Historic Hood River
May Pole, circa 1908
5-1-2013
Notes
Here’s another May pole photo– this time from around 1908. This is Professor Biggs’ dance class performing a May pole drill. According to notes Professor Biggs came from Portland for three or more summers to teach classes in Hood River.
We have IDs for most of the kids. Their names read like a “Who’s Who” of Hood River city society in 1908:
- 1. Earl Koberg
- 2. Francis Castner
- 3. Glenn Hunt
- 4. Adrienne Epping
- 5. Wilma Thompson
- 6. Harold Ingalls
- 7. Elda Jackson
- 8. Buss Yowell
- 9. Betty Epping
- 10. Katherine Baker
- 11. Malcolm Button
- 12. Susanne Kogi
- 13. Basil Williams
- 14. Mildred Huxley
- 15. Fred Coshow
- 16. Joe Williams
Bill Seaton
I lived in (1) Earl Koberg’s apartments on Oak Street next to Asbury Methodist Church in 1944.
l.e.
So that I don’t have to look back through photos and dates, does someone know which school these dancers attended.
I think I have probably stated this before but, my mother in law was May pole queen at her school and she was proud of that into her 90’s. May Day must have been a big deal a hundred years ago.
l.e.
Some of those boys look like they are ready for a fight.
Buzz
I don’t remember being ready for a fight, but I don’t remember enjoying dancing around a maypole with girls when I was that age either.
l.e.
Malcolm Button #11 is in another one of my favorite HHR photos. Sitting out in the snow playing the trombone.
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=273
db
Their mothers probably made them do it, and their older brothers teased them unmercifully. It’s certainly nice that somebody labeled and identified them.
db
I wonder what colors their sashes were. It looks like at least four shades of gray. 🙂
charlott
The colors of the maypole were bright, so I would venture a guess that the colors of the sashes would probably be of the same hues….Brighter colors I am sure than the spirits of those boys………..
I think in the middle top of the photo you can see what appears to be the actual maypole.
L.E.
#4 Adrienne Epping is featured in the June 30, 1912 Sunday Oregonian.
HOOD RIVER GIRL OF 15 KILLS 300-POUND BEAR IN CENTRAL OREGON
There is a photo of her.
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1912-06-30/ed-1/seq-45.pdf
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