I don't know that Laurence Blowers lived in Parkdale, as he was a merchant in Hood River.

I know of two places that he resided in Hood River. He first resided on State St. and then on East 3rd.

Charlott on 24th August 2015 @ 7:06am

If this is Blowers, could it have been a house and acreage owned by his father, Amby Blowers?

It could be in town as it is on a hill side and that building off to the right does look as if it could be another home. Just a guess on my part......

Charlott on 24th August 2015 @ 7:10am

The mystery to me is that Arthur thinks a big rock in Hood River would be a solid clue???

That is quite a bit of lawn to mow with that "organic lawn mower". My grandpa kept ours in well oiled and sharp blades condition. Once he passed away, it wasn't so easy to push.

Neat place!

L.E. on 24th August 2015 @ 7:51am

This is possibly the same place.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsl-libdev/17149578439

Although, I don't see the rock.

The building to the back has the same roof line as the one in this photo on the right side.

L.E. on 24th August 2015 @ 8:22am

I wonder how many yards in Hood Rivwe had large boulders in their yard. We had one and I have always wondered how much more is under ground.

Norma on 24th August 2015 @ 9:00am

I am going to make a guess that this is the Newcombe home, but possibly not the Newcombe family.

The photo I linked to above, is from an 1887 Collection. Here is a better link.
http://digitalcollections.lclark.edu/items/show/6224

Dr. Charles Frederic Newcombe came to Hood River in 1884 where he
"practised medicine, helped to build his own house, began a fruit farm, and participated in natural history expeditions, collecting specimens of native plants and archaeological artefacts."

In 1889 he moved to Victoria.
An interesting man. Here is a link to his biography.
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/newcombe_charles_frederic_15E.html

The Feb. 21, 1891 HR Glacier page 3, acknowledges the death of his wife in Victoria leaving him a widower with young children.

A 1904 Medical Journal makes note that Dr. C.F Newcomb, of Victoria, makes a short visit to his old friends at Hood River after an absence of 12 years and that he was Hood River's first doctor.

(those dates don't match up with when he left)

The May 23 1901 HR Glacier says O.M. Pope's photograph gallery is in town for a short time if those desiring pictures want to take advantage of the opportunity.

But I suppose Mr. Pope could have made numerous trips to HR to set up his photo gallery.

It would be interesting to find out who bought C.F. Newcombe's home when moved to Victoria.

L.E. on 24th August 2015 @ 11:22am

What is the long mound in the middle of the picture. It doesn't look like the soil has been compacted by people walking on it and doesn't seem to continue onward to the house.

Longshot on 24th August 2015 @ 3:49pm

I wasn't sure where to place this little blurb about one of HR's early buildings.
From the January 01, 1920 Hood River Glacier
OLD LODGE HALL TO GO
Early Building in Hood River to Make Way for Modern Garage.
Hood River, Or., Dec 1---(Special.)---Men are now engaged here in razing the city's first lodge hall, a two-story frame structure erected in 1886 by Dr. C.N. Newcomb.
Dr. Newcomb, a pioneer physician, occupied the first story of the old building with a drug store and the upper story was leased to the valley's pioneer fraternal organization the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
The old building will be replaced by a modern concrete garage to cost approximately $25,000.

L.E. on 25th August 2015 @ 9:58pm

L.E., The Sanborn map of 1893 shows a two story domicile in the SW corner of block 7 (Oak St. and Fifth St). The 1902 (block 7) and 1905 (block 7)maps shows the building now to be a place of lodging. The 1909 Sanborn map shows this building (now block 117) to be a domicile again and continues through the year 1916 . The 1928 Sanborn map shows the domicile has been replaced by a automotive garage.

The business established in 1920 was the Highway Auto Co., and the building was of concrete construction. In the basement of the building bowling alleys where installed setting off a rather frenzied interest in establishing bowling leagues amongst the town folk. There was a bowling alley in the basement of the Monroe building established in 1919.

LMH on 27th August 2015 @ 10:56pm

Where is the Monroe Building located?

L.E. on 2nd September 2015 @ 8:21pm

I think that's the building Bette's is located in.

Arthur on 2nd September 2015 @ 10:23pm