Historic Hood River
Loading the Freight Car
10-17-2012
Notes
This great image reminds us how important rail freight transport was to Hood River’s economy. These barrels of Sunnysweet apple juice are being loaded into a refrigerated rail car for transport to distant markets. The refrigeration is probably provided by blocks of ice manufactured right there in the Union Building.
I was feeling sorry for the lone horse pulling that heavy wagon until I looked more closely and saw she has some help.
Category: Downtown Hood River
Tags: 1900s, agriculture, bicycle, horses, railcar, railroad, refrigeration, train
Tags: 1900s, agriculture, bicycle, horses, railcar, railroad, refrigeration, train
charlott
Wondering if the man in the suit is the owner/boss. Maybe that is his bike at the pole and he just rode down from his office to observe.
Do we know who processed Sunnysweet?
No photo is totally complete unless you have a dog in it. Maybe he came with the bike.
l.e.
I wonder if the barrels are oak and if they were still being made in HR.
Arlen Sheldrake
Neat wooden refrigerated box car. Wording appears to be: Fruit Growers Express; any date info?
Arthur
A little detail on the Sunnysweet label: There is an apple in the center, behiind the word "Sunnysweet" and a small diamond at the bottom. There are two words at the top– I think the first one is "Western". I can’t make out the second. I think this may be an early Diamond Fruit Growers brand. Their website says they have been around since 1914.
Arlen Sheldrake
The California State RR Museum in Sacremento has a later version (1938 restoration) of this type car.