Historic Hood River
Speechifying, 1920
Notes
For all you hear about the glorious political speakers of days gone by, I can really identify with the looks on the faces of those men up on stage. It’s hard to look interested but not crazed while you are very close to nodding off. I don’t think those folding chairs made it any easier to enjoy the speech.
The speaker was Nicholas Sinnott, who represented Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District from 1913 to 1928. The event was “Benson Day,” celebrated on Labor Day in 1920 to show appreciation to Simon Benson for his role in bringing the Columbia River Highway to the Gorge.
That looks like Benson front and center, in the special carved wooden “throne”. According to the Oregonian the other speakers were: Rev. W.H. Boddy, Riverside Church, Representative McArthur, Mayor Baker of Portland, Highway Engineer Lancaster, Edgar Piper, editor of the Oregonian, Rufus C. Holman of Portland, Dr. ? Hewes, US Forestry Service, Anthony Euwer, poet and painter from New York city, Samuel Hill, Seattle, Rev. William Sunday, the evangelist, and Rev. Mr. Hunter of Mosier.
I can pick out Billy Sunday, Sam Hill, and Samuel Lancaster in the crowd, all in the second row. I think poet Anthony Euwer is the man in the front row reviewing his notes. As he was known for his limericks I suspect he livened up this event.
Tags: 1920s, Euwer, Labor Day, Lancaster, politics, Sam Hill, Sinnott, Sunday Billy
charlott
Yes, they all look very
enthusiastic……….
Anthony Euwer was the uncle of the Parkdale Euwer’s.
l.e.
It sounds like Simon Benson retired in 1920 to move to California. I bet everyone was glad they didn’t have to go through this again.
Boy, ministers and politicians at the same speech gathering could become a real mind bender
I had not heard of Nicholas Sinnott. He had an interesting career for a "local" boy.
l.e.
As I was just counting the stars on the flag, I was chuckling to myself. With the flags behind them, these guys couldn’t even do that.
Jill Stanford
I went to school with Euwers granddaughter Virginia.
Randy Nickelsen Clark
My great grandfather, Judge Christian D. ("C.D.") Nickelsen is in the second row beneath the fourth American flag from the left.