“... Tell your friends and neighbors about our MILL, PRICES, and SERVICE.”
This seven-page pamphlet is a 1938 price list for a business called Hood River Woolen Mill, contributed to us from the files of The History Museum of Hood River County.
Neither we, nor museum staff, have any information about Hood River Woolen Mill.
The pamphlet lists Yarns, Batts, Blankets, Sleeping Bags, Quilting, Mill Ends, and Auto Robes. Carding was 18 cents a pound, scouring 4 cents a grease pound. For a fee, customers could send in their wool for processing into items like mattresses.
“A 35-lb. mattress made up complete, including Making, Ticking, Carding and Scouring, $10.50 to $15.00, depending on your wool shrinkage,” reads one item. “... The cheapest and most convenient way to ship is by parcel post, packed in a flour or burlap bag. Sew or tie the shipping tag securely to your back with your own name and address...”
Another: “We will take your wool and put it in a sleeping bag, 100% Virgin Wool filled $12.75.”
You didn’t need cash. “Yes, we will take our pay in wool for scouring and carding on a 50-60 cent basis.”
Cecelia Goodnight and other members of the research committee have found no information about anyone in the area raising large numbers of sheep. Several years ago, however, Goodnight heard from Carol See Kading, whose parents ran the Cooper Spur Inn during the ‘40s and ‘50s. Kading recalled large flocks of sheep being driven through Parkdale in that time.
The research committee would like to hear from anyone who remembers sheep ranches in the upper valley, or knows anything about Hood River Woolen Mill. Email news@gorge.news.com and we’ll send any information along.
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