Black and white image of two children sitting in the open cab of a (now antique) fire engine with ladders on the back. Lettering on the hood of the engine reads 'Hillsboro Fire Engine No. 1.'
Black and white image of a locomotive pushing at least two passenger cars along a track, while a group of people rush along a sidewalk beside the track. Museum records do not identify either the train or the date, but given the passenger cars, this is likely a pictures of the Vernonia, South Park & Sunset Steam Railroad, a nonprofit tourist and excursion train that ran from 1964-1969 from Banks to Vernonia. See WCM_012932, WCMpic_012940, and WCMpic_012936 for more images of this train.
Black and white image of an old railroad locomotive, identified as 104 Long --Bell, with two men standing beside it. Though museum records do not specifically identify either the engine or the men beside it, the locomotive is most likely a Baldwin locomotive run by the Oregon-American Lumber company. The Oregon-American lumber company harvested lumber in the Vernonia and Keasey area in the early 1900s, and delivered its lumber to market via a rail line that ran from Vernonia to Banks, and then into Portland via Cornelius Pass.
Black and white image of the crew and their engine, #105, of the V. S. P. and S. railroad. The Vernonia, South Park and Sunset Steam Railroad was a nonprofit venture that ran a tourist and excursion train from Banks to Vernonia in the last half of the 1960s. Supposedly named for its first engineer, Chet Alexander, this engine, #105, was built in 1925 and originally pulled trains that transported lumber from mills in Vernonia and Manning. Salvaged and restored for use by the V. S. P. and S. Steam Railroad, the train was In operation from 1965 to 1969, when the V. S. P. and S. folded. The engine was last known to be in storage in Merrill, Oregon. See WCM_012932, WCMpic_012940, and WCMpic_012936 for more images of this train.
Black and white image of a steam engine sitting on the tracks, mostly likely near Banks, Oregon. The Vernonia, South Park and Sunset Steam Railroad was a nonprofit venture that ran a tourist and excursion train from Banks to Vernonia in the last half of the 1960s. Supposedly named for its first engineer, Chet Alexander, the engine, #105, was built in 1925 and originally pulled trains that transported lumber from mills in Vernonia and Manning. Salvaged and restored for use by the V. S. P. and S. Steam Railroad, the train was In operation from 1965 to 1969, when the V. S. P. and S. folded. The engine was last known to be in storage in Merrill, Oregon. See WCM_012932, WCMpic_012939, and WCMpic_012940 for more images of this train.
Black and white image of people in an outdoor swimming pool. Most of the girls wear swim caps. The original swimming pool at Shute Park opened in 1954.
Black and white image of four members of the Hillsboro Fire Department standing in front of a stage, on which sits a piano and a number of chairs. Behind them flowers decorate the edge of the stage, with fire hose nozzles at either end. A horseshoe shaped floral arrangement with ribbons indicating it has been awarded to 'Hillsboro Fire Department and City Officials' sits in the center of the image.
Black and white image of a group of firefighters hauling hose to fight a fire at the Carnation Lumber Mill in Forest Grove, Oregon in August of 1952. The fire began in the sawdust bin, and the lumber mill itself was saved, though a great deal of equipment was destroyed.
Black and white image of flooded property on Highway 47, near the intersection with Hagg Lake Road. In the foreground, debris is piled up beneath a bridge. Though museum records give no specific date for this image, it is likely that these images are from 1964, either in January when rain and melting snow caused a small dam to break and caused localized flooding in Washington County, and or, more probably, from the 100-year-event 'Christmas Flood' event that impacted the entire Pacific Northwest region between December 18, 1964 and January 7, 1965 and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and 17 deaths in Oregon.
Black and white image of a flooded field and farm at the intersection of Highway 47 and the Hagg Lake road. Though museum records give no specific date for this image, it is likely that these images are from 1964, either in January when rain and melting snow caused a small dam to break and caused localized flooding in Washington County, and or, more probably, from the 100-year-event 'Christmas Flood' event that impacted the entire Pacific Northwest region between December 18, 1964 and January 7, 1965 and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and 17 deaths in Oregon.
