Historic Hood River
Parkdale, 1947
7-19-2012
Notes
This February 1947 image is from downtown Parkdale. Remember Alva Day worked for the power company, so he is documenting the line work, not the architecture. I hope this triggers some memories for Parkdale area residents. The building on the right housing Nelson’s Grocery is labelled “Parkdale Grange.” Across the street is Shake’s Pharmacy. I suspect this is the same location today.
l.e.
I would put a smiley face here if I could.
How wonderful to come back home to Historic Hood River and immediately recognize what is probably an Alva Day photo.
He has an ability to include such detail.
Charlott
Must have been early spring when this was taken, no leaves on trees and th hills behind seem to have still a little snow on them. The Grange probably was there until it moved up south on the railroad track. I am guessing the building east of the grocery is the theatre.
Some of the best 4th of July’s I spent growing up was in Parkdale, big parade, all types of events all day long at the then Parkdale High School, baseball games going all day. Then the fireworks at night……
spinsur
I think that’s the equivalent of a linesman’s truck in front of the grocery, w/ a ladder on top, and boom on the front towards the south linesman. didya notice the linesman on top of the pole by the pharmacy? and the lines draping down? looks like they’re stringing new wire.
Arlen Sheldrake
VERY interesting photo. That looks like a new pole on the left with another worker working it. These guys got up and down the poles the hard way…
Arthur
The Alva Day collection is full of photos of people stringing line and erecting poles, but mostly I spare you since they’re not that interesting. But sometimes he accidentally captured something interesting when he was documenting for work, like this.
If anyone ever needs to do research on power distribution in the area we have an enormous volume of meticulous documentation. Many of the prints have careful typed notes on the reverse with date, location, etc. But I’ll spare HHR most of those, unless they’re interesting for another reason.
Perry Richards
Question: I’m a volunteer at the WAAAM museum and looking for info on a future project. In the 1940’s during WWII, there was a, "Sky watch" wooden tower at the old dirt airplane landing field near May street and the now city / county shops. It was used to spot airplanes for civil defense reasons and maned by volunteers. Made of wood, we can assume it’s long gone, but there may be pictures out there of it and the air field. I’m looking for pictures and folks that may recall this tower. I saw in the HR News "Yesteryears" this week 7/18 a note about 1952 Operation Skywatch and list of volunteers… Any info would be helpful. Thanks in advance, Perry Richards
spinsur
Perry, the March 1, 2012 photo, if you haven’t seen it, is the closest I’ve seen to the right area, but probably predates the tower. It, and the comments, may still interest you.
l.e.
Perry….photo #49 May 23, 2011 shows an outpost down on the river front.
I know that isn’t the area you are inquiring about, but it does give a glimpse of the observation posts in the HR area.
One of the comments on the photo spinsur mentions, states that the earlier landing strip was down by Wells Island.
Charlott
Remember that old lookout thing, just up the hill from the swimming pool. It wasn’t very big or up very high, but none the less there.
Jim Gray
There is a building in between the grocery and the old theater, now a pub, wonder if the Grange met above the grocery store, looks like a Texaco pump maybe in front of the Grocery store.
David Benedetti
The upstairs of Nelson’s store was a huge room and maybe the Grange met there before they built the Grange Hall on the road directly south of McIsaac’s Store. Not sure though. I remember a Halloween party in that room above Nelson’s store: scary stuff!