Historic Hood River
Neat Stacks
Notes
This is a great counterpoint to yesterday’s image of chaos. Dimensional lumber has emerged from the mill, neatly stacked to dry and await a trip on the Mount Hood Railroad to a market in the lower valley or elsewhere in the country.
This is a good time to consider why Uptegrove didn’t join the family’s Tennessee lumber operations. Shortly after he emerged from college the Panic of 1907 hit the country. He played a role in working through the challenges to the family’s sprawling enterprise. Keep that in mind when you read his 1911 Princeton class notes,
Circumstances directed my calling for the first three years after college. In September 1909, I exercised the right of choice and took up my present work.
I consider my move to Oregon the most interesting event of my life (we are glad Upte has no wife). Having always been used to city life this sort of thing is all new. The change from confinement in city walls and sidewalks to wonderful air and climate with constant outdoor work, every bit of which is healthy, pleasant exercise, living among the most congenial, substantial people and with experiences every day that make anecdotes, is to me a matter of the greatest satisfaction.”
If you can stomach the frat boy language you can read his full class notes on page 199 of this document. The editor doesn’t appear to understand why a man like “Upte” would become a farmer, despite his pretty clear explanation.
L. E.
Thank you for including the Princeton Class Notes. Interesting reading. It is hard for the highly educated to “lower” themselves to live and work amongst the “uneducated” farmer and blue collar citizens. Sounds like Uptegrove was able to appreciate that life.
Interesting the political topics of the time. Tariffs, recall of judges and presidential candidates. The big topic was woman suffrage.
It is also interesting reading about his fellow Oregon classmate Paul Stark Seely.
Pat A
I love neatly stacked lumber.
Shows pride in your work and skill, It eliminates chaos. And makes it easy to count.
Just what my father taught me.
All my lumber was properly stacked when it burned June 11th in Rowena