Historic Hood River
Koberg Beach
5-21-2014
Notes
This fine view of summer fun at Koberg includes the dance pavilion, but it’s not the one we’ve seen in so many other pictures. This wooden pavilion must predate the grand stone dance pavilion we’ve seen so many times.
charlott
Definitely two different structures. The stone one had the patio type thing on the last story and you could walk right out onto the beach from that one.
In this photo you have both boys and girls.
I am guessing and only guessing that the guy on the river side of that swimming crib is probably Prince Koberg himself. Appears quite shallow there, as those children are in only waist deep. The woman outside the swimming crib is no doubt keeping an eye on the ones who are on the outside.
You can faintly make out the tower up on top by the big tree….
Buzz
Beach appears to be less steep, and water less deep than in photo yesterday. Also than the way it was in the 50’s Maybe breakwater is slowing erosion. We used to climb up the face of the rock a little less than halfway before we dove in.
l.e.
I wonder if a spring flood or winter ice rearranged the beach, because it sure looks different from yesterday’s photo.
Buzz
Must of been a fire that got this pavilion.
l.e.
Description here of the big July 4, 1925 celebration.
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~westklic/hrwsb725.html
Sounds like quite the deal, with 10,000 people expected, speeches, games, fireworks, women’s nail driving competition, etc. The only disappointment was the stunt plane did not arrive from Portland.
"The outstanding features of this year’s celebration at Koberg beach, however, was the dancing at the new open air pavilion just completed by Mr. Koberg. In all the northwest one will not find a more appealing dance pavilion. It is built in a cove under Stanley rock, landmark of mid-Columbia steamboat men. Its sides are open, and recreationists at the beach have an excellent view of the Columbia to the wide verandah. The first story of the pavilion is given over to the verandah where one may sit and watch at leisure the scenes on the beach or gaze at the appealing landscape. The big dance floor, with surrounding balconies, occupies the entire dance floor. The dance pavilion is uniquely rustic."
"Many who stayed for the evening highly praised the new dance pavilion at which John Koberg has erected at a cost in excess of $5000. "
The Columbia was 10 feet higher than normal that summer.
The Hood River Guides is mentioned. Remember, we had a photo of the HR Guides.
l.e.
In this HHR photo Arthur says the pavilion was constructed in 1927. The fourth of July celebration says a dance hall was newly built by 1925.
The roof line is exactly the same in the two photos.
longshot
That seems to be a lot of building for only $5000 even way back then.
Was that some kind of semi floating pool in the center where many of the kids are playing?
Arthur
The 1927 date l.e. refers to comes from the Hood River A-Z book. It reports, "A massive stone and concrete pavilion was built in 1927 against the basalt cliff of Stanley Rock, overlooking the cove and the beach." There is no mention of an earlier wooden structure, but we’re looking at it. Someone will need to check the pages of the HR Glacier or HR News to verify these dates, and find out what happened to this pavilion (though Buzz’s guess of fire is a good one).
Kenn
Excellent comparison photos, had never before seen a picture before construction of the building.
Arthur
For comparison, Hood River City Hall was constructed in 1920 for $30,000.
l.e.
Sorry.
In the above comment I didn’t link to the comparison photo.
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=223
Jeffrey Bryant
Plans for a resort at Koberg’s Beach are discussed in the 2 August 1911 Hood River News.
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83009939/1911-08-02/ed-1/seq-10/
Jeffrey Bryant
Hood River Glacier, 1925-07-02, page 9 – A dance pavilion has been erected and bath houses have been enlarged and improved.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1925-07-02/ed-1/seq-9/
Jeffrey Bryant
Hood River Glacier, 1927-08-04, page 1. Koberg Beach had been struggling financially and had been closed, but was open for dancing.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1927-08-04/ed-1/seq-1/