The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-07-14
A Picturesque Health and Pleasure Resort That
Is Visited by Thousands Of
People Annually.
CITY OF HOMES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
The Trading Center and Shipping Point for the
Famous Hood River Valley, Noted for
Its Fruit--PIace for Investors

nevertheless, there is not another por-
tion of the state where it is so en-
pahtically applied as in Hood river
valley. 1t is true, wonderful results
have been accomplished in other places,
but Hood River valley stands first and
foremost in the demonstration of the
possibilities of fruit culture.
The city of Hood river was incorpor
ated about five years ago, though the
first settlers arrived in the valley in
1854, among the number, II. G. Coe,
whose strawberry patches covering a
number of acres are within the copror-
ate limits and from which about / 900
crates of berries of "a boxes each have
been shipped this season.
The first store building erected in
the town is still standing and is occu-
pied by the large mercantile house of
Bone q Mcdonald. The town was laid
out in March, 1881, by H. @. Coe, on
the donation land claim of his father
the late Nathan Coe. The second
building erected in the town was the
Mt, Hood hotel by 7. J. Hosford, in
the latter part of August of that year.
The first residence was built by John
p. Hilsteon, the second by Judge
George T. Prather. Peter Tanner s
residence came next. then followed the
erection of a store building by Mrc.
Jennie Champlain, now occupied by
Blodgett's harness shop. No more
buildings worthy of note were put up
till 1882, when E. l.. Smiths store
building, Prather's building and the
Rand building, occupied by A. S.
Blowers & Son. besides others, includ-
ing the o. r. q N. railroad depot, and
the old school house went skyward.
In 1891 there was another spurt in
building operations and quiet a number
of edifices were completed, including
two churches, two business houses.
Since then the growth Of the town has
been steady and substantial till today
it may be said to be lovely little city
of homes, churches and schools.
The first mayor of the town was G.
M. Wolfard, now a resident of White
Salmon, a village in Klickitat county,
Wash, Immediately across the Column
bia river from Hood River.
The present city officers of Hood
River are: Mayor, E. l.. Smith; re-
corder, John Nickelsen; treasurer
George p. Crowell; marshall, Il. S.
Olinger; councilmen, Captain j. H.
Dukes, Charles A. Bell, Judson Fergu-
son, VIM. Yates, g. d. Woodworth and
Putnam +. Bradford.
TIE growth of Hood River has been
steady and permanent, based upon
actual demands. and what is found
here can be accounted for on the basis
of existing to supply present instead
of prospective demand. AS trading
point, Hood River ranks with the Or
dinary town of several times its size.
1t has both rail and water transporta-
ton and all wagon roads lead to the
town, as naturally as they are and
said to have led to Rome. A costly
steam ferry will soon be in operation
across the Columbia. and which enter
prise will draw additional trade from
the Washington banks OF that river.
The people of Hood River are fully
alive to the fact that the common
school is the foundation from which
the state must draw largely its best
and women, full-orbed,
with the qualities which make them
true and wise. This evidenced by the
liberal spirit which the citizens have
in the past provided for the wants of
the Hood River graded public schools
and by the confidence and respect
which the school demands in the COM
as well as by the jealous care
with which its interests and reputation
are cherished. The old school build
ing was given place to new $4,000
edlfice, which is heated by furnace
and has all the modern conveniences
and paraphernalia. At present, inclu-
sive of the principal, four teachers are
employed and fifth instructor Will
likely be added this year and the tenth
grade established There are eight
months of school in the year and there
is an enrolment of l54 pupils. A new
principal has been employed in the per-
son of Professor G. d. Thopmson, who
taught at Cascade Locks last year. He
is graduate OF Corvallis. He has able
assistants in the persons of the Misses
Grace A. Graham, Mella White and
Minnie Elton, with another yet to be
engaged. The school board is COM
posed OF S. II. Cox, chairman; N. C.