The Oregonian, Portland, OR., September 21, 1919, section 4, page
11
Includes portraits of John H. Cradlebaugh and of George T. Prather
PIONEERS CELEBRATE BIRTH OF FIRST HOOD RIVER NEWSPAPER
Tribute Paid to Late John H. Cradlebaugh, First Editor of the Glacier,
Established in 1888.
HOOD RIVER, Or., Sept. 20 - (Special) -Hood River Valley
pioneers at the annual reunion of the county's pioneer association on last
Wednesday celebrated "Cradlebaugh and Glacier day" as a tribute to the late
John H. Cradlebaugh, first editor of the fruit valley's pioneer in newspaper,
the Hood River Glacier, which came into existence on June 18, 1888. A feature
of the meeting was a paper read by George T. Prather, now a rancher of the
Summit district, but at the time, merchant and postmaster at Hood River,
who founded the paper. Mr. Prather told the story of the Glacier's birth
as follows:
"The value of advertising came to me through a write
up of our valley printed in the West Shore magazine, published by the late
A. Samuels of Portland. At that time cord wood was the local medium of exchange.
The success of this article, written by E.L. Smith, and its benefits, led
me to agitate the matter among local men. But I was discouraged on every
hand.
Glacier's Start Kept Secret
But I made a trip to The Dalles to see J.H. Cradlebaugh,
then editor of the old Wasco County Sun. He thought it a little too soon
to launch this plan, but declared that the time would soon be ripe.
"In the spring of 1888 Hood River took quite a boom.
The old river steamer Wasco was built here. William Ladd and C.E.E. Wood
purchased the toll road to Mount Hood, built by Captain David Cooper, Captain
H.C. Coe and O.L. Stranahan. They were engaged in repairing the roads and
constructing Cloud Cap Inn.
"Now the secret of how the Glacier came to be started
so suddenly and how it received its name has never before been told. At this
time Campbell brothers were operating a job printing shop in The Dalles.
John Michell was editor of the old Times-Mountaineer. It reached Mr.
Cradlebaugh's ear that Campbell brothers and Mr. Michell were going to start
a job office and newspaper at Hood River, with Mr. Michell as editor. So,
Mr. Cradlebaugh lost no time in coming down to see me and warning that the
paper must be started at once. He told me that he wanted to come to Hood
River to live, but could not move until October. But he declared that he
would take the paper off my hands at that time. He agreed to set 500 copies
per week for me at $20 per week, the advertising and local news and what
editorials I could write being furnished by me.
Paper Established in 1888
"So on the night of June 6, 1888, the Glacier was born.
C.R. Bone, pioneer orchardist, then had been in the valley but a short time,
but he was then, as now, and enthusiastic booster for his home paper. Mr.
Bone and I on that night furnished the local items for the first issue of
the Glacier. The question then arose as to what we would name it. Several
names were suggested when Mr. Cradlebaugh finally suggested the Hood river
Glacier. 'Good,' said Bone, so on the morning of June 8, the first copies
of the Hood River Glacier were on my counter for sale. I was ready to take
subscriptions for four months at 50 cents each.
No one else beside Mr. Bone and I knew about the paper
until it was offered for sale at 5 cents the copy, but every paper was sold
before night and nearly every adult in the valley had subscribed. Most residents
took two subscriptions, one for the home and another to be sent to some eastern
friend or relative. The late Joseph A. Wilson and S.J. La France each subscribed
for five papers. Not a dollar was ever contributed by any person toward starting
the glacier.
Mr. Cradlebaugh Poet
"On or about October 1, I turned the paper over to Mr.
Cradlebaugh with a paid up subscription list of 435. I was out of pocket
$70 besides my time. From June 8, 1888, up to the present time the Glacier
has never missed and issue and today it is considered one of, if not the
best, weekly newspapers in the state of Oregon, outside of Portland."
Mr. Cradlebaugh, after he had firmly established the
Glacier, sold it to S.F. Blythe, a pioneer printer of Portland, whose son,
E.N. Blythe, is a Portland newspaperman. Mr. Blyteh could not attend the
meeting Wednesday, having journeyed with comrades to Columbus, Ohio, to attend
the annual national Grand Army encampment.
Mr. Blythe, in 1904, sold the Glacier to A.D. Moe, who
has published the pioneer newspaper since that date.
Mr. Cradlebaugh, who for a number of years before his
death last winter, was on the staff of the Salem Capital Journal, was a poet
of ability. His poems dealing with the Hood River valley and that entitled
"A Land Where Dreams Come True," dedicated to Oregon pioneers, were recited
Wednesday by young women of pioneer families.
The annual pioneer address was delivered by Rev. Troy
Shelley, pioneer minister of Odell. The pioneer families gathered at Oddfellows'
hall at noon for a sumptuous basket dinner.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer