 |
|
|
According to early pioneer accounts, Hood River was originally named "Dog River". The name of Dog River originated from a story told about an episode on a cattle drive. Apparently a herd of cattle bedded down for the night on the west bank of what would later become known as the Hood River while the cattle hands set up camp on the east side of the river. Heavy rains fell that night and the river rose so high the men could not cross to retrieve the cattle. The rain continued many days and the crew eventually ran out of food. They bought a dog from a nearby Native American encampment and, out of desperation, killed the dog for food. From then on, the area became known as Dog River.
Mary and Nathaniel Coe were Hood River's first permanent Euro-American settlers. They claimed 319.92 acres in 1854. The Coe's went to work planting apple seeds for nursery stock and a large vegetable garden. Within five years, the Coe's home served as the community center, Courthouse, church, and funeral parlor. By 1858 the Coe's sold apricots, meat, melon, peaches and vegetables in The Dalles market. At this time Mary Coe renamed the community Hood Vale, then Hood River, a more fitting name for the beautiful surrounding countryside. A post office was established in 1858.
Hood River developed slowly until 1882 when the railroad was completed along the south side of the Columbia River. The railroad connected the small river settlement with other towns across the nation. The town of Hood River was platted in 1881 as a result of the railroad depot. The railroad ushered in a new period of growth with the town's population more than tripling from 201 people in 1890 to 622 people in 1900.
As the fertile land of the Hood River Valley was developed after the turn of the century, the population continued to increase. The completion of the Mt. Hood Railroad from Hood River up the valley to Parkdale in 1910 further improved the transportation links in the region and brought more business into Hood River. Hood River became the economic center of the Hood River Valley.
The buildings in downtown Hood River reflect the influx of wealth that occurred in the first decades of the 20th century as the tourism, fruit, and timber industries developed. The original town of Hood River, a four block area was platted in 1881. Additions platted from 1888-1900 are characterized by residential buildings which date from the turn of the century to the 1940's. The majority of these residential buildings reflect either the Vernacular style or the Bungalow style. The largest building activity occurred from 1901-1913 (the end of the Progressive Era). Between 1901 and 1914, half of the commercial buildings in downtown Hood River were erected. Early residential development was beginning also. After the turn of the century Hood River experienced a boom in population; many additions were made to the original plat of the town at this time.
The Honorable Andrew A.Jayne
