Yesteryears: Nisei given permits to return, arrive by train this week in 1945

(Advertisement) At a considerable expense we have made special arrangements to have Mrs. Ada B. Cox, special demonstrator for the H.W. Gossard Corset Company, assist us in a demonstration of Gossard Corsets. This will be the style of event of the season in Corsets, and it is our desire to have every woman in this city visit our Corset Department some time during the day. The Paris Fair.

1925 — 90 years ago

Figures now available on the cost to the taxpayers of this county for upholding the prohibition law show that the actual loss to taxpayers was $485.33, besides which were court and jail costs.

The preliminary debates held between the teams of Cascade Locks and Hood River were held in the school buildings in these two places Tuesday afternoon. The affirmative team from Cascade Locks came to Hood River and the Hood River affirmative team went to Cascade Locks. The question of the debate was: Resolved: That the United States government should own and operate the coal mines of the country.

1935 — 80 years ago

The splendid work being done at Hood River’s highly modern hospital in the interests of the Mid-Columbia area, is disclosed in the annual report of its president, Mrs. J.E Ferguson, presented at the annual meeting held on Jan. 16. Among those present were five of the hospital nurses who hold membership in the hospital.

Sinking of the river steamer Beaver Monday after she struck a rock in the Columbia River 29 miles east of Arlington has prompted Captain Homer T. Shaver, manger of the Shaver Transportation Company, to announce that his company is “definitely off the run between Celilo and Umatilla until the river channel is made safe.” The company resumed the run last year at the request of wheat-owners who sought river transportation for their grain from Umatilla and Arlington to Portland.

1945 — 70 years ago

Three Nisei (American-born of Japanese parents) who were recently given permits to return to their former homes in Hood River valley, arrived by train last week, returning to their homes and are now going about their business as fruit growers. They are: Ray Sato and Sat Noji, of Parkdale, and M. Asai, of Oak Grove.

A capacity audience last Friday night at Hood River high school, with round after round of hearty applause, extended whole-hearted reception of the work of Boris Sirpo and the talented group of instrumentalists and choristers, whom he presented at the Winter Music Festival of the Hood River Music Association.

1955 — 60 years ago

Services of 21 persons were sold for a total of $164.50 during a “telethon” program sponsored by the Hood river county junior chamber of commerce for the March of Dimes. Mayor Charley Howe’s services were in especial demand by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Katt and Mrs. Wagner of White Salmon, who bid Howe in to help cook a Friday dinner. Dan Hanners and Percy Bucklin will have an opportunity to discuss banking while washing windows for A.J. Overture.

Apple exporters in Hood River county started shipments of fruit to the United Kingdom on Tuesday after a delayed deal, amounting to $1.4 million, received final authorization late last week. Licenses were issued in the UK and the word was received Tuesday.

A man armed with a long-barrel revolver held up two employees at Prairie Market last Tuesday night and made off with nearly $3,000, and investigations are continuing in full force this week.

“It’s still under investigation,” said Sheriff Dick Kelly early this week. “We’re working closely with the store’s security department and we’re trading information with a couple of other agencies.”

A man identified as being in his mid-20s, about 5’8” and 160 pounds with sandy hair over the ears, handcuffed two store employees after closing hours last Tuesday night and then stole an estimated $2,970 from the store safe and tills.

Police received the robbery report at about 10 p.m., nearly two hours after the hold-up occurred and the employees, two men, one 26 and the other 31, were handcuffed to a building machine in the rear of the store.

One of the men reported that the suspect was removing items from his cart and putting them on the check stand as he was closing out another till for the night at approximately 8:05 p.m. He said the man said, “Hey, this is a stick-up,” and pointed a long-barrel revolver at him.

The suspect had him lock the doors, then led him to where the second man was working. Police reported all three men then walked to the back of the store, where one was ordered to handcuff the other to a bundling machine. The suspect then handcuffed the other to the same machine.

Sheriff Kelly said the cuffs used were “just above toys.” He said they were not high quality law enforcement cuffs.

It was nearly two hours before one of the men broke free by working his cuffs loose, and he immediately contacted police. The second was then cut free by policeman.

