Historic Hood River
White Christmas, 1950s
Notes
The decorations look a little windswept in this view up Oak Street from about First, but I’m sure no one was complaining. It looks like they got the white Christmas they wished for. Not likely to see this scene repeated this year, but I hope everyone enjoys the holiday anyway.
And speaking of holiday cheer, I want to send out a special “thank you” to everyone who was able to help us fill the funding gap created by the discovery of the huge cache of Alva Day negatives. Remember when I estimated we had 1000 negatives in the collection? I did a careful survey last week and we actually have about 2700! We’ll be ordering the archival sleeves next week, so we’ll be starting to process them in the new year. Who knows what treasures we’ll find in that collection
And another “thank you” to all those who responded to the Museum’s fund drive for renovating the facility. Construction is imminent.
Charlott
This might actually be 1950 and it was a horrible time weather wise.. It lasted well into January. I don’t recall when the actual blizzard hit, but it was after we were in school and Pine Grove had to close down, the snow was piling up so terribly bad that a call was put out for anyone who could to come and get kids. Remember our snow plows were not the greatest in the world. I remember a neighbor by the name of Ole Blackmer who went out, got a sled he used in the orchard, loaded it with hay and blacnkets, came to school and retrieved the kids that lived on Fir Mountain and Thomsen Road. I remembered being snuggled down in that hay and blankets not being able to see where Ole pulling that old sled with his tractor was going. Another reason was Pine Grove School burned the long outer cuts of logs in the long deep furnace and the janitor couldn’t stoke that fire enough to keep the heat up. Stoms kept coming and we were "home bound" a long time that winter. Great fun because the snow got so deep that my father had to shovel our roof and the snow was piled up to the eaves and we sledded from the top of the house, onto the snow piled to the gutters and right on out into the front yard.
Dan
Thanks for sharing that great story Charlott.
Ellen Dittebrandt
Thank You Charlott!
Charlott
That big snow and then ice storm had other things I recollect. There were holes in the old Powerdale pipeline and those holes threw water 30 or 40 feet in the air, naturally freezing on tree and everything else. My Dad hiked down in there and took the most wonderful photos. Just a winter wonderland.
My uncle had bought a World War II surplus jeep. He would hook our sleds on behind or skis and whiz us up and down Eastside Road for hours.
This snow got so deep that with the icy top we actually built a play house under the snow in the front yard. Had a kitchen, bedroom, living room. Problem was we hauled pots and pans, blacnkets and I don’ t remember what all to our "Igloo Home." Eventually as it started to melt we were banished from going in there. Snow melted and what a mess, blankets, pots and pans littering the front yard. Who says farm kids couldn’t make their own enjoyment and fun times.
l.e.
I wonder if the power is out in this photo.
I heard stories of the bitter cold that winter. The creeks froze and the power was out so it was hard to water the farm animals and dairy farmers had to milk the cows by hand then throw the milk away because the milk trucks couldn’t get through the snow.
Charlott
Yes, you are very correct about that power that year. Many people had converted to oil and gas that needed power to operate. My mother refused to give up her old wonderful farm wood furnace. Power goes out………and here come all the neighbors because they are cold due to their new forms of heating.
I think that was the year we cooked the Christmas or New Years meal on the old wood stove (had been in the kitchen) in the basement. Thank goodness for farmers being able to figure a way around problems.
Bill Pattison
That winter the snow got so deep so fast that a number of slides occurred at Shell Rock Mountain blocking the Columbia River Highway and stranding a number of trucks. I came home to Hood River from Portland on the train. We stopped and picked up the drivers and took them into town.
l.e.
Thanks for your comment Bill.
I wonder if that is the year they let students out of school early, here in Glenwood, because of drifting snow. The road drifted shut on the school bus and the children were taken to the closest homes.
Charlott
I imagine that that was all the same winter, which was 1950.
l.e.
The National Weather Service lists January snowfall for Hood River as 93.8 inches. The Dalles received 78 inches. Timberline 224 inches. Troutdale received only 36.7 inches.
Patti
I ‘Fondly’ remember those beautiful winters in Hood River…. Have not seen anything like them since the 50’s!