Yesteryears: McIsaac’s Store no longer operated by family for first time ever in 1985

“It is really just a matter of selection, if you have a good home and desire to share it with a less fortunate little boy or girl. And yet when you come to select, it is a difficult matter for there are so many and so different types of boys and girls here.

“If you were to step into the dining room and meet with the affectionate greeting of one of these little ones, or should you pause in the doorway of their dormitories at bedtime you would feel for yourself each separate appeal, and wish it possible to take several and give them the comfortable home and clothing, the good schooling and the real affectionate interest which are the birthright of every child.

“And so in case you wish to add a human fairy to your household, address your communications to the superintendent of the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society in Portland.”

— Hood River News, November 17, 1915

1915 — 100 years ago

A mass meeting will be held at The Dalles next Wednesday night for the purpose of organizing Wasco County for good government. It is strictly non-partisan. Voters in sympathy with law and order are urged to be present. The object is to concentrate votes upon the best available candidates. County and precinct officers will be elected.

The Davidson Fruit Company have “added” an adding machine, of the Burough’s type, to their office equipment, which enables them to foot their long columns of figures with the absolute accuracy of machinery by simply playing on the keys as you would a typewriter.

1925 — 90 years ago

The cooking class of the domestic science department of the High School entertained members of the Lunch Club on Tuesday with a splendidly cooked chicken dinner this week. After full justice had been done to the good things provided, the club adjourned to the auditorium, where a general assembly was held under the presidency of Prof. Gibson, principal.

Two real estate transfers of importance were consummated at Summit recently. The larger of the two deals was the purchase of the fine Wheeler ranch of 30 acres by Chester Shute. The property lies directly across the road from Summit station on the Mt. Hood line. Another involves the transfer of title of the eastern 20 acres of the Prather ranch to J.H. Wheeler, who sold his former home and floral ranch in the river road to Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Smith a year ago.

1935 — 80 years ago

Fog and chill greeted the dawn of Armistice Day and the Legion and its Auxiliary and other patriotic groups had every reason to congratulate themselves that all associated events, with the exception of the football game, were planned for indoors. Later in the day, heavy rains set in, and the streets of the downtown area were almost deserted.

Through the intervention of Senator Steiwer, Hood River Distilleries, Inc., has won a treasury permit for a bonded warehouse in this city for the storage of its output of about 1500 gallons of spirits daily. After the plant went into production, it quickly found itself short of adequate storage space.

1945 — 70 years ago

The United States Employment Service reports that about 400 Hood River County men and women have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and that in notifications of discharge are coming in now at the rate of about 10 a day. This presents an immediate housing and employment crisis that must be met by Hood River County with the same spirit that has won them nation-wide renown in the purchase of War Bonds.

At a meeting of the directors of School Board No. 3 (city schools) on Wednesday evening, it was decided that the first project on the program will be the junior high school, which is to be altered and repaired. City Superintendent J.L. Breckenridge was requested to contact the architect as soon as possible and to have plans drawn, so that calls for bids may be submitted at an early date.

1955 — 60 years ago

Apple Growers Association paid the largest amount of taxes to the county again this year, but the second and third positions changed hands between Union Pacific and Oregon Lumber Company, according to figures released by the office of sheriff and tax collector this week. AGA paid $145,257.17, Union Pacific paid $89,320.22, and Oregon Lumber $87,616.52.

Public introduction in the showroom of C.M. & W.O. Sheppard beginning Nov. 22 will feature the new 1956 Studebaker. Detailed announcement of the new line of high-powered sports-type cars is schedule for a later date. The company already revealed that the Golden Hawk, top car in this line, will have horsepower far above the field and other highly distinctive features.

1965 — 50 years ago

Ten years past the half-century mark — that’s the age Pine Grove Grange celebrates Nov. 23, at a program featuring a visit by the State Grange Master. Mrs. Kathryn Mohr is the only continuous member since the grange was founded on Dec. 6, 1905. Other charter members living are Elizabeth Kingdon and Perry Wells, Frank B. Dethman, Luella Hunt Hutson and Mrs. Arline Moore.

Gilbert Robert’s bid of $22,050 for constructing a new toll plaza for the Port of Hood River’s interstate bridge was accepted this week by the commission. The construction preparation swill start immediately, according to port officials.

1975 — 40 years ago

Ann Watt, a real estate sales representative in Hood River, was appointed here Nov. 12 to fill a vacancy on the county school board by the toss of a coin. She was selected to fill a vacancy created in August by the resignation of Dr. Paul Hamada, director-at-large, who left the board for business reasons. The addition of Mrs. Watt ended a long series of deliberations which had ended in a deadlocked decision on the board.

A drive for a new museum remained in a temporary limbo this week while county officials took a look toward revising the structure. Reasons for the second look are twofold: Bids on the building as originally designed were over the amount of money available; and there were technical flaws in the design that needed correction. How much correction is needed remained to be determined. Construction of the building would give the museum board a place to display many items of interest, which are now stored in a warehouse at the county shops.

1985 — 30 years ago

An agreement has been reached that will transfer the oldest business in the upper Hood River Valley to new ownership next month. Malcom McIsaac, manager of McIsaac’s Store in Parkdale, said that on Dec. 15, 1985, the new owners will be in charge of the store his father, R.J. McIsaac, opened 75 years ago. It has been continuously operated by the family since that time, except for about a year after the old frame burned down. New owners are family members of a corporation headed by Jim Weseman. Others are his wife, Cleo; Wendell and Christine DeHart; and Joyce and Tony Weseman.

James R. Carnes, assistant superintendent of the Hood River County School District, has been chosen to succeed Frank Lariza as superintendent of schools when Lariza retires next June. Carnes has been an administrative staff member for 12 years, first as an elementary principal, then as elementary supervisor and assistant superintendent.

1995 — 20 years ago

With all the commercial activity on lands zoned for light industrial users on West Cascade Avenue, one local business Monday turned the tables. Chinook Sailing Products owner Jim Case asked Hood River City Council for a plan and zone map change at his 2500 West Cascade Ave. property currently identified for general commercial use. Case requested a switch to light industrial to allow expansion of his growing windsurfing products company.

Local impact won’t be sorted out for at least two months concerning Wednesday’s Sprint announcement that a six percent personnel cutback is commencing, according to officials at Spring/United Telephone-Northwest in Hood River. The reduction will be phased in over a two year period.

2005 — 10 years ago

The City of Hood River has granted its garbage service provider a 4.1 percent increase in collection rates. On Monday night, the city council approved the request for the cost adjustment. Hood River Garbage Service said the fee increase was necessary to offset rising fuel, health care, labor and disposal costs.

Despite the heat, the bugs and the frustration of being sent home after four episodes, Hood River’s “Survivor” candidate Brooke Struck would do it again. “It’s rare to get those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities where you can go out there and compete for a million dollars,” she said of her recent experience as a cast member in the popular CBS reality series. “And not only that, to go live in a jungle and just try to bare bones survival for 39 days — if you last that long!”

— Compiled by Trisha Walker, news staff writer