Historic Hood River
Room For One More?
10-20-2020
Notes
When I first saw this image I thought it was a gag to see how many people they could fit in a car, but there’s nothing to indicate anything other than this was a bus service operating here taking passengers around town. With all those suitcases, I’m guessing it was taking folks from the rail depot to local hotels. The image predates 1924 (I can see a bit of the facade of the building at 3rd and Oak which was removed for the Butler Bank Building). The automobiles look early 1920s.
Dale Nicol
It's a Depot Hack!
Charlott
There is a photo of high schoolers on a bus much like this. I think it might have been posted earlier.
What I find interesting is what is that big tall building in the upper left hand corner?
Kyle
The specially-made luggage rack over the front engine cowl is fascinating – and it's covered in suitcases. So some of these folks likely just arrived in town, via rail or boat?
ArthurB
I think that's the Paris Fair, Charlott. The third story sticks up from this angle.
kmb
This looks to be before the infamous clock on the FNB building was installed.
L.E.
I think that is a saddle on the back.
In this photo, Arthur says Cram's is a clothing store.
http://historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=621
LMH
The Fashion Stables and Sheppard's operated transportation services between Parkdale and Hood River, Hood River and Portland from 1916 to at least 1922. The dozen or so people in this conveyance appear to be adequately dressed for the trip, wherever they were going.
Charlott
If you look right above the sign that says books you will se some columns on the second story of the building. That is where Bartmess, undertake was located. I still think that big tall building is further up the street than The Paris Fair. Could be wrong, as it wouldn't be the first time.
Roger Sheldrake
I have a shoe button hook from Cram's
Jay
I also think that is the Paris Fair building. And the closer building, above or past the “Books” sign, is EL Smith's building, which now houses Hood River Stationers, among other businesses. Is that where the undertaker was?
As I write this I am sitting inside the second floor of the El Smith building, inside the windows you see in the photo, which is a weird feeling.
ArthurB
The EL Smith building where Jay is sitting no longer has the oriel windows which I think Charlott is seeing as columns. The Bartmess building next to the Paris Fair held the undertaker, and it has some sort of columns like Charlott mentions– but they're out of this view. I have the advantage of a little more resolution in the original scan.
john e campbell
I spent so much time looking at the car (bus?) that I almost missed the iron culverts and concrete step/ramp over the gutters. Those were a feature of the Hood River streetscape until the urban renewal project (1990's?) reengineered our streets and sidewalks. There was a BIG example at Third and Cascade (TWO steps!) in front of what is now Directors Mortgage.
Barbara Parsons
Could the tall building in the left corner be where Gable's Book and Art store was, and Dr. Corrado's office around the corner and upstairs?