Store employee Steve Miller reported Thursday that it appeared about $2,929.19 was missing, including $350 in new $1 bills and about $200 in rolled quarters. Also taken were a store key and nigh deposit key.

Employees and officers believe that the suspect was on foot at the time of the holdup, but attempts to trace his tracks by using police dog Marko were unsuccessful.

— Hood River News, January 23, 1985

1965 — 50 years ago

Gov. Mark Hatfield has been invited as speaker for Hood River County’s annual awards banquet, according to Burton Badley, Chamber of Commerce manager. “We’ve had oral confirmation only that the governor will be able to attend,” he cautioned Wednesday. “I’ve sent a letter seeking written confirmation, so this thing is still subject to change.” Awards will be given for Women of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Junior Citizen of the Year and Orchardist of the Year.

Hood Valley, Inc., a new organization promoting almost any kind of development in this area, has opened a new office on west Oak Street. Ward C. Briggs, president of the corporation, explained the new organization this way: “This is a stock company to develop home sites, recreation, summer homes — anything that will further development of Hood River county.” A first project for the group lies west of Hood River. Briggs said they have optioned a 45-acre fruit ranch on Post Canyon near the Frankton road junction.

1975 — 40 years ago

Thanks to a sizeable increase in traffic in the late months of 1974, interstate toll bridge revenue for the Port of Hood River hit a record high $528,744 for a single year.

About 20 juveniles crowded jail facilities here Tuesday after county and state police broke up a beer keg party on old Highway 30 during the afternoon. The youths, rounded up after they scattered into the brush, were herded back to the county courthouse in five cars that transported them from the scene. Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Don Hardman said the five carloads of young boys and girls were spotted by a state police officer on routine patrol. Hardman said they had set up a beer keg in the roadway, a stereo was playing and the keg — which was confiscated — had been tapped when officers arrived.

1985 — 30 years ago

It’s off the drawing board and into construction for a major power generation project for the Farmers Irrigation District. And nobody on Orchard Road has to be reminded of that fact. That’s where construction crews have started burying the huge concrete pipes that will transmit the irrigation water from a west side ditch to turbines powering generators at the edge of the Hood River just above the Powerdale dam.

Hope for renovating the city swimming pool bathhouse in time for the summer swimming season received a boost last week when the Hood River Rotary Club got behind the major fundraising effort. Rotary Club members showed “total support” for the project by their unanimous decision to back the drive with fundraisers and general enthusiasm, according to City Administrator Pete Harris. The Rotarians plan to provide help in an effort by the swimming pool project committee to raise approximately $50,000 for the renovation of the pool bathhouse.

1995 — 20 years ago

Pizza and a movie? It’s a combination that is about to arrive in Hood River. Andrew and Melissa McElderry, owners of the popular Andrew’s Pizza and Bakery at 107 Oak Ave., plan to open a theater pub at their downtown location during early spring. McElderry says the theater pub is just the kind of entertainment that’s lacking in Hood River. Second run motion pictures will be screened. Also anticipated are movie festivals.

Final wrinkles in the Second Street Overpass construction schedule were ironed out here Wednesday when Oregon Department of Transportation officials met with project contractor, Weaver Construction. Work will begin on schedule this Monday on the overpass above Interstate 84. Traffic will be limited to one southbound lane through May.

2005 — 10 years ago

A 2004 graduate of Hood River Valley High School will hold a place of honor at Thursday’s presidential inauguration ceremony. David Skelton, 18, will be one of 10 U.S. Coast Guard recruits taken out of boot camp at Cape May in New Jersey to attend the event. Skelton is not slated to finish basic training until Feb. 4 and his family believes that he has excelled in order to earn a place on the Honor Guard.

The Taco Time restaurant franchise in Hood River will serve its last burrito later this month before closing its doors. The building will undergo a major renovation and reopen this spring as a Starbucks. The building, which has been home to Taco Time for 16 years, is being purchased from Darin Gardner by D.M. Stevenson Ranch, owners of the Hood River Inn.

— Compiled by Trisha Walker, news staff writer