Historic Hood River
Peter Mohr Homestead Cabin, 1880
11-22-2011
Notes
Here we have the entire Peter Mohr family at their cabin in 1880. They are identified as (left to right):
- P.J. Mohr, Jr.
- J.H. Mohr
- Josie Mohr
- Mrs. Pete Mohr
- Marie C. Mohr
- A.A. Mohr
- Pete Mohr, Sr.
- Bill Ehrek
- Herman Galner
No mention of the names of the dogs.
I’ve noticed in several of the older pictures that it’s common to pose with chairs in front of the house. The next generation would invariably pose with their car instead.
l.e.
Check out the rain gutters into the barrel.
This is a very well built cabin and it looks like it has been established for a while.
Kate D
Where was the cabin located?
Arthur
Kate, Peter Mohr was a pioneer of Pine Grove. Don’t have any more detail on where this cabin was located.
l.e.
I am impatiently waiting for Charlott to give us some history. She must have slept in this morning.
Charlott
Peter Mohr was born in Alsace Lorraine. His wife was Anna Maria Matilda (Denner) Mohr who was from Baveria. Peter had been trained as a stonemason and followed that vocation for awhile prior to settling on the property where this, their first home was built on East Side Road, in Pine Grove.
P.J. = Peter John who married Rose Mary Sheridan
J H + John Henry who married Kathryn M. Wehr
Josie = Josephine
Marie C = Marie Constance who married Edward Frank Dresser
A A == Alphonse Aloysious who married Margaret "Mattie" Cochran
William (spelling) Ehrck was alos from Germany and he and his wife lived on what is now Ehrck Road, also in Pine Grove.
No idea who Herman Galner was. May have been some relative or just a neighbor boy.
Though water certainly was not an issue on the Mohr farm note the rain barrel at the end of the eave. Many women would not consider washing their hair in anything but rain water. My own grandmother was one of them.
With Peter Mohn being a stonemason he would have been an expert in "chinking" the walls of that jouse. I am wondering if that portion between the two windows is not some sort of chimney to a stove that went up and was attached to the main chimney on the top of the house. There is a lean to in the back with a chimney, which may well have been the kitchen area.
Does appear to be a comfy home against the snows of winter and the heat of summer.
Charlott
In all probability this cabin was located on the east side of East Side Road. One might call it "the home place" as eventually the Mohr land was divided up between some of the children. On that east side was a big (old) white house when I was growing up, no doubt built by Peter Mohr. Alph and Maggie lived on that portion of the farm and in that house. John Henry and Kathryn lived on the west side of the road in the home that was eventually purchased by Wesley (Pooch) Swyers. Marie and Ed Dresser lived on the east side to the south, where they built their home at the intersection of Eastside and Mason Dr. Lage’s own that home now.
spinsur
Charlotte, always really great to read your comments, thank you!
In regards to the protrusion between the two windows, I believe that is an interior log wall, interlocked with the outside wall. Take a look under a higher zoom, see what you think. Any idea what the crutch looking article is in the lower right background?
Charlott
I think that makes a lot of sense. I noticed that thing that looks like a crutch. Could it be some form of shovel?
Arthur
You guys keep me busy with all the great details you see. I checked the original scan, and I think spinsur is right that the protrusion is an interior wall. There is a piece of flashing at the top to divert rainwater from the ends of the logs– I guess to keep the mud or clay from washing out. The crutch-like thing: the two cross members seem too close together to work right as a crutch. I think there is a pointy protrusion at the bottom, so I’m guessing it’s a farm implement. Can’t see enough to be sure.
Charlott
Okay, here is aother observation. Above the rain barrel there is something that looks somewhat like a spicket to me. Up under that eave trough about a food or so back from the end there is this thing coming down. Wondering if by chance that channeled that water down to that thing that looks like a spicket and into that barrel. If not in any relationship to water and barrel, what could it be?
Arthur
I think the water from the gutter drops directly into the bucket. About a foot above the barrel there us a plank pushed into the gap between two log ends. The plank has a tin can resting on it, which seems to have some flowers in it. Never would have noticed it without your question.
Charlott
That is what it is………I couldn’t tell that it was a cup, looked like a spicot of some sort. Makes 100% sense.
Judy Mohr DeHart
This was the first homestead of my Gr. Grandfather, Peter Mohr, in Pine Grove. His larger home was built later, on the acreaage off Tony Mohr Road. The old house is long gone, but the house of his brother, John Mohr, still stands between Hwy 35 and Rasmusen Farms.
Judy Mohr DeHart
Herman Guhner, tp tje rogjt om the photo, helped to plaster the walls of the new house. I believe his son was also in the picture.
Michael Duane Mohr II
Correction as to place of birth — Peter Mohr, Sr. was born in Wiltingen, Rhineland, Germany on 1 Nov 1845, to Johannes Mohr and Anna Leoba Clomes. The family moved from Germany to the US in 1868/1870 and settled initially in Wisconsin before moving on to California and Oregon. Peter was the first of two brothers to settle in Hood River. My G-Grandfather John A. Mohr arrived in 1881, bringing the bulk of the family root stocks for many of the delicious apples you enjoy today. Peter’s two other brothers, Michael and Nikolaus, settled in San Francisco, California and were associated with the German Hospital (now Stanford University School of Medicine) as cooks and waiters.
l.e.
In The Dalles Times Mountaineer Feb. 25, 1899
John f. Mohr died at his home in the Hood River valley Friday morning, aged 22 years and 6 months.
Last October he was taken sick with an attack of Bronchitis and has been failing since that time until death ended his sufferings this morning. The deceased was born in Wisconsin and came to Hood River seventeen years ago, where he has made his home ever since…..
He leaves a mother, five sisters and four brothers to mourn his loss. He being the oldest of the family his death will be a serious blow to his relations….
Ruth Anne Mohr Shelton
What an amazing website. I appreciate the family information especially about my grandfather Alphonse A Mohr. Grandpa Alf & Grandma Maggie would have dinner every Sunday for the entire family after mass. Didn’t all families eat together, play kick the can or annie annie over with cousins and uncles? It’s wonderful to have this family history for my children and grandchildren.
Jeanne Mohr Ellison
I believe the cabin pictured was built on the homestead where Marie and Ed Dresser first lived. That was just south of the packing house on the now Swyer’s home, originally the John H. Mohr home built near 1906. My sister, Judith Mohr DeHart and I were shown the cabin when we visited with grandmother, Kathryn at great aunt Marie’s house. The cabin was then used for storage. I believe it was torn down later. I cannot be certain that it was the original homestead but am fairly sure of being told that. Loved seeing my grandfather John’s picture again with the family and the homestead.
James (Jay) mohr
Hello Mohr clan. John A. Mohr is also my G. Grandfather. My tree branch is as follows. John A. Mohr- G. Grandfather, Carl B. Mohr-Grandfather, Theodore Owen Mohr-my father. I was born in Eugene Oregon and now live in Scottsdale AZ. I am visiting the Alsace area of France this summer so I have started doing some family research. Michael, you mention that Peter Mohr was actually born in Wiltingen Germany. Do you, or anyone else, know where John A. Mohr was born? Also any idea where John A. Mohr’s parents (Johannes Mohr and Anna Leoba Clomes) are buried? Michael, who are your grandparents? I assume one of them is a sibling to Carl B. Mohr?