Black and white image of flooded property. A house and sheds are visible, and a partially submerged car. Though museum records give no specific date for this image, it is likely that these images are from 1964, either in January when rain and melting snow caused a small dam to break and caused localized flooding in Washington County, and or, more probably, from the 100-year-event 'Christmas Flood' event that impacted the entire Pacific Northwest region between December 18, 1964 and January 7, 1965 and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and 17 deaths in Oregon.
Black and white image of a group of children riding on a truck trailer, most of whom hold accordions. According to the sign on the trailer, they are the 'Stancato Accordion Band.' The large stuffed moose head on the front of the trailer is most likely the mascot of the local Moose Lodge which sponsors either their float or the band itself.
Black and white image of the entrance into Northwest Home Show, with people standing in line, waiting to be admitted. Home shows are for the construction industry to show off their wares, and usually involve a number of custom built, lavishly appointed homes as part of their advertisement. Advertising for lathing and plastering companies can be seen in the center bottom of this image.
Black and white image of the midway at Hillsboro Happy Days. Notice the banners advertising the carnival's sideshow, including 'Human Dolls' and 'Worlds Fair Wonders.' The Hillsboro Happy Days was the traditional local Fourth of July celebration for many years. See WCMpic_012844 and WCMpic_012845 for other images of this celebration.
Black and white image of a carnival, most likely at Shute Park, in Hillsboro. The annual Fourth of July Happy Days celebration was held at Shute Park until the Fairgrounds was built. Note the signs for the midway shows over to the far left of the image. See WCMpic_012848 and WCMpic_012845 for other images of this celebration.
Black and white image of a carnival ride, the Tip Top, with a number of people watching and waiting for their turn. The Hillsboro Happy Days was an annual Fourth of July celebration. See WCMpic_012844 and WCMpic_012848 for other images of this celebration.
Black and white image of a stage coach being pulled in a parade, with a woman sitting in the driver's seat. The sign on the door reads 'Watts -- Forest Grove Stage Line' and the boot beneath the woman's feet reads 'U. S. Mail, Wells Fargo.' A crowd of people watch from the nearby sidewalk. Today's Wells Fargo banks are the direct business descendents of the earlier Wells Fargo stage line and money transfer company.
Black and white image of a group of cub scouts riding on a the back of a truck in a parade. One boy standing on the float wears a Webelos uniform, while the rest of the boys are in Cub Scout uniforms. A phonograph player sits up against the truck cab, and a stuffed elk head decorates the upper part of the truck. Numerous United States flags decorate the truck bed, in addition to 'Keep Oregon Green' signs and an Oregon state flag.
Black and white image of a new, 1940s-1950s Chevrolet vehicle decorated for a parade. A young man drives the car, while a young woman in the back seat holds aloft what are most likely the keys to a new car. Ulin J. Hamby was the owner of a local Chevrolet dealership in Hillsboro for many years, and U. J. Hamby city park in Hillsboro is named for him.
Black and white image of a fully involved structure fire, near Hillsboro. A grain elevator can just be seen in the background. Local museum records identify this simply as 'a local co-op.' See WCMpic_012738 and WCMpic_012737 for other views of this same event.
Black and white image of people gathered outside of a building that has smoke billowing from the door. Signs on the building indicate that it is a taxi stand as well as a bus depot. A Coca-Cola logo and bottles decorate the upper wall.
Black and white image of several small airplanes at the Hillsboro Airport that have been tossed about by the wind and piled into a jumble of debris by the Columbus Day Windstorm. Airplanes, hangars, and even navigational beacons at local airports were blown away by the winds of the storm. The highest winds recorded in the Portland area reached 116 mph, but many local anemometers (wind gauges) were destroyed by the storm after reaching their measurement capacity. Oregon airports reported a total of 226 airplanes damaged and 56 completely wrecked, along with twenty-four hangars destroyed in the storm.
Black and white image of a small group of students gathered on the steps of their school. Witch Hazel school is possibly named after the 'Hazelwitch Farm,' established in 1849. Two dates are listed for this photo in museum records, 09-10-1937 and 10-05-1936.
Black and white image of a group of students gathered in front of a brick school building, identified in museum records as Gaston School. As Gaston was one of the larger schools in the district, having 158 students registered during the year, this is likely one grade or class. See WCMpic_012980 for another image from this school year.
