Gallery 3: Hermiston in the Early 1940s

Northeast Oregon Now
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Depot Photos
Construction workers are seen here in front of an igloo under construction at the Umatilla Army Depot. The Library of Congress has dozens of photos taken by photographer Russell Lee during the depot's construction in the early 1940s.
PHOTOS COURESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Bakeries
Bakeries, as well as other stores, were doing such a volume of business because of the “boom” that empty cartons and supplies were stored on the streets.
Supplies
To keep up with the demand for goods, trucks were frequently seen bringing in new supplies to keep Hermiston store shelves stocked.
No Vancancy signs
“No Vacancy” signs were commonplace in Hermiston in the early 1940s as construction at the army depot brought thousands into the town.
Depot road
The rimroad going south from the depot being prepared for oil surfacing. The depot had more than 200 miles of road built and 40 miles of railroad track.
Sleeping in igloo
More signs of the housing crunch: More than a few workers out at the depot had to make do with sleeping in one of the igloos at the site.
Trailer camp
Trailer camps began to pop up throughout Hermiston. When housing just wasn’t available, workers and families lived in trailers throughout town.

Gallery 4

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