As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn

December 26, 2018

The deeper I get into Bandon's history, the more excited I get. Some would say: "get a life," but this is becoming my life, with the exception of trying to do what is right for the City.

The first picture I am sharing was taken sometime between 1919 and 1925 because I can see the sign for the Nestle's Food Co. under the tall smokestack, spewing out black smoke, in the top right of the photo.

Nestle's Food Co.
Nestle's Food Co. began operating in Bandon in 1919, and closed in 1925. To the left of the smoke stack, up on the hill in East Bandon, you can see the old Bandon High School peeking through the trees.

Some history books seem to infer that the Nestle's Company used to be in what we later knew as the Moore Mill Truck Shop, which is that long white building on the waterfront in this picture. But this picture pretty clearly shows that is not true. The Nestle's Condensery was a separate building that was later torn down, and for years all that remained on the waterfront was the old Moore Mill Truck Shop. And now that is also gone.

If you look closely at the buildings along First Street (also referred to as Main Street or Front Street), you will see the Bandon Athletic Club and Pacific Garage in the building at the lower left.

I can only imagine/dream what Bandon might have looked like had it not been hit by a disastrous fire years later. We would have such a wonderful mix of old and new buildings ....

The second picture was taken in 1970 of the Ray's Pharmacy building, which was erected within a couple of months of the Bandon Fire in 1936 as a temporary building, which has stood the test of time.

Ray's Pharmacy, 1970
It was the home of Bob and Phyllis Ray's pharmacy. Today it is Winter River Books. Next to it is Hazel Colgrove's antique business, which today is the home of Bandon Baking Co. Before that it was the long-time home of Carr's Variety Store.

I love this third picture, taken directly in front of the building in the second photo. This was shot during the Bandon Lions Club's annual March of Dimes drive, in 1960, as Howard Tucker wheels Marie (Mrs. George) Kronenberg down the sidewalk as friends enjoy the fun.

Bandon Lions Club's annual March of Dimes drive, 1960
Looking on, from right, are Mathilda (Mrs. Leonard) Gibbs, Elaine (Mrs. Howard) Kehl, Norma (Mrs. Max) Howe, Norma (Mrs. Howard) Tucker, Donna Tucker and a friend, whose name I do not know.

As you can see, in those days, Bandon had parking meters, and cars were parallel parked along Second Street, not head-in like we park today.

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I just learned that Johnna Hickox died Friday morning. My heart goes out to Hank and her sons. I know she had a long battle with cancer, but she had recently undergone experimental treatment which was expected to give her several more years, but apparently that was not to be.

Johnna was a great gal, and I remember her in so many positive ways. She operated the book store that is now Winter River Books for several years and was a strong supporter of the chamber. But most of all I loved seeing her in so many roles on the Sprague Theater stage as a long-time member of the Bandon Playhouse, which, by the way, seems to be reviving.

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In the past few months, I have been bothered by a woman, who insists that I meet with her, email her, talk with her, meet her for coffee, etc. Based on my past experiences, and those of several others in the community, I have chosen not to respond to her emails, including one several weeks ago that tried to teach me email etiquette as to how to respond to someone. I have reached out to the police department with several of her emails to determine if I could legally stop her from contacting me.

This week, she told the city office that she would not pay her utility bill if the city manager and the mayor did not respond to her. My response to Linda was simple: If she does not choose to pay her bill, please send her a shut-off notice.

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I hate mistakes, and I know we all make them, but this week I was reading the entertainment section of the Register-Guard when I noticed a picture of a woman who was identified as Toni Pimple. My immediate reaction was: "Oh dear, how sad to be saddled with such a name." That was until I read the accompanying article and learned that the name of the woman, who is the Eugene Ballet's Artistic director, is actually Toni Pimble.

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There have been several changes in the City's planning department this month. Planning Director John McLaughlin and his assistant, Dana Nichols, (who had just been named president of the Greater Bandon Association) both left the city's employment Dec. 15: John to retire and Dana to go to work in Albany.

