Historic Hood River
J.H. Middleton Store? circa 1888
8-1-2012
Notes
Notes identify this as the J.H. Middleton store in 1888, but I’m a bit suspicious. We know this building at Third and Oak was the A.S. Blowers store near this time, and we also know that in this 1887 view the J.H. Middleton store was on Oak between First and Second. It’s possible the stores shuffled around back then as much as they do now, or maybe someone’s memory was a bit fuzzy.
This is the same building we saw here and here. Those fine oak trees are long gone, but through the work of industrious squirrels their progeny lives on in yards all around town.
Arlen Sheldrake
It appears that HR was in need of a sign painter as I see no evidence of any store sign.
l.e.
Time for a bit of research.
If A.S. Blowers arrived in HR March 1889 and purchased the E.L Smith store, then dates and ownership don’t quite add up for 1888.
l.e.
I see the photo is torn at the top.
I wonder if those are strawberry flats stacked up.
The store appears to be fairly new.
Any idea what the building down below is?
Rawhyde
Interesting how it is all men and the way they have spread themselves around the structure for the photograph.
Arthur
We’ve seen several photos from that period posed like this. Apparently they hadn’t developed the technology to stand in a clump with arms around each others’ shoulders, trying to smile and not blink.
charlott
could be strawberry crates, as strawberries were a prime product out of the Hood River Valley in the early years.
Alwalys amazes me how when there was a photographer around everyone was right there to get in the picture.