Historic Hood River
Paasch’s Packing House, 1913
11-6-2012
Notes
Here’s another image courtesy of OSU Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center. This is Paasch’s packing house at 11AM on November 18, 1913. The photo is attributed to “S&W”, who I believe to be Starring and Winston.
charlott
This would be the August Paasch packing house ( located off Hwy 35 on Paasch Rd. in Pine Grove).
The basic packing procedure was used back then. If you notice the box right in front s a 3 x 2 pack wrapped pack, just like today, though it is a little wobbly. That is either an 80 or 90 packing. (Meaning 80 or 90 apples per box.)
The sheets hanging up on the walls are the box liners and you can see one in that box of fruit in the front.
They were pretty well set up, with a stove for winter warmth, light to be able t see what they were packing.
l.e.
Looks like a boring job. I think I would rather be outside picking.
Pavel
I drove on this road recently looking for this house, but I didn’t see it. Is it visible from the road?
charlott
The big Paasch home you can’t see all that well, because it is behind trees and bushes. If you are going down the road from east to west you have a better vew of it than if you were going from west to east.
charlott
l.e…….When it would come to push or shove, I think you would have preferred being in packing than hauling one of those huge old heavy wooden ladders around in the orchard. Also keep in mind in some orhards you would be moving your heavy ladder on a sde hill………….Of all the various jobs I have had in my life time I absolutely loved to pack apples and pears………
l.e.
Yes, charlott, you are right.
Working out in the orchard would have been hard, physical work.
And the weather elements would not always be perfect.
At least inside, you were protected from heat, cold or rain.