Historic Hood River
W. D. Rogers, Photographer
Notes
Another fine collection arrived in the mail a few weeks ago. We’ve seen many images from long time Hood River photographer William Daniel (W. D.) Rogers, but this collection of his stereo cards is special. They have all been annotated by one of his sons, with details of places and names.
This is my favorite image in the set: the photo studio in which Rogers produced many of the images we’ve seen in these pages. This 1902 article describes this studio on Third Street between Oak and Cascade. This is what the neighborhood looked like in those days.
You can see the backdrop we’ve seen in so many images. In fact, it was this very same backdrop he used in my favorite W.D. Rogers portrait of a corn stalk. This studio had a skylight for ample natural light, and the darkroom off to the right. His camera on a tripod is in the center. The cloth drape allowed the photographer to insert a fresh plate in the camera back without fogging it with light.
The exact ID of the person who annotated this collection is hazy– Rogers and his wife Daisy Ellen (Sutton) appear to have had four sons, but the names I see in the genealogy (Oak, Miles, Rex and Ace) don’t match with the note on one image which says, “My 3 brothers, Rex, Oak and Cree Rogers.” My best guess is either Miles or Ace went by “Cree” and the other one is our mystery editor.
We can thank the Gresham Historical Society for sending us this collection. They realized this Rogers material made more sense in our collection than theirs, and kindly forwarded it to us. We’ll share additional Rogers material in coming weeks as I process the stack of images.
Will
Miles Standish Rogers drowned at age 6. Rex Ray, Oak McKinley and Cree Melvin were his brothers. I see a genealogy that lists an Ace M Rogers with no listing of a Cree Rogers. I think your guess is correct that Ace/Cree are one in the same.