Yesteryears: ‘Two million candle power search light’ installed at Husum in 1917

For protection of the big dam and pipe line of the Northwestern Electric power plant at Husum, the company is installing a two million candle power search light on a point of land between the power plant and the dam. From that point, the big search light can easily play on all the points of the big wooden pipe line and the dam. A squad of soldiers is also guarding the property.

Unusually Good Pictures And Story Of Hood River Valley Products Are Well Featured

A new elaborate booklet, carrying the title “The Valley of Prosperous Homes and Scenic Grandeur — Hood River Valley, Oregon,” published by the Hood River Chamber of Commerce, is now off the press and will be ready for distribution in a few days.

Already conceded to be one of the best booklets ever sponsored by the Hood River Chamber of Commerce, it covers most of the horticultural and farming activities on Hood River Valley and associated industries. The text gives an accurate word presentation of important facts, and the illustrations in this 20-page booklet are, many of them entirely new, and collectively they will give the outsider an accurate picture of what is conceded to be one of the most beautiful valleys in the world.

It will probably interest readers to learn that a photograph of Hood River Valley on the front cover of this booklet was taken from Panorama Point by what is known as the infra-red process. Photographers who want further details will be interested to learn that plate used was Eastman Infra-red SR1, with Wratten No. 25 filter; exposure of f8, Zeiss Protar lens, one-third second. Note remarkable detail, which was not lost, even in mechanical production.

Copies of this booklet, for mailing to distant points, may be obtained from Miss Elsie Rogers, who compiled the text. The booklet was printed at the Hood River News office, which also supplied the infra-red and other photographs.

— Hood River News, April 9, 1937

1927 — 90 years ago

This issue of the Hood River News is partly set up in the new Linotype Ionic No. 5, a new type of face developed by the Mergenthaler Linotype Company with the object of enabling the newspaper reader to avoid eye strain. The Hood River News is the first country newspaper in the State of Oregon to adopt the new and improved typeface, which has been accepted by leading oculists of the country as a notable medium through which eyestrain may be avoided.

1937 — 80 years ago

Even a heavy and almost continuous downpour of rain failed, last Sunday, to entirely dampen the enthusiasm of residents who went down to Eagle Creek Campground and to the Wyeth camp, to assist CCC Co. 4765 (Minnesota) to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Civilian Conservation Corps, now destined to become a permanent federal organization for the rehabilitation of American youth. Down at Eagle Creek, about 100 visitors from Portland and Hood River were conducted by Forest Service and CCC officers to the various projects, which will make the camp more attractive than ever to tourists from this summer on. Many words of praise were extended to the work of these youths of the CCC.

1947 — 70 years ago

Were it not for the fact that the Oregon-Washington Telephone Co. office on State Street had been picketed since Monday morning, and some long-distance telephone users are finding it somewhat difficult to get messages through without establishing emergencies, residents of this city and valley would find it difficult to realize that a nationwide telephone strike has been on for the past four days. It is easy to understand how the many on the dial (mechanical) system can be served until a serious breakdown occurs, but a test made Wednesday morning revealed that other phone users in the valley, not on the dial system, could be contacted, as usual, without interruption, for which many users are grateful.

1957 — 60 years ago

Orchardists using water from the East fork irrigation district ditch are notified this week that water in the main ditch at its intake in the Hood River will be shut off to install a liner in a 1,200-foot section of the ditch as soon as pink sprays have been applied. John N. Mohr, district secretary, reports that weather has delayed installation of a half inch asphalt lining in the main ditch near Mount Hood in an area known as the Aubert section. The condition requires prompt repair if the ditch is to deliver uninterrupted service, he adds. A flume and ditch banks are leaking.

1967 — 50 years ago

A two-hour discussion that touched on a lot of points but resulted in only one major action was held by the newly formed rural action committee at Mid Valley school last Thursday. Final result of the meeting, attended by some 90 persons, was to contact the school and approach members “on the proposition to continue with two high schools.” The motion, made by a Mt. Hood representative at the conclusion of the meeting, came after chairman Ray DeHart had asked several times for a motion to set a course of action for the committee. The two-school idea, expanding and remodeling Wy’east and Hood River High schools and keeping them as separate schools instead of building a new school, was one of several ideas discussed.

1977 — 40 years ago

Volunteer firemen here have recommended a change in department alignment with the impending retirement of Jim Meyer this year. Under the change they drafted, Assistant Chief Leonard Hay would become volunteer chief, and the positon of paid chief on a fulltime basis would be abolished. Their plan calls for two assistant chiefs, one to be fire inspector, the other to be training officer. Currently, Dick Edstrom is a fulltime fireman who is also assistant chief. The firemen’s chart would designate him as inspector. It recommends assigning Ty Taylor to the other assistant chief spot in charge of training. Present engineers Roy Irwan, Bob Palmer and Ed Champan would continue in their posts, and a fourth engineer would be added.

1987 — 30 years ago

Volunteers who work with the FISH program filled 645 requests for food during the first quarter of 1987, serving an average of three hungry people per request, according to a news release. FISH is an emergency food service provided by the churches of Gorge Ecumenical Ministries. January through March, requests numbered about the same as in 1986, although the number of individuals served that year was higher.

There will be separate areas for four different age groups when Nendels Inn sponsors an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 18 from noon to 1 p.m. at the inn grounds in east Hood River. A spokesman for the inn reported there will be prizes donated by local businesses, free balloons given away by the inn’s Easter Bunny, a free hay ride and several animal pens with small rabbits, llamas and possibly others.

1997 — 20 years ago

Hood River Valley’s 43rd Blossom Festival is a week away. That begs an obvious question: Will the blossoms cooperate? The answer is a resounding yes. Franz Niederholzer, Oregon State University extension agent for Hood River County, said conditions are prime for fruit blossoms in the lower valley for the upcoming celebration. That bodes well for the rest of the valley, too. Blossoms will begin slowly revealing themselves in the higher elevations in the coming weeks.

This year’s Blossom Festival Blossom Court members are Michelle Marchese, Kim Willis and Angela Clark.

2007 — 10 years ago

A sign taped to the windshield of a car for sale in Murray’s Furniture parking lot last week described the situation well: Gas prices going up. While it’s unknown whether or not this car’s owner is selling their vehicle to cope, they were using the car’s 30 miles per gallon rating as an incentive to buyers. The price of gas has climbed in Hood River County during the past few weeks. As of Monday, prices ranged from $2.89 to $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded. According to AAA Fuel Finder, prices in Hood River a month ago were at $2.76 per gallon average and at $2.68 a year ago.

— Compiled by Trisha Walker, News staff writer