Historic Hood River
Karavan
Notes
Alta Walter’s immediate family lived in Wasco, Oregon before moving to Hood River, and her photo album shows many visits to relatives in Wasco, Klondike and Tygh Valley. I think this image was captured at her Uncle George Hilderbrand’s farm. By a stroke of luck we can see Uncle George’s farm in this Oregon History Project image from 1910.
I think the driver of this “Karavan” may be Cleda Hilderbrand, Alta Walter’s cousin. Cleda appears on many pages of the photo album. I suspect the guy under the truck is either Uncle George or Cousin George.
The variety of work trucks by the 1920s was really impressive. The Karavan was a truck manufactured in Portland, Oregon by the Caravan Motors Company. They operated from 1920-1922, which definitely helps narrow the time frame for this photograph. Very few of them were manufactured, so we’re lucky to see one “in the wild”. You can read all about the Karavan and the company who manufactured it here and here.
L.E.
Ernest Van Dersal of the Karavan Co. lived to the age of 101. His obituary says he was born in Oregon, went to school with Herbert Hoover in Salem, and was the first man on the west coast to manufacture a gasoline powered truck.
Roger Sheldrake
These old trucks had what they called "arm strong steering". Which meant it took three men and a boy to steer it. Or in this case a good woman!!!