evans as deputy.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The old Parker building erected in 1891[?] and used as an early post office, was torn down in 1913.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83009939/1913-05-28/ed-1/seq-7/
ArthurB
Interesting tidbit Jeffrey. John Parker was the namesake of "Parkertown" and "Parkers Mill" up at the intersection of Binns Hill and Riordan Hill Rd. I wonder about the details of this report, though. We know Parker was the first to build downtown after the Coes platted the area, so I bet the year is 1881 or 1882. If this is the "Parker Building" it is visible in Carleton Watkins 1883 photo.