Back to head the department is Dennis Lewis, who was planning director here in the mid-90s, and long-time planner Charli Davis. They will be assisted by Megan Lawrence.

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It was fun to watch all the festivities at Billy Smoothboar's Wednesday as owners Lynn and Dan Barnett opened their restaurant and their hearts to a big crowd of local children and their parents for a festive Christmas party. It was a very special event.

*           *           *
One of my long-time and dearest friends, Pete Goodbrod, 89, who has been suffering from Parkinson's Disease for a number of years, took a bad fall at the apartment he and wife Joan share at Pacific View earlier this month, and he has been in Southern Coos Hospital since the fall.

He has good days and bad days, and I wish only the best for his family. His daughter, Michelle White, has kept us updated on Facebook and I had a long talk by phone with Joan last week.




As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn

December 19, 2018

I love this old picture that I found among my uncle's collection. This picture of the New Bandon Theatre was taken in 1937, just a year after the Bandon Fire.

New Bandon Theatre, 1937
We have grown so accustomed to other forms of entertainment that we forget what it was like for a small community, when suddenly there was no theatre.

My grandfather wrote, in the Sept. 16, 1937, Western World: "All Bandon and community joins in the congratulatory ceremony that marks the dedication of Dick Fisk's New Bandon Theatre, which is to take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, when the 20-30 Club will officiate in the presentation of a musical review, humorously entitled, 'Debris of 1937.'

"For seven months after the fire of last September Bandon was without a theatre. Hurried construction was necessary to care for the more urgent commercial buildings and to provide shelter for the populace. A place of amusement was secondary under the circumstances and it seemed inevitable that the erection of a suitable place of amusement must wait until permanent building was undertaken.

"Along came Dick Fisk, who already had theatres in Waldport, Florence and Gold Beach. Realizing the uncertainty of plans for a new city he likewise saw the necessity of a theater as a place for relaxation and enjoyment midst the somber struggle of reconstruction that faced a hapless people."

The theatre had seating for 500 people ... and continued to be a gathering place for a lot of us until it was torn down, I think sometime in the 1980s. I lived in the apartment upstairs from 1969 until 1976 ... in a two-bedroom apartment, for which my rent was $75 a month. (And Jack and Shirley Ward never raised my rent during the six years I lived there.) Oh to have rents like that again ...

The building next door later became Fred Tuttle's news stand.

I am sharing the second picture because it shows the doors for the fire hall, at the far west end of the building, which was in that location until the new city hall was built in 1970.

Old City Hall restaurant and bar
It was not actually the city hall when this picture was taken, as it had been turned into the Old City Hall restaurant and bar, but the exterior looked pretty much the same. Today all fire equipment belongs to the Bandon Rural Fire Protection District and most of it is housed in their spacious facility just south of town.

I found an article in the Sept. 9, 1937, Western World with the headline: "Pin-Ball machines ordered out; fire department loses its revenue."

District Attorney Ben Flaxel had ruled out all forms of gambling in Coos County.

"Pin-ball machines in Bandon have produced the sole source of revenue for the local fire department. A percentage of the profits from the machines has gone into the treasury of the department and used to maintain the organization and purchase needed supplies. Loss of this revenue will make it necessary for Bandon to find some other source of funds if the fire department is to be kept in tact.

"With pin-ball revenue and other funds raised by the firemen they have been able to fit up and equip their apartments in the city hall building, buy and repair equipment and pay other bills of the city, up to a total of more than $1600."

I know that for many years there were two apartments behind where the equipment was housed, in what is now part of the space used by the Bandon Historical Society for its displays.

I always like to share one picture of people from the past, and this one was taken in 1965 as Western World owner Warren Strycker, left, and Syd and Janice Dominy, and son, George, prepare for the annual school carnival. Syd was a member of the Bandon Police Department in those days.

