Historic Hood River
White Roadster
3-27-2020
Notes
I don’t think this Olga Plog album image is from Hood River, but it’s such a great automobile I couldn’t resist. That’s a White Roadster steam car. The image is from 1915, though the automobile looks a bit earlier.
White Steamers appear to have been relatively popular around Hood River in the early days of automobiles, but I have never seen a roadster before. The 5-passenger touring cars were much more common.
ArthurB
Looks like I accidentally posted a bonus image last night, so make sure you scroll back to see it. I forgot to post date it when I wrote it last night.
Arlen L Sheldrake
love the horn” bulb” and placement
Kyle
It is pretty.
nels
A bevy of beauties. Are they really going for a ride in this with no back seat?
With steam, one would need someone to load it half hour before driving?
Is that a church steeple in the background?
OrMtnMaid
The roof of the building on the left appears to be a church. I've seen that somewhere. Odell, The Dalles. Arthur maybe this should be a Where Are We image.
ArthurB
OrMtnMaid, I think this might be in the San Diego area where the Plogs had family– but let me know if you can find that church. I know it's not one of the HR city churches.
nels
Dressed awfully warm for San. Diego. Some shrub branches in the background look like they are not filled out yet..
ArthurB
Steam cars did take some time to get up to pressure before you could drive them, but I think it was more like 5-10 minutes. Jay Leno's Garage on YouTube has good videos showing the process of getting a steamer ready to drive, and WAAAM gives rides in their steamers occasionally. I've ridden in their Stanley a couple of times– it's a real treat. Silent, peppy, smells of warm humid air mixed with oil vapors.
Cindy Plog Williams
I do believe that this picture was taken in front of the family house in Odell, I'll check my photos, but I do recognize that front porch and strange roof line.