Historic Hood River
Stereo View, Circa 1912
Notes
Stereo cards were a very popular souvenir for tourists in the early part of the last century. I usually post only one frame so you can see more detail, but sometimes it’s fun to see the pair. The pair of photographs was captured with a special camera that used two lenses with a small separation to create the stereo view. It was viewed with a stereoscope, a device which assured each image was viewed by one eye.
This image of Oak Street looking west from Second shows downtown just as automobiles were starting to compete with horse-drawn carts and carriages for space on the roads. We can date it to sometime after 1910 when the First National Bank Building was constructed, but before 1914 when the Lafrance Building (Waucoma Bookstore) was built. In fact, since Oregon didn’t issue automobile license plates until 1911, we can rule out 1910.
The building boom from 1900 to 1910 constructed much of the downtown district, so this view looks familiar. Here’s a more recent view.
l.e.
I am comparing this photo with the earlier photo of the same street corner, # 4. The one with the "bird on the wire".
Not sure the "bird on the wire is in this photo, and the seasons are opposite, but other than that, the photos are very similar.
I wonder who turned that intersection light on and off?
Connie
I love seeing the mix of the automobiles and the wagons. What an interesting time that must have been with so much development and changes. If this is about 1912? – then it is just a few years after Hood River County broke off of Wasco County.
Charlott
Notice at the end of the street all the trees, as the upper reaches of Oak would not have been overly populated with homes at that time.
I would venture a guess there was some friction between the newly learned vehicle drivers and the horse drawn rigs. Who had the right of way, or was it a free for all?
Also noticed the awnings. Recall in my childhood there were some stores along there that still had them.
mandy
Amazing to compare the link to the recent view with this in 1912. It’s great to see how the facades of the buildings have been either untouched or restored.