Preparing for the annual school carnival, 1965
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The whole community had been praying for Todd Freitag, 43, who died last week after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Todd leaves behind his wife Courtney, his children Kyle and Raelyn, his parents Nancy and Ed Freitag, the extended Freitag family and the many friends who supported the family through their "Team Todd" fundraisers and support network.

Todd was a lineman on the city's hydro-electric crew and we stood for a moment of silence in his memory during our Christmas party Saturday night.

It is always hard to lose a loved one, but even harder at Christmastime.

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I heard from Linda DePaolo this week with an update on her son, Matt, a 2006 graduate of Bandon High School, who was critically injured in an ATV accident on Oct. 22 in Arizona. He was not responsive at the scene and was life-flighted to Banner Trauma Center in Glendale, Az., where he spent two weeks in the trauma and ICU center. He was in a medical coma for 10 days. On Nov. 6 he was medically transported to an acute rehab center in Phoenix where he is today.

Linda said he is making slow progress, but it could take years to recover from his injuries. "He is young and healthy so that is in his favor," his mother said, adding that he is not paralyzed, "although he does have some loss of use but that may return once full physical therapy can be initiated.

The biggest hill to climb is the traumatic brain injury. The great unknown."

They have a gofundme account set up to help with his expenses. It is www.gofundme.com/matt-depaolo-atv-tragedy.

Barry Winters, who recently visited Matt and Linda in Arizona, also has shirts available, with all proceeds going to Matt's medical expenses. People can contact Barry at 541-297-7833.

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I simply cannot comprehend senseless vandalism ... destroying things for the pure pleasure of it is mind-boggling.

Dan and Lynn Barnett announced this week that they would not be decorating Billy Smoothboar's restaurant next year because of the vandalism and theft that has occurred to their wonderful Christmas light display twice already this season.

"Sadly we have succumbed to the evil in our society and will no longer put out exterior Christmas cheer for the soulless to steal," said Dan in a Facebook post.

Jessica Neal, owner of The Broken Anchor, came back with a post which said: "someone got my credit card number (my business card) and rung up almost 3 grand at Wal-Mart online today. The card has never been out of my possession."

As many of you know, Dan and Lynn provide a wonderful treat, "Christmas for the Less Fortunate," which is scheduled for Wednesday (Dec. 19) from 4 to 7 at the restaurant for children 12 and younger.

I try to stop by each year just to watch the youngsters as they receive gifts, food and other treats. It is special gifti from a special couple. Thanks Dan and Lynn for all you do!

*           *           *
Speaking of special treats and special people. Friday night, we went to The Nutcracker, produced and directed by Maria Merriam, and it was fabulous. It really does take a village to put on a production like this, from the lighting and sound crew, to those designing the costumes, to the choreographers and on and on, but most of all to the dancers of all ages who delight us with their presence on stage.

I see by the program that MarLo Dance Studio will be presenting Pinocchio two weekends in May, and I definitely won't miss it.




As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn

December 12, 2018

The first picture I am sharing is a wonderfully clear aerial of Old Town and the waterfront taken in 1966. I know my uncle, Lou Felsheim, was a pilot and he may well have taken this photo.

Old Town, 1966
At any rate, you can see the First National Bank (now the Masonic building) in the lower right hand side of the picture. Across Second Street is the M&L Grocery, which is now the parking lot for The Minute Cafe. Behind M&L is the former W.H. Johnston office building, which is now owned by Ed Landucci and leased to Olivia Andor for Olivia's Cottage. Next door is the vacant lot, which is now the home of the second Arcade Tavern. Midway through the picture you can see the former Bandon Fisheries office building, which is now The Wheelhouse Restaurant. Behind that is the old hospital building, which has long since been torn down and is now an empty lot behind Alloro and Bandon Coffee Cafe. Across from what is now the Wheelhouse was Bandon Seafood, later Bandon Fisheries' other location. It was later torn down. Adjacent to it the Port of Bandon built its office building across the Chicago Avenue right of way leading out to the dock, which is now the home of The Loft.

