Definitely Van Horn Butte looking off towards Mt. Adams. Yes, those are cherries, as that is what was all around that hillside. Do not know if they were built by Willis Van Horn or McClain. The old house up there was absolutely breath taking. If anyone wishes to see a larger version of that house just do a search for Van Horn Mansion in New York. Sadly another beautiful landmark destroyed.

charlott on 11th April 2014 @ 7:05am

Great spring shot-
Is that a dandelion at the lower left ?
The largest exposed rock area on Mt Adams on the middle center flank seems odd for the time of year- ? agree ? yet ample coverage on the Mt's east side slopes.

Steve r on 11th April 2014 @ 7:21am

The dark area on Mt Adams could be a shadow from a cloud.

There is a 1912 photo from Van Horn Butte in the Library of Congress and available for sale on the internet. It is pretty bleak looking with no trees.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/oldeyankee/8151810672/

Charlott, I looked up the Van Horn house in New York. It is haunted. I'm not interested in visiting that one.
Are you saying there was a large house on top of this Van Horn Butte?

l.e. on 11th April 2014 @ 9:12am

My grandfather went to college in the East with two other friends - McClain and Ted Pooley. He convinced them to come to Hood River and they did and built beautiful houses within 5 or 6 miles of one another. The Pooley house is the only one still standing. The Peters house burned in 1930-something and the McClain house was torn down and a modern house went up. I never saw the original house but i sure heard a lot about it - that and how beautiful and charming his second wife was.

Jill on 11th April 2014 @ 5:52pm

Yes, there was a "smaller" version of the New York Van Horn Masion on top of Van Horn Butte. it was not as grand as the New York one, but still was impressive. I was very fortunate to have been inside it, when it was still beautiful. The grounds were also very impressive with water falls, various pools, etc. My grandfather was an excellent "finish" carpenter and did all the finish work in it, when it was built.

Quite the stories about old Willis Van Horn. Yes, he did contribute a lot to the community, but had a "darker" side to him....

Charlott on 12th April 2014 @ 7:11am

From the June 1, 1923 Spokesman-Review:
VAN HORN PLACE IS SOLD
E.L. McClain Jr. Buys Block of Orchard for $35,000.
Hood River, Ore.----E.L. McClain Jr. closed negotiations for the purchase of Van Horn Butte, valley show place from the estate of the late Willis Van Horn last week. Mr McClain, who already owns extensive valley property, will make the place his summer home. He plans on making considerable improvements to the large residence which tops the butte, rising abruptly from the East Side orchard district.
The grounds, including a block of adult orchard, comprises 60 acres. The consideration was $35,000.

l.e. on 13th April 2014 @ 12:10pm

I have a question.
What was Van Horn Butte called before Van Horne purchased the land?

l.e. on 13th April 2014 @ 4:32pm

I never heard it a name for it prior to Van Horn. I am curious as to who Van Horn bought it from. It might have been a portion of Winchell's, but don't know.

I know that McClain, never lived up there much, as his wife wanted to live in Portland. It stood for many years, vacant with the furnishings still in it.

Charlott on 14th April 2014 @ 7:11am

E.L.McClain, along with A.W. Peters and T. Pooley obtained the first distillers license in the state in 1934. McClain is listed as "a rancher and investor". He married Mildred Wood in 1917, and - while getting a divorce in 1919 in Portland - met his next wife Meredith Shelton White who was the legal secretary. They married in November following the divorce. She was from Portland and really did not like living in Hood River. I understand they had another summer place on the Washington side, on a lake up there somewhere. I can remember my grandfather telling me the house and grounds were beautiful and vacant. That fascinated me.

Jill Stanford on 15th April 2014 @ 12:52pm

I am interested in learning more about the "orchardists" of the Hood River area, my great-great-uncle George J J Parker also had orchards in the Upper Valley. I would be grateful if anyone might be able to tell me more about him and his wife, Emma. George died in November of 1919 and was survived by Emma and their sons Guy and Lewis Parker.

Joe Robinson on 6th October 2015 @ 5:07pm