Working the Hop Fields
By Ronald John Deering
Summer work in the hop fields was akin to early childhood education during my parents' time. Our summers were spent living and working in the hop fields, as well as harvesting berries, beans, and plums, and mowing lawns. It instilled a strong work ethic in my early days, which has lasted a lifetime. There was no kindergarten, Disneyland, or summer camps for my generation. Children learned the value of a dollar at a very early age. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were the norm.
When the Volga Germans migrated to the hop fields, they left the Albina area virtually vacant. My Deering family was one of those that picked hops in the St. Paul and Gervais, Oregon areas when I was in grade school. My mother's Gerlach family also worked in the hop fields during the summer. My Gerlach grandfather (George Gerlach) and two of my mother's sisters lived on NE 7th between Fremont and Beech when I was a youngster.
When the Volga Germans migrated to the hop fields, they left the Albina area virtually vacant. My Deering family was one of those that picked hops in the St. Paul and Gervais, Oregon areas when I was in grade school. My mother's Gerlach family also worked in the hop fields during the summer. My Gerlach grandfather (George Gerlach) and two of my mother's sisters lived on NE 7th between Fremont and Beech when I was a youngster.
Willamette Valley Hop Field in the 1920's. From the collection of Steve Schreiber.
The hop pickers were mainly families of German descent struggling to make a living in a New World. These families were financially challenged and left their more comfortable homes in Portland for very inadequate facilities in the hop fields to earn extra income. As I recall, we were paid two cents per pound of hops picked, provided there were little to no leaves present. If there were too many leaves in our basket, we were docked some pay at the weighing scale. During my mother's youth, hop-picking was a common occupation, and the children’s total income was used to help support the family's expenses. Large families could contribute to economic success. My mother's parents had eight children, with only six surviving to adulthood. During my youth, I was allowed to keep half of the money I made, and the other half went towards family support. This 50/50 money arrangement persisted until I married, even though I paid for all my college expenses.
Unlike some families, we did not take a train to the hop fields. My father (Henry Deering) drove us down the valley and picked us up after the harvest was complete. His woodworking job required him to stay in Portland during the work week. My father only saw us on Sundays during the hop season. Sundays were a day of relaxation, prayer, and play at the hop fields. My Russellville Grade School baseball coach, who later became the principal, used to pick me up at the hop fields on Saturdays so I could pitch the Saturday baseball games. It was a blessing to be relieved of hop picking for the entire weekend.
Unfortunately, my mother's brother, John, three years old, and sister Leah, one year old, died in hop fields in September 1917. My mother, Amalia (Molly) Gerlach, was born in Norka, Russia, on March 14, 1910, and was two years old when she immigrated to the U.S. It is likely that the housing, food, and water conditions were substandard. Summer temperatures were too hot for the young children to survive in the hop fields for long hours. I remember the hand-pump well that furnished us with water. It amazed me back then, but now I realize that it could have been a source of contamination for all users since everyone washed themselves, clothes, and dishes at the well, and excess water puddled at and returned to the well casing. Therefore, contaminated water could re-enter the groundwater supply. Furthermore, the outhouse was also situated very near the well-water supply. Moreover, the water from the well was not chlorinated.
Despite the difficulties, hard work does pay off for those who are willing to put in the effort! I just had my 89th birthday and am very thankful for these work experiences. Today, we seem to live like kings and queens. Someone harvests our food, prepares our meals, and mows our lawns while we have the time to do what we like - RELAX!
Unlike some families, we did not take a train to the hop fields. My father (Henry Deering) drove us down the valley and picked us up after the harvest was complete. His woodworking job required him to stay in Portland during the work week. My father only saw us on Sundays during the hop season. Sundays were a day of relaxation, prayer, and play at the hop fields. My Russellville Grade School baseball coach, who later became the principal, used to pick me up at the hop fields on Saturdays so I could pitch the Saturday baseball games. It was a blessing to be relieved of hop picking for the entire weekend.
Unfortunately, my mother's brother, John, three years old, and sister Leah, one year old, died in hop fields in September 1917. My mother, Amalia (Molly) Gerlach, was born in Norka, Russia, on March 14, 1910, and was two years old when she immigrated to the U.S. It is likely that the housing, food, and water conditions were substandard. Summer temperatures were too hot for the young children to survive in the hop fields for long hours. I remember the hand-pump well that furnished us with water. It amazed me back then, but now I realize that it could have been a source of contamination for all users since everyone washed themselves, clothes, and dishes at the well, and excess water puddled at and returned to the well casing. Therefore, contaminated water could re-enter the groundwater supply. Furthermore, the outhouse was also situated very near the well-water supply. Moreover, the water from the well was not chlorinated.
Despite the difficulties, hard work does pay off for those who are willing to put in the effort! I just had my 89th birthday and am very thankful for these work experiences. Today, we seem to live like kings and queens. Someone harvests our food, prepares our meals, and mows our lawns while we have the time to do what we like - RELAX!
Source
Written by Ronald John Deering in July 2025 and posted on this website with his permission,
Notes
Further examination of the death certificates for the two young children, Leah and John, shows that they died from Infectious Enteritis, caused by contaminated food and water.
Last updated October 7, 2025