Notes
The fine photo of the A.A. Jayne family in front of the Davidson Building was sent by an HHR reader, and grandson of the youngest son in the automobile. He provided this description:
Attached is a scan of a photo of my mother's family, the Jaynes, who lived at Hood River in the early 1900's. Seated in the back of the car is A.A. (Andrew Allen) Jayne, who was a prosecuting attorney, district attorney of Wasco County, and state legislature representative. Next to him is his wife, Minnie Sperry Jayne, who was the eldest of four daughters of John L. Sperry, sheriff of Umatilla County from 1878-80, and who later lived in Portland. The older boy in the front seat is their son, Burton Jayne, who in fact showed up in one of your posted images in August of this year. The younger boy is Andrew Allen Jr., my grandfather. Another son, Maurice, is absent.
The Jaynes were doing well at the time, the father was somewhat famous, and had a successful law practice. The mother was noted for her acting and singing abilities, and was active in many musical theater productions, as well as in church choirs as soloist.
We think the photo was likely taken in or just before 1911, at which time my grandfather would have been 8 years old. If so, then disaster was to strike the family shortly afterwards. Minnie collapsed and died of a heart attack on the train to Portland in October of that year. I believe the father and sons remained in Hood River for a year or so after that, but then moved south. The father suffered from tuberculosis, and was obliged to move to a warm climate -- which took him to Casa Grande, Arizona, where he was a judge and served as mayor of the town. He died of the disease in 1927. The older boys eventually joined the army, and served in WWI, and my grandfather was sent to live with relatives in San Francisco, where he spent the rest of his boyhood, moving to Los Angeles in the early 20's. He later became an insurance and bond broker in Los Angeles, and was a consummate outdoorsman, photographer, and writer. His other grandson, A.A. Jayne IV, now lives in Santa Monica.
We also saw Burton Jayne in this Armistice Day image.
I can't quite read the make of the automobile, but I'm sure someone will fill us in. The sign on the tree says, "$5.00 Fine to Hitch Here" which basically means "No Parking." $5 seems like a hefty fine. Illegal hitching must have been a big problem.
Category: [Downtown Hood River]
Tags: 1910s automobile Cascade_Avenue Davidson_Building Jayne
Comments
Nice clear photo for its age, good contrast. If the item hanging below the running board is a mud flap seems a bit distant from the tire to do much ~
Kenn on 16th November 2018 @ 9:56am
Also nice to get all the first hand info on individuals in the photo. Thank you to the family member who sent the photo and provided all the info.
Buzz on 16th November 2018 @ 3:02pm
That tree is in photo #856. It is about 6 years older in this photo.
http://historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=856
Burton must have felt pretty special driving the car, and Andrew even more special getting to sit beside his big brother. He was not very old when his mother passed away.
Tuberculosis victims were high in Oregon during this time, but I have read, that was because people from the east were seeking a healthier climate.
Is that the Davidson Warehouse in the background?
L.E. on 17th November 2018 @ 8:10am
1909 E-M-F Model 30 Touring
Varun Coutinho on 8th January 2023 @ 2:06pm