Notes
A high resolution scan can sometimes reveal detail which the original photographer never got to see. I'm going to share two details from a roughly 3x4" contact print of traffic traversing the East Side grade, between the bridge over the Hood River and Pine Grove. This first detail shows the pre-1918 highway bridge, the railroad bridge, and the Button house. You can see how the road is barely hanging on to the edge of the grade.
The railroad bridge in the "modern view" below is the same one that was in this photo. You can see how much higher the highway bridge is than the old carriage crossing, which explains why it washed out so often. The old carriage road landing was much closer to the railroad bridge landing.
Category: [Downtown Hood River]
Comments
For a 3"x4" photo, there sure is a lot of detail. Some large buildings on the river bank on the Washington side, which I think was called Hood? Wagons heading down the grade into town. Strong current from the river eating into the bank or is there water going down the hillside into the river?
The setting with the large Button home, looks much more peaceful than today's intersection with no chance to enjoy the scenery.
L.E. on 15th February 2017 @ 10:00am
This is just a corner of the 3x4 print.
Not sure about the buildings on the other side, but I posted a link a while back about the White Salmon steamer dock that was at that spot for about a year until it got washed away. Dock grade did end in a dock for a little while.
Arthur on 15th February 2017 @ 10:42am
I am wrong about those buildings being Hood. Hood is down by the fish hatchery. Those buildings are at Underwood. I think you can see the railroad bridge, over the White Salmon, to the east of the buildings which was completed in 1908.
L.E. on 15th February 2017 @ 11:50am
When did the Button house get torn down?
Libby Bickford on 4th March 2017 @ 9:24pm
The Button house didn't get torn down, but Harry English took the top off of it, and burned it over the hill. He remodeled it in 1959. This involved removing all the interior walls, and the veranda. He also put bricks on the outside of the siding. The house is still there, but it isn't anything like it used to be. The architect had three drawings. Harry's wife, Alice, chose the first one, and refused to look at the other two (to the architect's dismay!) The remodel is a bit peculiar, but it does take advantage of the great views of the Hood River, and the Columbia. My wife and I have lived in the Button house for many years.
Brian Carlstrom on 12th June 2017 @ 6:47pm
From August 20, 1903 HR Glacier:
Frank Button on the east bank of Hood river is building after plans similar to those employed on Mr. Cram's house. Looking south from Mr. Button's building site, the view extends far up the canyon of Hood river and is offset by Mount Hood at the head of the valley. up and down the Columbia the scene is grand.
Mr Button will have every modern convenience about his dwelling. Hot and cold water go to all parts of the house. Heat will be supplied by a furnace. The interior finish will be particularly fine, the plaster being enameled with six coats of pain. In extend the house is 33x42. There are three stairways and bath rooms are to be found on both floors. On the hill back of his house Mr. Button has placed a 4,000 gallon tank, supplied with water pumped from Hood river by a Samson wind mill bought of Frank Davidson. The bottom of the tank is 15 feet above the roof of his house and furnishes a 50 foot pressure.
A large reception room with colonial columns makes an attractive interior. The house will cost Mr. Button $4,000 or over. L.D. Boyed is the contractor, and C. J. Crandall of The Dalles, the architect.
L.E. on 27th September 2017 @ 9:29pm