Virgil Ulysses Hodges, photographer
November 19, 2008 – 8:00 amVivian Krug with the South County Historical Society sent this information. If you like old local photos this looks like a great exhibit.
Carpenter on tower in Oceano.
Photos by Virgil Hodges, Courtesy of the Bennett-Loomis Archives
You may never have heard about Virgil Hodges, but you’ve probably seen his photographs. You may have old postcards with his photos of women wearing bathing suits in 1905 Oceano Beach. His images are in history books, seven warships running aground at Point Honda in 1923, the Santa Rosa breaking apart near the Point Arguello lighthouse in 1911, or Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet visiting Avila in 1908. Magazines and newspapers featured many of his photographs throughout the years – images of people, of floods and fires, and of everyday life on the Central Coast.
Photo archivist Gordon Bennett will present a talk on Hodges at the South County Historical Society IOOF’s Hall in Arroyo Grande Saturday Nov. 22, 2008 at 2 PM. Bennett remembers the stories behind the photographs from his close friendship with the photographer which lasted until Hodge’s death in the early 1990s 1975.
Born near on a farm near Arroyo Grande in 1879, Virgil Ulysses Hodges was the son of a Union Civil War veteran who named his son after Ulysses S. Grant. His sister Rose provided the necessary spark for Virgil’s life-long interest in photography. Rose had large box camera that she passed on to Virgil when she married. Virgil developed his skills quickly not only in taking pictures but in also developing and printing photographs.
Virgil Hodges moved to Lompoc after graduating from Arroyo Grande High School. He married Fae Elnora Winn and worked for the Lompoc Streets Department for thirty years, retiring in 1944. After his wife’s death in 1958, he moved to a cottage on Whiteley Street in Arroyo Grande.
“Get a good camera, learn how to use it and be there when things happen,” Hodges said. He followed that rule and visitors can see more than twenty of his enlarged photographs at the IOOF Hall, 128 Bridge Street in Arroyo Grande through December 14, 2008.
Other photographs on display include two Oceano Dunes Photo exhibits, one by Santa Barbara Photographer Robert Werling and the other by Pismo physician Billy Mounts. Museum hours are Fridays and Saturdays 1 – 5 PM, or by appointment in groups of four or more. For more information, please call 489-8282.
4 Responses to “Virgil Ulysses Hodges, photographer”
If Hodges lived until the early 1990’s, that means he was at least 111 years old when he died. If this is correct, that could make him one of the longest-living residents who ever lived in San Luis Obispo County. Is this correct? Pretty remarkable if true!
By Kristi on Nov 19, 2008
Superb photographic columns by Tribune photographer, David Middlecamp.One of the best columns offered by The Tribune and the Telegram-Tribune in many years of publication. Great work, David.
By Bill Cattaneo on Nov 19, 2008
Hi Bill and Kristi, thanks for the comments.
Vivian Krug gets the credit for the writing, with an assist from South County Historian Doris Olsen who quoted Hodges in her Santa Maria Times/TPR history column a few years back.
Gordon Bennett said Hodges was buried at the Lompoc District Cemetery and a call there confirms the date of death as March 3, 1975.
By David Middlecamp on Nov 20, 2008
David,
Thank you so much for the wonderful exposure in the Trib the other day. We had over 100 folks come on Saturday to our Exhibit Hall to hear and see this program. Based on a show of hands, most came as a result of your article.
Do come down and take a tour of our newest project – photos meld into Oceano/Halcyon/Dunite Exhibit beginning December. Also, thanks for the “Vault” project you’re overseeing. Very important!
Jane Line
President, SCHS
By Jane Line on Nov 24, 2008