Historic Hood River
Valley Christian Church
Notes
A reader sent me a picture of an unknown church. I was pretty sure it wasn’t from Hood River, but then I found this nice image of the same building.
The Valley Christian Church was built in 1887 (you can see the date at the very top of the image). Hopefully someone remembers where it was located. In the 1960’s it merged with another church to become the Hood River Valley Christian Church, which has a complex of buildings on Country Club Road.
In other news of interest to HHR fans, renowned local historian Scott Cook will be speaking at the Museum Wednesday at 7PM. He will be talking about his lifelong quest to find visual remnants of Gorge history as featured in his newly released 4th Edition of “Curious Gorge.” Scott researches his books meticulously and his talks are always lively and entertaining.
This photo is from about 1900. It indicates John W. Jenkins was the pastor. The third man from the right is a good match for this image from Jenkins’ biography.
LMH
Arthur, it looks like the church building, more or less intact, survives at 3875 Barrett Drive. Currently it looks like Hood River 2 Foursquare Church
Alas de Aguila occupies the site.
Arthur
Looks like it lost the steeple, but that’s definitely the building. I’ve passed it many times but never noticed it.
Arthur
I’ve added a modern view thanks to LMH’s research.
L.E.
It is great to check into HHR late in the day, and find out the mystery has already been solved.
Good job LMH.
LMH
The church originally was built for the Valley Congregational church. Rev. John W. Jenkins was not an inexperience preacher having practiced his craft in Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota, West Indies, The Dalles and Heppner before coming to Hood River. His stay in Hood River lasted from 1894 – 1903. In 1895 Rev. Jenkins negotiated the sale of the Valley Congregation church for $500, $200 cash, $150 due in one year and the balance in two years. The new church was named Valley Christian with about fifty members. Rev. Jenkins not only preached at Valley Christian but was sort of a circuit preacher traveling back constantly to Heppner, Dufur, Wasco, The Dalles. He also preached at the Crapper schoolhouse and in the Odell school. After 1903 Rev. Jenkins preached at Athena, Dallas, Klamath Falls, Corvallis, McMinnville, Portland and Aldersyde, Alberta, Canada. He also owned orchard land close to the Valley Christian church and 20 acres in Odell. Rev. Jenkins married Flora M. Scott in 1884 and had five children, Lucy, Mabel, Wilford, Harold and Melvin. Mrs. Jenkins was born March 1, 1866 and died June 30, 1929. Rev. Jenkins born December 25, 1857 and died September 15, 1939.