Historic Hood River
Madonna and Child
Notes
With all this “weather” many of us would like to get out of town for a little break. I was browsing through the archives and came across this scan Matt and I did for the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon in 2014. We previously identified several of these negatives as originating in Great Falls, Montana. It looks like the photographer took inspiration from one of the many “Madonna and Child” paintings.
I’m surprised to see a photograph of a woman breast feeding from this era (I believe this is from 1904). I thought Victorian mores were still firmly entrenched.
It’s worth exploring the details in this photo a bit, as it’s a great view of everyday life. I think life in Hood River would have been very much the same. Unfortunately it is not a very sharp focus, but check out that pillow. Velvet movie star? And is that Hello Kitty on the wall? Elk dying in a snow storm?
Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon.
Melody Shellman
Victorian morays. Heehee, makes me think of eels in top hats. Not all ethnic or immigrant groups in America were influenced by the Victorian culture as much as the culture they came from. In fact, many settlers in Montana were from Scandinavia, which had different ideas of propriety.
James
Nice snippet of the past, my old HRiver house has/had maybe 4 wood stoves keeping it warm(er) in the winter. Notice that chimney is supported right there by the wall, probably was another stove inlet in the other room opposite! My upstairs is similiar to that. Notice the water drool down the wall.
Arthur
Thanks Melody, I’ve corrected the spelling for "morays" to "mores". Not a word used in conversation very often.
Melody Shellman
Other clues to the woman’s ethnicity might be the photo in the oval frame, the type of embroidery on the pillow next to her left elbow, even the language of the calendar and cards on the wall, if the photo were clear enough.
Longshot
Strange picture on the wall, looks like a partially dismembered deer and maybe a poorly drawn wolf. More of something one would think to find in a hunting lodge verses a parlor.
Lot of stuff close enough to the stove to potentially catch fire.
L.E.
Melody’s comment is interesting. I had not thought about it, but one set of my grandparents immigrated from Belgium after WWI. They definitely were not plagued by Victorian mores. I think the German part of my family that immigrated before WWI, were more entrenched in the Victorian mores. The Scottish side of my family that came over during the time of the Mayflower, were very entrenched in Victorian mores.
L.E.
At one time in Europe, large dogs were used to run down game. I wonder if that is what took place in the elk photo.
Are those Christmas cards hanging on the wall?
Arthur
Could be Christmas cards, though the calendar is showing May 1904.