Hood River News

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100 YEARS AGO — 1912

There isn’t a chance to start a debate on woman’s suffrage in Hood River. It simply can’t be done. They tried it at the newly-organized People’s Forum Friday evening, but there was absolutely “nothing doing.” Although there was a good crowd present, not a man could be found who had the temerity to publicly oppose the proposition of giving the women of Oregon a vote. Judging from the remarks that were made by the gentlemen present, all married men, Hood River’s wives are so decidedly superior to their weaker halves that the question of granting them votes is not open for discussion. After nearly a dozen had expressed themselves as unanimous in this regard, the subject was passed up.

Declaring that Mt. Hood has been “bottled up” from tourists and sightseers from its most beautiful scenic viewpoint on the west side of the peak by the inclusion by special act of Congress of a township six miles square in the Bull Run forest reserve, members of the West Mount Hood Improvement Association, composed of settlers and property owners of that district, have started a vigorous campaign to have the territory in question opened to the public.

90 YEARS AGO — 1922

The Emry Lumber Co., to meet a growing demand for interior finishings for houses and other buildings, has now installed a complete wood-working plant, and to accommodate this has built a new addition to its building on Cascade avenue. The equipment also includes the latest type of box-making machinery, and when in operation, this section of the plant will produce 2500 boxes in eight hours.

The new bridge over the East Fork on the Mount Hood Loop Road is now practically complete and, according to authorities who have viewed it, is pronounced to be one of the best pieces of bridge engineering to be completed in the state this year. The bridge, which was constructed by the Union Bridge Co. of Portland is 175 feet long, with an 80 foot steel span, the remainder being of reinforced concrete, with a concrete hand-rail the entire length of the bridge.

80 YEARS AGO — 1932

Fire from a yet undetermined cause, completely destroyed the Lookout station on Indian mountain, nine miles northwest of Lost lake. This station was one of the oldest in the Herman creek district of the Mount Hood National forest, and was well known to hikers over the Lost Lake-Wahtum lake trail. Owing to the importance of this station, it will be rebuilt at the earliest opportunity. The station was still occupied by the lookout at the time of the fire, the unusually dry fall keeping many of the lookouts at their post.

Howard Scheer, of the Frankton 4-H club, won highest honors at the State Fair at Salem with his Bee club project. In the recent county school fair the exhibit of this boy also took premier honors. In this project the club member keeps several colonies of bees and prepares an exhibit of both comb and extracted honey together with pictures of his apiary and mounted specimens of flowers from which the bees have obtained their honey.

70 YEARS AGO — 1942

Through the cooperation of the office of Sheriff John Sheldrake, the State Police and the Hood River Traffic Association, a patrol system is being inaugurated throughout the valley to protect warehouse and packing plants and other property against sabotage. Patrol cars will operate in the valley, and it is expected that the work of this patrol during the night will be lightened as a result of the extremely small volume of traffic and the efforts of shippers and packers to keep their own watchmen on the job during the hours the fruit plants are not in operation. To date, there has been not the slightest evidence of sabotage in any of the plants in town or valley, and the wartime penalty for this crime is so severe that it is most doubtful if anyone would undertake it.

With the appointment of Mrs. Don Nunamaker as clinic nurse at the migratory labor camp in Odell this week, the camp is now adequately prepared to house more than 50 migrant families, according to camp manager Thomas W. Nelson. Nelson also said that a nursery supervisor would be stationed at the camp as soon as the number of children warranted this expense.

60 YEARS AGO — 1952

At least two television testing sets have been in operation daily in the Hood River valley area for the past week, attempting to catch a signal from the new television station, KPTV, in Portland but, so far, no success is reported. Sets have been attuned in the Lower Valley, in the Upper valley, on the tops of high ridges in the valley and as far downstream as North Bonneville.

