Historic Hood River
Roe Parker House
2-22-2019
Notes
Not many houses on this site have two completely different addresses, but this one does. The Roe-Parker House spent most of its life at 416 State Street, just east of the library, but in 2002 it was moved to 116 Sherman Avenue to make room for the library expansion.
The house’s most famous resident was Asentha Parker, more commonly known as “Grandma Parker,” who lived here from 1905-1929. She was the widow of John Parker, who started a mill up in Post Canyon about 1890 and was the namesake for “Parkertown”, the long gone community at the intersection of Riordan Hill and Binns Hill roads.
Category: Downtown Hood River
Tags: 1990s, library, Parker, Roe, Roe Parker house, Sherman Avenue, State Street
Tags: 1990s, library, Parker, Roe, Roe Parker house, Sherman Avenue, State Street
Charlott
Asentha had a very interesting life. She was born Asentha Lastelle Moore. She was originally from Illinois where she was born in 1854. She met and married John Parker and they came west, first to Portland, then a year in Cascade Locks. Coe was just platting Hood River and in 1881 the Parker’s got their lot and built the first building, a general merchandise store in what is now downtown H. R. They would sell that an eventually purchase land three miles out of H. R. On this land they built a very large house where they lived for many years. Asentha lived until 1935 where she died in Portland.
I used to love to see this little house sitting there by the library and so very glad that it was saved.
L.E.
It looks like a Grandma home.
nels
Kudos to people who appreciate the stories of a community enough to preserve them. Wish the state had somehow felt the same when it came to the tunnels and the old HR Bridge. Structures often define a community and who it was.
Ben
Interesting, I have no memory of that place. I guess didn’t pay enough attention in my youth.
Arthur
In a couple of weeks we’ll learn all about "Parkertown" where John and Asentha lived in the 1890’s.
I remember when they moved this house. It was a big job– they had to deal with power lines all the way up 6th and down Sherman. The new location isn’t quite as prominent, but you can enjoy it every time you go up or down the 2nd Street stairs.
Sara W.
I lived in the Roe-Parker house for its final 2 years in the State Street location. My housemates and I hosted many parties and it was a social hub for whitewater kayakers at the time. We had a very friendly ghost that we called Sammy. My housemate was looking through a book at the museum down by the marina once day in 2000 and turned to page to see a photo of a Samuel Parker – was our ghost actually called Sam in life?! I would love to know. Living in that happy house was the best of times.
I saw it listed as a vacation rental in its new location and they have so extensively renovated and redesigned the inside that it is no longer on the historic register. I think it even has vinyl flooring now (head slap). I wish that most people appreciated history more.
ArthurB
Sara, great story! John and Asenath Parker had 4 children: James, Frank, Maude and Walter Ray. I’m not familiar with a Samuel Parker. There were several other families who lived in the house over the years, so it’s hard to be sure who "Sammy" was. I’m glad he was easy to live with.