Notes
In the late 1880s the Mt. Hood Hotel was renovated to add this two story west wing and verandas. It looks like this image captures it during construction. If you look the very left you can see the J.E. Hanna Cash Store on Oak Street. Note the flag fluttering in the west wind.
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest the soldiers are celebrating a GAR encampment. In later years the GAR encampments would be more elaborate affairs.
Category: [Downtown Hood River]
Tags: 1880s hotel Mt_Hood_Hotel
Comments
Canby Post of the GAR did host an Oregon state GAR encampment, but that was in 1904. That is the only encampment that I am aware of that was held in Hood River.
Charlott on 6th September 2011 @ 7:11am
Charlott, we have some photos which I think are from the 1904 encampment. Lots of bunting and "Welcome GAR" signs. I'll post them later-- thanks for the research to pinpoint the year.
I'm guessing this photo is a regional GAR or other vets group. They seem the right age (20 years after the Civil War). Since the Hood River city population was about 200 in the 1880's, these can't all be Hood River vets.
Arthur on 6th September 2011 @ 9:22am
Anyway to zoom in on these men in uniform, or what appears to be uniforms. Might find a clue there..
Charlott on 6th September 2011 @ 10:45am
Boy, I really have to readjust my brain to get everything in the right direction.
Is the train station behind and to the left of the photographer?
And the livery stable above and on the left?
l.e. on 6th September 2011 @ 12:44pm
Is there a possibility these soldiers could have been gathered in HR for the May 1892 arrival of President Benjamin Harrison which is mentioned in the J.E. Hanna Cash Store Photo?
l.e. on 6th September 2011 @ 1:12pm
We're looking to the SSW from roughly where the entry to the train station parking lot is currently.
I don't have a precise date for when this addition was added to the hotel. It was added by Bobby Rand, who owned it from about 1886 to 1894, but I've seen conflicting dates for the construction of this west wing. Earlier we saw a photo with an 1888 date attached to it without this addition, so if that is correct this image was captured after 1888 and before 1894.
The official account of the Harrison visit makes no mention of soldiers. The crowd is described only as "a number" compared with "hundreds" at Cascade Locks and a long lost of dignitaries at the Dalles. If a crowd of veterans assembled to meet the Commander in Chief I suspect it would have been mentioned, as the source described the crowd at every stop along the way in some detail.
Arthur on 7th September 2011 @ 8:17am
Because of the leaves on the trees, I don't think it is February in this photo, but, I came across this comment and thought it might apply to a military gathering.
"February 5, 1891, Company G, of the Oregon National guard, was mustered into service at Hood River, including forty-eight members. The commissioned officers elected were: A.I. Blowers, captain; A.D. Stranahan, first lieutenant; A. Winans second lieutenant."
l.e. on 19th December 2011 @ 8:41am