Hood River-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Haslinger, George 1879 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 25, 2009, 11:52 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company GEORGE HASLINGER. Among the desirable citizens furnished by the old world to the United States is numbered George Haslinger, a successful florist and one of the influential business men of The Dalles. He was born in 1879 in Vienna, Austria, of which his parents, Joseph and Julia Haslinger, were lifelong residents. His father was a well known florist of that city, which is noted throughout Europe for its beautiful gardens and parks. After his graduation from high school George Haslinger matriculated in the agricultural college at Vienna, completing a two years' course, and received thorough training in horticulture and landscape gardening. For some time he was associated with his father in business and in compliance with the laws of his native land served for three years in the Austrian army. Following his release from military duty he traveled for two and a half years, studying plant and flower life in Austria, Germany, Roumania and Russia, and then returned to Vienna, where he spent a year. In 1906 he sailed for America and for eight months was in the employ of a florist at Washington, D. C., thus gaining a knowledge of the business methods employed in this country. He was commissioned by Senator James Hughes, of Huntington, West Virginia, to landscape a German village and after completing the contract decided to locate in the west. In 1908 he arrived in Portland, Oregon, and remained in the Rose city for six months, working for the Swiss Floral Company. He then ventured in business for himself and allied his interests with those of Hood River, Oregon. Purchasing a tract of land, he built a greenhouse and began raising bulbs and flowers on a small scale. Later he erected two more greenhouses there and supplied his customers with shrubs and potted plants as well as cut flowers and bulbs. Encouraged by the steady growth of his trade, he decided to expand the scope of his activities and in 1923 came to The Dalles, purchasing land, on which he erected a greenhouse fifty by one hundred and fifty feet in dimensions. In 1925 he added another, thirty-six by one hundred and fifty feet in extent, and now has fourteen thousand square feet under glass. The plant is heated by oil and completely equipped. Mr. Haslinger concentrates his attention upon its operation and his second son is in charge of the retail flower shop in The Dalles. The eldest son is manager of the plant in Hood River and the father also owns a modern house of eight rooms in that town. In the line of work in which he specializes he is an acknowledged leader and the rapid increase in his business is proof of his executive ability and good judgment. In 1904 Mr. Haslinger was married in Vienna to Miss Mary Schreckienger, a native of Winterberg, Bohemia, and they have become the parents of five children. Mary, the eldest, was born in Vienna and is a high school graduate. Her husband, C. Taylor, is connected with a garage at The Dalles and they have a daughter, Mary Ann. George J., a native of Washington, D. C., also completed a high school course and is a capable young business man. J. F. was born in West Virginia and is planning to enter college. Frances Elizabeth is a native of Hood River and a junior in the Hood River high school. Powell, who completes the family, was also born in Hood River and is a grammar school pupil. Mr. Haslinger is one of the enterprising members of the Chamber of Commerce and his fraternal affiliations are with the United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World. He enjoys his work, through which his creative talent is expressed, and as the founder and head of The Dalles Floral Company he controls a business of much importance and value to the city. Mr. Haslinger cooperates heartily in movements for the general good and possesses those qualities which inspire respect and confidence. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 566-567 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/hoodriver/bios/haslinge542gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb