Historic Hood River
Hood River Scene
9-2-2014
Notes
This postcard was sent by Earl Bartmess to his wife. I’m not sure what is being constructed, or which stretch of the river we’re looking at. There’s a wooden cribwork with rocks piled within, and it ends abruptly where the men are standing. Ideas?
The card has a message and a postmark, though unfortunately only “February 17” is legible, without a year. But with a little detective work we’re able to fill in the blank. Earl recounts the following:
Heard Dr. Bulgin three times yesterday and two hours at each time and had to stand up at the baptists Church in the afternoon. My how I wish you could have heard his evening service.
According to The Hood River Glacier Reverend Bulgin preached at Hood River in February of 1913.
charlott
I would guess that it was some early form of irrigation.
Bulgin was Dr. Ellwood Bulgin and evangalist from New Jersey. He spent time in both Long Beach, California and the Portland area.
spinsur
Not scientific, but it sure "looks" like the Tucker Park area…
OrMtnMaid
My guess is also Irrigation and I say East Fork because the diversion is on the East side of the river. Westside and Farmers I believe, all have diversions on the West side of river. East Fork of the Hood River has flooded so many times over the years that the channel has moved and changed numerous times.
nels
It looks like an orchard with snow on the ground in the background. And is that Mt. Hood barely visible in the background?
Arthur
nels is correct about orchards on the hillside– there are several, and even a couple of farmhouses. It’s possible there is a distant hillside visible, but it’s not the shape of Mt. Hood, and could even be a crease in the paper. I don’t think that’s snow– probably just the lighting.
I wonder where that big boulder is today, after 100 years of floods? It’s at least 10′ in diameter, surely a kayaker would recognize it? My guess is it’s working its way deeper into the riverbed with time.
nels
Moving here in the early 70’s, I remember one night that sounded like they were shuffling train cars, a sound from my childhood in coal country. But mentioning it the next morning, locals said that it was the boulders rumbling down the river in the high waters. Going down to see these boulders that rumbled, there were just huge boulders moved down river and rearranged. Like the gods were having a midnight bowling
party.
Buzz
Liked your story about the boulders nels, and I think you might be right about the snow. I remember snow on the heights and nothing downtown.
Charlott
I think it is trees in bloom. If you look the surrounding areas are bare.
Buzz
Trees in bloom in February??
Charlott
Might be wise on my part to look at dates…
Arthur
The date is when the postcard was mailed. We don’t know when the picture was taken.
les brooks
could this be a lumber flume being constructed they were common in area
Earl Bartmess
Nice to see something from Mr grandparents.I