1915 — 100 years ago
A party of 150 Cincinnati citizen grocers and their families were entertained Sunday afternoon under the auspices of the Hood River Commercial Club. The party arrived from Portland at four o’clock and were met at the dock by automobiles, which took them for a ride around the loop. A reunion was planned at the club upon their return, but they got back just in time to catch the five o’clock train.
1925 — 90 years ago
While the pageant was in progress last Saturday, a thief or thieves entered the dressing rooms in the high school and stole small sums of money and personal articles. During the day some miscreant removed the silver shield from the wall in the main corridor. This was the gift of the Women’s Club in 1917 and contained the names of the debaters of 1917, 1922, 1923 and 1924. The intrinsic value of the shield was small, but the sentimental value was great.
At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the local Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning it was decided to guarantee the sum of $400 necessary for the completion of the Cooper’s Spur Road. The town of Parkdale is raising the other $100. It was estimated that a total of $4500 would be necessary to do this work, of which Multnomah County has contributed $2500 and Hood River County has contributed $1500, leaving the sum of $500 to the effort.
1935 — 80 years ago
Over 300 high school girls from The Dalles, Mosier, Odell, Parkdale and Cascade Locks, gathered with Hood River high school girls recently to enjoy the annual Mid-Columbia play day, which was held at the high school under the auspices of the Girls’ League. During the day competitive sports and contests were participated in, with the girls being divided by lot into four teams for competition in the events. Folk dancing and marching started the get acquainted day and were followed by obstacle races, yell and posture contests, relays, tumbling, a treasure hunt and games.
To the strains of the Funeral March, members of the Breakfast Club, defeated 29.5 to 16.5 in their recent golf tournament, on Thursday of last week, with heads bowed low in submission, marched through the Rotary Club room while members were at lunch. After admitting that their fond hopes of defeating Rotarians had again been shattered, the losing team was invited to join in the luncheon and program.
Outlook for jobs in this area is “fairly bright” for the next few months, reports Boyd W. Jackson, employment service manager. Strawberry hoeing is expected to start in May and work in transportation, retail trade, logging and lumbering should also pick up this month, Jackson reports in the April labor market bulletin.
Strawberry picking and fruit thinning should start early in June, the report continues. April showed the first signs of reviving logging and agricultural activities as weather allowed more loggers to return to work and orchardists to start spring work.
“One area that appears to be extremely slow is beginning jobs for graduating seniors in other than season work,” Jackson reports. “This office has conducted aptitude tests at both high schools in the valley and has a list of test selected applicants in nearly all occupations,” he continues. Employers are reminded to call the employment office if they wish to hire one of these graduates.
Construction of the National Guard armory in Hood River is progressing according to schedule with a small crew. One contractor at The Dalles laid off a number of construction workers recently but these are expected to be absorbed soon by another contractor who is starting another project, the bulletin states.
— Hood River News, May 20, 1955
1945 — 70 years ago
Grade school children of both town and country schools made an excellent showing in the bond-selling contest promoted by Mrs. Hazel Murphy, four prizes for which were presented by County Judge C.D. Nickelson. The winner was Roger Cook, of Park Street School, who sold E bonds to a total value of $7,325. He won the $100 E bond prize, and his school was also given the prize for the largest sales. Second prize was won by Bonnie Gean Alexander, of Parkdale, and Betty Mollgaard of Barrett was winner of the third prize.
Veterans of World War I and World War II will be among the first to buy a poppy on Poppy Day, May 26, according to Jess Edington, Commander of Hood River post American Legion. “V-E Day has been proclaimed, but our men are still overseas fighting that we may live in safety and in a better world. These boys are our relatives, our neighbors and our friends. Who better appreciates the suffering that these men endure than the veterans of this war and the last?” Edington said.
1955 — 60 years ago
Forty-six members of the Hood River high school graduating class will receive diplomas during the 50th annual exercise at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium. As is the custom at Hood River High School, the principal speakers at graduation will be members of the class of 1955. The graduation theme, selected by the speakers, is “Horizons Ahead.” Speaking will be Floyd Olson, salutatorian; Helen Simon, faculty representative; Richard Hendricks, class representative; and Betty Jean Lueck, valedictorian.
Armed Forces Day will be observed in Hood River with a parade to start at Front and Oak streets at 2 p.m. Saturday. The parade will end at Oak and Sixth, and will resume on the Heights. Members of the parade will be the Wy’east and Hood River high school bands.
1965 — 50 years ago
Bridge bonds totaling $98,000 will be called by the Hood River Port Commission at the end of the current fiscal year, according to Burton Badley, port manager. He said the amount was above the usual number of bonds called because “the past year has been an exceedingly good year for bridge tolls.” Badley said the payment will leave about $820,000 to be paid out on the bridge.
D. E. Erwin, the same man who developed a tract of homes on west May Street last year, unfolded plans at a city council meeting Monday for a 50-lot subdivision farther west between May and Sherman. His land, the former Childs property, covers some 15 acres between 22nd and Rand Road, excluding Jensen and Lester properties.
1975 — 40 years ago
Two young men, one of them holding a hand gun, held up the Odell Post Office Friday, making off with about $10,000 in food stamps. Federal postal inspectors have joined county officers in an investigation that still had not turned up specific suspects by Wednesday of this week.
Planning a visit to Hood River County on May 29 is Sen. Bob Packwood. So a local group has arranged a no-host public reception for the senator at the Hood River Inn. Purpose is to give Hood River County residents a chance for personal contact with the senator, and to pose questions. Refreshments will be served on a no-host basis in the banquet room. Packwood will attend high school graduation ceremonies after the reception.
1985 — 30 years ago
A bequest to Hood River County of nearly $2 million for a retirement center with nursing facilities was revealed to the county commission Monday. The provision was in the will of Louise Nex Down, 88, who died May 9 at her home on Eugene Street. She said if funds were insufficient, the governing board could solicit other funds to complete the project.
Hood River County School District’s request for monies to operate the district’s migrant student education program was one of those given a seal of approval by the State Parent Advisory Committee for Oregon’s Migrant Education Programs Thursday and Friday at the school district office. Hood River’s request for $165,000 to operate migrant education programs at Parkdale, Pine Grove, Westside and Mid Valley elementary schools, Wy’east Middle School, and Hood River Valley High School.
1995 — 20 years ago
Responding to increasing complaints about the lack of facilities, Hood River County Board of Commissioners Monday formed a committee to discuss options for new youth baseball fields. A possible site for the fields is the Hood River County Fairgrounds. Property may also be available in Cascade Locks. Lack of field space has become an increasing problem for youth baseball in the area, said Commissioner John Arnes, who proposed the committee.
A proposal to build a Burger King restaurant may have moved a step closer to winning a nod by the city planning commission, although a decision has been continued to a third hearing this Tuesday. No Hood River Planning Commission member voiced an objection to the Cascadia Development Company plan to develop the project in the waterfront area north of Interstate 84 just west of Second Street.
2005 — 10 years ago
The employee owners of Full Sail Brewing announced the release of Session Premium Lager last week. The release of Session marks the return of the classic 11 ounce stubby bottle — once the standard shape and size of American beer containers. Full sale began bottling the beer last week.
A major makeover on the face of downtown Hood River is nearing completion, and the changes brought by the new development go more than skin deep. The building at 310 Oak Street will not only change the retail picture downtown when three of its ground floor spaces are occupied next month, but it will bring residential “lofts” to the downtown core for the first time.
— Compiled by Trisha Walker, news staff writer
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