Historic Hood River
Meet Joe Dobson
Notes
This portrait bears a note by the editor of The Hood River Glacier, Joe D. Thomison, indicating Joe Dobson was formerly the city marshal in Prineville, but there is no indication of why his portrait was to be printed in the newspaper. The name sounded familiar, it turns out for good reason. It’s printed on sidewalks around town. (I trust I’m not the only one who reads the names engraved in the sidewalks.)
Joe Dobson was a general contractor who worked in this area from about 1913. He worked on everything from roads to irrigation ditches to sidewalks. I don’t know if any of his roads survive, but at least some of his sidewalks do. If my memory serves me there’s one on May Street opposite the elementary school. Now we have a face to go with the name.
Charlott
Joseph Dobson was an Englishman and he was married to a Sarah Bell Egbert. They had three children. Apparently he died here, as he is buried in Idlewilde.
My big question is, what on earth happened to his “upper lip?” Sort of drooping on one side…..
Arlen L Sheldrake
this volkswalker also reads the sidewalk inscriptions Arthur…..so yes, you are not alone.
Patti
The Dobson family lived on May Street across from the junior high . My brother‘s best friend was a Dobson who lived around the corner from us… 8th & May street. Dobson family moved away.. my brother took a trip to Eugene to visit our Mother’s family .. Surprise… His friend Dobson, who he has not seen for years, married our Mother’s sister-in-law’s Niece.. Small World 😇
L.E.
From the August 27, 1918 Oregonian
Ex-Briton is Determined
Joe Dobson, Rejected, Hopes Yet to Get Into Navy.
HOOD RIVER, Or., Aug 16.—–(Special)
Joe Dobson, pioneer local contractor, who spent many years in the British navy, en route home from Alaska, where has been engaged at work for the past 18 months, tried vainly to enlist in the American Navy in Seattle. Mr. Dobson, who was quartermaster of the second class, on completing his service as a British tar. came to America in 1878. For several years he was City Marshal of Prineville.
From the October 27, 1918 Oregonian…
Joe Dobson of Hood River, now employed in the Northwest Steel Company's shipyard, has received word that his two sons in the service have influenza and are in quarantine. Neither of the boys is seriously ill. Harry J. Dobson who entered the service from Hood River is in a machine gun school at Camp Meade, Md. Solon W. Dodson, who was inducted into the Army in California, is in Spokane attending the automobile mechanics' school. Joe Dobson came down from Juneau, Alaska, when his sons joined the Army.
November 3, 1918 Oregonian
Father of Soldiers Builds Ships
Hood River, Or, (Special)
With both his sons, Harry and solon, in the service, Joe Dobson, of this city has gone to Portland to engage in shipyard work. Mr. Dobson is a veteran of the British navy, having reached first-class quartermaster's rank. He has been a resident of Oregon for more than 25 years.