Historic Hood River
Ruth Blackburn, 1995
12-3-2018
Notes
I was sorry to hear Ruth Blackburn passed away last week. You may not have knows her, but you’ve certainly seen her. She’s been in almost every parade and street celebration in Hood River for decades on her motorized street surfer, powered by a 1937 Maytag washing machine motor.
I took this photo at the Gorgemobile contest in July 1995. It’s interesting how the big picture hasn’t changed, but there are all sorts of small changes visible. The I-84/ railroad overpass has been replaced, urban renewal has put the wires underground and the Clark door factory is long gone.
Category: Downtown Hood River
Tags: 1990s, 2nd Street, Blackburn, Gorgemobile Contest, Oak Street, sports, windsurfing
Tags: 1990s, 2nd Street, Blackburn, Gorgemobile Contest, Oak Street, sports, windsurfing
Dan K
Last time I seen Ruth was about four years ago, she came to my moms house here in The Dalles and picked apricots.
Dale Nicol
Great photo Arthur!
Ruth’s husband Keith make the motorized windsurfer for Ruth, to keep her busy on "windless days"….in this photo, she was 68 years old and windsurfed back then.
The surfboard has a 1937 Maytag motor and the trike has the 1928 motor.
Arlen Sheldrake
did not know Ruth….but loved Franz Hardware.
Arthur
Thanks Dale, I’ll correct the year on the Maytag motor.
Ralph Kupersmith
I always enjoyed seeing Ruth in our parades. A real Hood River icon. Interesting to see a boat running upriver out there where there is sandbar now.
Stever
Fast forward and add in a just few more WS bluff homes…
Dwaine (Spike) Goodwin
Franz Hardware: Owned and operated by the Jubitz Bros during the 1950’s and ’60’s.
Pamela
I have such wonderful memories of Aunt Ruth
Pamela Robison
She is missed â¤ï¸