The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-01-16
CLUB HOLDS an
NUAL MEETING
MEMBERS ENTHUSE OVER PLANS
Auto Park, Memorial Monument, Weekly
Band Concerts are Promised BY
Commercial Body

Renewing its identity, after an mac
tivity through war DAYS, by the initia-
tion of a number of plans looking to
community improvement, the annual
meeting of the Hood River Commercial
club became a reconstruction celebra.
tion Monday night. The club rooms,
which for the past two years have
been the center of all patriotic activ-
tiles. were crowded. Sparkling Hood
River cider was served and members,
displaying and expressing a new opti-
mism for the future, brought back to
life the Zest the organization displayed
in its youth.
As was shown by the report of Sec
retary Ravlin. the Commercial club,
although it as been inactive for the
past Is months, was at work in build
ing a. firm foundation for future work.
The membership of ante-bellum days
has been maintained througout the war,
and dues have been applied to paying
off Indebtedness that has hampered the
club. The organization is now ready
to begin the initiation and accomplish
ment of Improvement plans with q
treasury surplus.
Within few days after war was
declared. the Commercial club threw
open its doors to the Hood River Red
Cross Chapter. The big assembly
room was equipped with tables, ma
chimes and other apparatus, and as a
result of these accommodations, the
local chapter was able to fill every
requirement asked by Seattle head
quarters.
One of the first measures to receive
serious consideration of the club mem
bers is proposed automobile camping
ground for motoring tourists passing
through over the Columbia River High
way. The club is determined before
the tourist season opens to make avail
able camp ground similar to that
provided at Ashland.
The club, too is fostering the plan of
erecting a monument to soldiers and
sailors of the county who made the
supreme sacrifice in the war against
Germany. Several months ago, at the
instigation of DR.. J. F. Watt, crews
at work blasting out grade for the
Columbia River Highway on Ruthton
hill, laid aside sufficient rough stone,
Of an enduring quality, to erect pyr-
amid. o. p. Dabney, now, president of
the organization, has offered a slightly
promontory, at the top of Ruthton hill
and bordering the Highway, as site
for the memorial. 1t is proposed to
raise funds by subscription, limiting
each individual to a relatively small
sum, and beautify the little memorial
park. Water is available. and in addi-
tion to drinking fountain, the plans
may call for hydrant to be used by
motorists in filling their radiators and
cooling their engines. A memorial
committee was appointed as follows
DR.. j. f. Watt, ID. G. Cruikshank and
r. K. Scott.
The Commercial club proposes to
support movement to develop band
mere. 1t was proposed by action taken
Monday night for the Hood River Band
to give weekly concerts at the open air
theatre on Chautauqua park. A fund
for the purchase Of music and equip
ment will be provided by an admission
fee of 10 cents. R. f. Scott, c. w.
McCullagh and j. c. Butcher were ap-
pointed on committee to cooperate
with the band in making possible the
weekly concerts.
In his report to members, Secretary
Ravlin pointed out the benefits that
would accrue, the state over, from the
recently organized Oregon Chamber Of
Commerce.