As the school year gets under way for another year, it is time for young hopefuls to begin their music instruction in the instrumental music program of the city schools. Playing an instrument is a worthwhile activity that appeals to most young people. This year it is the hope of Victor Weidensee, director of instrumental music for the city schools, that a large number of young people will take advantage of the training offered by the schools. Each student will receive at least two free lessons per week and the only cost involved is that of supplying the child with a satisfactory instrument and his first instruction book.

50 YEARS AGO — 1962

(Photo caption) These youngsters are participating in the News’ big subscription campaign currently under way and are working for the cash prizes and five bicycles offered to the winners. Top, from left, are Patsy Gyland, Kathi Gehrig, Pat Tomlin, Billy Faulkner, Kenny Jones, John Gatchel and Allen Hansell. Bottom, from left, are Bill Egland, Darryl Curtis, Donna Tull, Debbie Sappington, Dick Hutson, Gary Miller and Ilona Nitz.

(Advertisement) Fine Quality Nylon Hose, 3 pair $1.19; Rubber Lined Snow Shoes or Football Shoes, Reg. $3.98 pair: $2.49 pair; Bamboo Lawn Rakes, Good Quality, each 98¢; Lilt Complete Home Permanent, For Any Type of Hair: Only $1.59 plus fed. tax. Thrifty Uptown Variety Market, Open Till 8 P.M. We Give S&H Green Stamps.

40 YEARS AGO — 1972

Birthday calendar sales will be held again this year under sponsorship of the Hood River Valley High booster club, and the project has been set for Monday, Oct. 2, and Tuesday, Oct. 3. Cost of each calendar remains at $2 as in past years, and all profits are returned to finance high school projects of the booster club, according to athletic director Ed Vannet. He said volunteers are asking prospective customers to leave their porch lights on during the nights of the calendar drive. “It will greatly aid in identifying prospective sales,” said Vannet.

(Photo caption) Deep charring shows in the area of a checkstand, one of the hottest parts in a fire that gutted DeHart’s Odell store early last Thursday. Starting point of the blaze was apparently not far from the checkstand area. The state arson squad investigated Tuesday and ruled out foul play. Their report listed the possibility of wiring difficulties. An electric source supplying the cash register and clock at the front of the store showed signs of overheating before the actual blaze occurred.

30 YEARS AGO — 1982

(Photo caption) When Hood River Memorial Hospital decided recently to invest in a new $34,500 telephone switching system to replace their ancient manual switching system that has been in operation in excess of 15 years, there were some training lessons to be had by all hospital employees. The system boasts 15 new electronic features for the local hospital, saving time, energy and good deal of footwork. It is expected that the new system will be installed this week and in operation by the weekend.

Computers have arrived at all schools in the county, but along with them some problems have also arrived, according to Don Lowry, who heads the Av-Lib department. The new computers, used as instructional tools, are not numerous enough so each classroom has its own unit. One or two of the mini computers per school is more nearly the standard.

20 YEARS AGO — 1992

(Photo caption) Buildings are beginning to take shape at the Cascade Commons Shopping Center while finishing touches are being completed at the new Wal-Mart store. The outside of the new PayLess store shows construction is approaching its final stages. PayLess and Safeway are the anchors of Cascade Commons, though some other stores are planned. Cascade Commons is scheduled to open in November.

(Photo caption) David Vazquez, a Hood River Valley High School freshman, tests equipment at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. The program was held Aug. 2-7. Vazquez trained just like NASA astronauts with practice missions. They simulated a mission from a space station to Earth.

10 YEARS AGO — 2002

A one-year marriage of sorts began Thursday for Steve Fisk and Martha Capovilla at Hood River Valley High School. The educators will apply their collegial relationship to an experiment: They are now HRVHS co-principals, following School Board approval Wednesday. The School Board approved the arrangement following Monday’s abrupt departure of former principal Ben Kolb.

Parents and administrators at Hood River Middle School have joined together to form a parent volunteer group — the first one at the school in four years. All interested parents and community volunteers are invited to attend an inservice at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the HRMS library to discuss the group.

— Compiled by Esther K. Smith