1915 — 100 years ago
Impressed with the value of gravel as a material for road building and repair, the county court has this week acquired the two-acre gravel pit on Paradise Farm, south of May Street, at a cost of $600. Available gravel pits in the county are few and by acquiring this one, the road work in the adjacent districts will be greatly facilitated.
1925 — 90 years ago
Hood River will soon have paved streets running through the city. The contract for the paving of Cascade Avenue at the western entrance of town is being completed this week, and about September 1, after the new pavement has ample time to dry, tourists will no longer experience the ruts and dust that has here-to-fore been prevalent on this street.
More than 350 city and valley women were present to hear Miss Alice Bradley, nationally known authority of cookery, and watch her demonstrate the preparation of cakes, salads and other appetizing dishes, at Odd Fellows Hall last Saturday. Women motorists from other states stopped over to hear the noted authority.
White Salmon has offered the use of its swimming pool Tuesday and Friday mornings each week during August, and yesterday Hood River Rotary Club’s board of directors decided to sponsor the program, which provides for 30 local young folks using the pool between 8 a.m. and noon.
It will be necessary for children planning to go to obtain a certificate from the county nurse or doctor that they are not carrying a communicable disease. Children from the Heights planning to go will register at Mrs. Stewart’s, and children from downtown will report to R.E. Steele at the chamber of commerce.
The Rev. W.S. Burgoyne will take the children over the bridge and bring them back in Joe Young’s school bus, and there will be a 25 cent charge for each child to cover bridge tolls.
It is planned to start Friday of next week and continue each Tuesday and Friday during August.
— Hood River News, July 27, 1945
1935 — 80 years ago
A new type of fish screen, which its inventor, Kesti N. Leng, claims will not only keep fish out of irrigation ditches, but will also automatically clear all trash which collects upon it, is now in the process of being tested on Evans Creek, on the John Booth ranch, south of Parkdale. Arrangements for the tests were made by J.H. Fredricy, president of the Game Protective Association, and Alva L. Day, secretary of the sportsmen’s group.
At a special school board meeting held at the city high school on Tuesday evening, the bid of E.T. Cloe was accepted for labor in the painting of the outside trim at Coe, Park Street and junior high schools. The bid summited accounted to $414.90.
1945 — 70 years ago
The waste paper and tin can drive, proceeds of which will be donated to the Shrine hospital at Portland, will continue until July 29, and all residents of Hood River who are willing to donate their waste paper and tin cans are urged to bundle and tie the paper and place cans into cartons after flattening them.
In accordance with Oregon law, all restaurants in the municipal area of Hood River will shortly operate under sanitary licenses, according to Dr. C.W. Hamilton, the city health officer. Inspections will be made by officials from the Oregon State Board of Health. Restaurants will be coded as to their status under the requirements of the new law.
1955 — 60 years ago
A few cherry growers are reporting heavy losses as a result of the rain early this week, but the losses are not as heavy as first expected, according to local shippers. AGA has shipped over eight cars and most of the cherries handled by Duckwall Bros. were picked early for brine and were not hurt by the weather. Prices have jumped due to the short crop during the past week.
Details of the Keep Oregon Green campaign for Hood River County were outlined Monday night at a dinner meeting for the county committee at the Hood River Hotel. Speaking was Albert Wiesendanger, executive secretary of the Keep Oregon Green association. During the past three seasons, Hood River County has experienced no serious forest fires, Wiesendanger reported, and all citizens of the community are urged to continue their record and efforts in keeping Oregon green.
1965 — 50 years ago
Parkdale — Notice for bids was issued this week on a new phase of the Middle Fork Irrigation District Project, Jim Crane of the Soil Conservation Service announced. Work will involve constructing a concrete diversion structure in Elio Creek to replace the existing wooden structure.
Members of the Hood River Traffic Association voted Monday to build a cold storage facility at the experiment station here as a laboratory for temperature studies on fruit. Work will start as soon as arrangements can be made. The cost will be $35,000 or under, according to the authorization.
1975 — 40 years ago
A county building inspection program was put in final form here Monday night when the Board of commissioners passed a county building code ordinance over opposition from five persons. Some of the opposition seemed directed against the idea of building regulations in general; others dealt with more specifics. Commission Chairman Elmer Murray contended at the meeting that the issue was not the code itself, but whether state or county inspectors would carry out the inspection aspect of the program.
Security Bank of Oregon has announced foreclosure and plans to see alt auction the Hood River Hotel property on Cascade Street because of default of lean payment.
The old hotel, which has been closed to residential occupancy by the State Fire Marshal, was purchased by a firm who announced intentions to remodel and upgrade the hotel, but troubles plagued the project from the first.
1985 — 30 years ago
There was more show than substance to the spectacular ending of more than seven weeks of drought in Hood River County Monday night. Booming thunder jarred sleepers into wakefulness and lightening zigzagged through the sky.
The unfamiliar pounding of rain on rooftops led to some overly optimistic estimates of just how much moisture was being dumped on parched Hood River. A meager .05 of an inch was collected, according to the Experiment Station.
There weren’t many dry eyes around when the announcement came Saturday that 4-H horse leaders were dedicating the arena at the fairgrounds, renaming it the Frank Herman Arena. It was an emotional experience that left a surprised Frank Herman chocking back a few tears of appreciation himself as he realized what was happening.
1995 — 20 years ago
Kids will have to wait one more week — or maybe longer — before they can take a dive into the Hood River Parks and Recreation District’s swimming pool. The pool, which has been in the process of being remodeled all summer, was scheduled to reopen Aug. 1. However, due to building permit and construction delays, the opening date has been pushed back to Aug. 7.
More than rocks may be coming out of the Mosier Twin Tunnels and dumped at the Port of Hood River. There could be rattlesnakes, too. That was the word Friday from Port Executive Director Greg Baker. “Our crew thinks they’ve heard some in the trucks and the drivers said they figured they were picking a few up when they loaded the rock,” he said. However, he doesn’t believe there is danger of rattlesnakes slithering throughout port property all summer. He said the crew figures the snakes are being killed as rocks are dumped and pushed into piles by a large Cat.
2005 — 10 years ago
Mt. Hood Railroad has requested that charges be filed against two teenage girls who recently trespassed on a train trestle. If the 19-year-old females are not brought to court, then company officials would like them to at least receive a verbal reprimand. On June 30, both subjects were knocked from their perch on the railroad bridge when one was struck by a passenger boarding step. The train screeched to a halt and emergency responders were called on the scene just south of Hood River.
The second annual Gorge Wine Celebration comes to the Hood River County Fairgrounds on Sunday. More than a dozen Gorge wineries will be on hand pouring new releases and old favorites.
— Compiled by Trisha Walker, news staff writer
Commented