Bartels, Harry F. (Portland)

Harry F. Bartels (Portland)

In 1904, the city directory lists Harry was an insurance agent, and his stenographer was Miss Elizabeth M. Hacheney, an amateur photographer who was a member of the Oregon Camera Club. From 1906 to 1912 he made very fine photographs of Oregon scenery. Harry Bartels sold his photos at the Olds, Wortman and King department store. He offered four sizes, 35¢, 50¢, $1 and $1.50, and he produced calendars each year with real photographs tipped in. The calendars were made with 6½ x 8½” contact prints from his glass plate negatives, with a nice sepia tone and very well produced. Most of the newspaper references to him come from department store sales in January, where the unsold prints would be featured at their seasonal clearance sale. His 1907 calendar was about Cannon Beach1. It offered views of “the Elk Creek Road, Ecola, Haystack, Sylvan, Jockey Cap, Humbug Point, Hug Point and everything of interest from Seaside to Arch Cape, and many sea views taken during the recent storms2” In 1914 he opened the “Commercial Photo Co.” in room 310 of the McKay building. The business was short lived, and by 1920 he was back in the insurance business.

2Example of 1907 storm photo

1“CANNON BEACH PHOTOS. An entire series of photographs of the famous scenery of Cannon Beach, Or., including the Elk Creek Road, Ecola, Haystack, Sylvan, Jockey Cap, Humbug Point, Hug Point and everything of interest from Seaside to Arch Cape, and many sea views taken during the recent storms, will be on sale after January 15, at the Oregon Photo Stock Co., 111 Sixth street, between Washington and Stark streets, Portland, Or. Mail orders carefully filled. Samples on exhibition now.” Morning Oregonian, January 1, 1907.