Historic Hood River
Not a European Vacation
Notes
I was going to ask you for help identifying this European hilltop village, but on closer examination things didn’t quite add up. The buildings didn’t look old enough, and the streets didn’t look narrow enough.
This Laraway image is actually the infamous Iowa Institution for Feeble-Minded Children in Glenwood, his home until about 1903. We previously saw this institution from a hot air balloon in this image. From 1866 to 1876 this was the site of the state orphanage where Hood River’s most famous part-time resident, Billy Sunday, spent his childhood.
There’s been some news about this site since we last discussed it. Last year Iowa’s governor announced it would close by 2024, ending alomost 150 years of history punctuated by scandal and tragedy.
L.E.
What a thought provoking photo. And some good sleuthing in solving the location.
nels
Billy Sunday spent his childhood there? And then becomes a nationally famous preacher/moionister?
ArthurB
Billy Sunday spent part of his childhood there, then became a famous baseball player, then became probably the most famous preacher of his day.
Pat A
I will ask my Mother who grew up in Iowa if she ever heard of Billy Sunday. And this part of Iowa history.
Pat A
Mom said she has heard of Billy Sunday. But didn’t remember any more.
Ellen
Billy Sunday spent 3 years in Davenport, Iowa (Eastern Iowa) at the Iowa Soldiers’ Orphans home which was later named Annie Wittenmyer for the woman who raised the money to build it.