Parkdale, Mount Hood, Oregon

These two communities are located on the east slope of Mt. Hood, near the town of Hood River, on the scenic byway known as the Hood River Valley "Fruit Loop". Agriculture is a major industry in the area, and is renowned for the quality apples, pears, cherries and other produce grown on the eastern slopes of Mount Hood.

Parkdale, Oregon

Hutson Museum in Parkdale

The community of Parkdale is located on the southern flank of the Hood River Valley in Hood River County, dominated by the towering slopes of Mt. Hood immediately to the south. Major local industries are fruit growing and timber production. Major local attractions are the Cooper Spur Ski Area and the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Parkdale was founded by David Eccles and R. J. McIsaac in 1910 to serve as a terminus for the Mount Hood Railroad. Parkdale is unincorporated.

Parkdale is a descriptive name rather accurately describing the community and its surroundings. The name is said to have been selected by Ralph Davies about 1910, when the post office was established. In 1976, after much public discussion, the name of the post office was changed to Mount Hood. Simultaneously, the Mount Hood office, three miles to the north-east, was closed. The community retains the name Parkdale. -- Source: Oregon Geographic Names, Sixth Edition, 1992, Lewis L. McArthur, Oregon Historical Society Press, ISBN O-87595-237-2.

Hutson Museum
PO Box 501 
Baseline & Clear Creek Roads
Parkdale, OR 97041
(541) 352-6808

Built in 1993 to match the style of the neighboring Ries-Thompson House, the oldest remaining residence in Parkdale (circa 1900), the Museum is located on the 2-acre complex designated as a National Historic Site. The property, surrounded by boardwalk, offers a commanding view of Mt. Hood. A USFS ampitheater is host to lectures and demonstrations. The museum's collection of rocks, minerals and Native American artifacts provide valuable resources for numerous areas of study.

The museum is near the terminus of the Mount Hood Railroad, which now offers tourists a scenic trip between Parkdale and Hood River.

Mount Hood Railroad
110 Railroad Avenue 
Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: (541) 386-3556
Toll Free: 1-800-872-4661
mthoodrr@gorge.net
http://www.mthoodrr.com

While still an active freight line, the Mount Hood Railroad rail tours offer visitors some of Oregon’s most breathtaking scenery—from the town of Hood River toward the base of Mt. Hood.
http://www.mthoodrr.com/

Parkdale City offices:
4966 Baseline Drive
Parkdale, OR 97041
541-352-6525

Fire - 911;
non-emergency: 352-6092
Water - 352-5577
Library - 352-6502

Hutson Museum
PO Box 501 
Baseline & Clear Creek Roads
Parkdale, OR 97041
(541) 352-6808

Mount Hood, Oregon

Mt. Hood Town Hall
6575 Hwy 35
PO Box 247 Mt Hood OR 97041
541-352-1078 (messages)

The community of Mount Hood is approximately three miles north of Parkdale. While in the eyes of the US Postal Service, the communities of Parkdale and Mount Hood were merged into one, they still retain a separate identity in the minds of the residents.

In 1976, the Post Office Department consolidated the offices of Parkdale and Mount Hood. The former was the much larger community but the latter had the name preferred by the local residents so on Oct. 9, 1976, the Mount Hood office was relocated to the community of Parkdale and the Parkdale office closed. This original Mount Hood post office was in the upper Hood River Valley about three miles northeast of Parkdale. It is reported that the community developed on land owned by a man named Tieman, and when the post office was applied for, it was named Mount Hood for the reason that the mountain was the most important object in the landscape.

Mt. Hood School House

The Mt. Hood School House

The Mt. Hood School was designed and built by Lou Baldwin. Completed in December of 1914, it cost only $4,850. The school originally had only two rooms but was expanded in two additions until it reached its current size.

The National Historic Place sign in front of the building reads: The building at this location served as a schoolhouse for pioneer settlers who came to Hood River Valley in the earyly 1900s. Originally built as a one room log schoolhouse, the building was located at a popular Indian camping site on the trail over Mt. Hood. The school was later rebuilt and enlarged as more families moved into the area. From its beginning, the building has served as a community center for many activities. Today the old school house fills the needs for Mt. Hood Citizens as a social gathering place.