Historic Hood River
W. J. Baker, Pioneering Railroad Man
7-16-2020

Notes
When I find a portrait with stamps on the reverse indicating it was used by The Hood River Glacier, there is usually a story behind it. This one is covered with fragmentary notes, the most interesting one saying, “Dad on Custer’s train 1876.” You can read the full story here.
Charlott
Ofcourse we know that this was Pansy's father.He was marrried to Florence Alford.
We also know that he was involved in many things. His ranch was on Brookside and he is credited with having the first commercial block of Newtown apples in Hood River.
Do like that stick pin on his tie…..
ArthurB
I thought that name sounded familiar. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Arlen L Sheldrake
thanks for the newspaper link….amazing history. it would be interesting to know in the future what of todays accepted activities will be valued versus distained….
not at the same level by any means, but many of us have lived through the smoking versus non-smoking eras as a minor example.
nels
Plant grower mentions picking up potted plants at Franz Hardware as well as cut flowers in that newspaper. Still miss Franz. That means Franz Hardware dates back to 1915 and then some.
Norma
The Eliot Building was built in 1909. The Jubitz family bought Franz Hardware in 1937 from the E.A. Franz estate.
nels
Which brings up the question, when was Franz Hardware established?
ArthurB
Franz Hardware started advertising in The Glacier October 1908.
L.E.
One thing I remember about the Bakers, is the drowning of Pansy's 14 year old brother down by the train depot. The water was high and they were trying to move some cows. Pansy's brother fell off his horse and drowned.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The Baker farm was later owned by Glenn Marsh and eventually Bob Bryant. I remember pruning the remaining Newtown trees around 1980. They were planted in 1887.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn97071110/1922-03-09/ed-1/seq-5/