This is a particularly good view of the old Moore Mill Truck Shop and you can get a better idea of where the old Nestle's building was located just south of that building. Moore Mill is in the background.

Back on Second Street, you can even see a "new" Ford in the showroom of Capps Motor Co., in the part of the building now occupied by Broken Anchor. I hope people can blow this up enough on line to really see where all the buildings were located.

I chose the second picture because it is a better shot of the old hospital, which had been a rental for many years after the hospital was moved to its "new" location on the bluff overlooking the river in 1960. This picture of the old hospital was taken in 1978 after the roof caught fire. I believe it was torn down a couple of years later.

Old hospital, 1978
Bandon had a small, but well-equipped hospital that was destroyed when the town burned Sept. 26, 1936.

Just two months after the Fire, Western World carried an article indicating that two men, Dr. E. F. Lucas and O.C. Shindler, local pharmacist (and later grandfather of the Shindler clan), had formed a non-profit organization, with the hope of getting one of the Red Cross office buildings to house hospital equipment as soon as the relief organization ended its work in Bandon on Dec. 10.

And that is exactly what happened. So the building that you see in the second picture was thrown up by the Red Cross shortly after the Fire, and less than three months later was given to the R.V. Leep Memorial Hospital Association of Bandon. The Red Cross also provided materials to complete and remodel the interior to make it suitable for hospital purposes.

The building was remodeled by the WPA (the federal Works Progress Administration) who came to Bandon immediately after the Fire and helped with many projects, including building what was Bandon's City Hall for over 30 years (and is now the home of the museum), as well as housing near the old high school in East Bandon, which survived the Fire.

Dr. Lucas and Otto Shindler made sure that the hospital association would be a public body, with representation on the board of directors from all the various civic organizations. Today, it remains a public entity, with an elected board thanks to the vision of these two community leaders.

The third picture is very blurry, having come from the pages of the 1942 Bandon High School yearbook, but I think you can see the two buildings on the pier just south of what later became the Moore Mill Truck Shop building. The one on the right was the Nestle's Condensery building.

Photo from 1942 Bandon High School yearbook
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One of my dearest friends, Anita Straus, died Nov. 25, at the age of 78. Anita and her husband, Roger, have lived in Bandon since 2003 and had made many friends in the community.

Anita was born in New York but moved at a young age to what became her hometown of San Diego. She had a long career in the legal field as a paralegal in Los Angeles and Orange County working for law firms and retiring from Pacific Life Insurance in 2007.

Anita and Roger were married Oct. 17, 1999, and visited Bandon on their honeymoon. Anita was involved in many local activities, including serving on the city parks and recreation commission, and being active with the Coos County Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers.

Anita and I shared a special bond ...and I will miss her.

*           *           *
I learned this weekend of the death of Frank Conn, who was a member of the BHS Class of 1965 and a Vietnam veteran. Frank lived in the Portland Metro area and last year had retired from the Portland VA.

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I am at a loss for words to describe what John Hubbard, the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church, who died last week, meant to this community. Even though he was gravely ill, John never missed an opportunity to help someone and had devoted many years to one of his favorite causes, the Good Neighbors Food Bank.

He was a big part of Bandon Playhouse and played many roles on stage over the years.

My heart goes out to his wife, Kathy, who was his soulmate and caregiver. John will be hard to replace.

*           *           *
In case you haven't heard, the cost of first-class stamps will go up five cents on Jan. 27 ... to 55 cents. Now is a good time to buy those Forever stamps at the current price of 50 cents.

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Wow. I attended the lighted vehicle parade Sunday night, and it was absolutely wonderful. It makes me appreciate what we have here in Bandon even more after reading a number of snarky Facebook posts about the Christmas lights on the community tree in Coos Bay. I posted how great Bandon looks, thanks to cooperation among the merchants, the chamber and Greater Bandon Association, and how proud I was to be mayor of Bandon. Anything to generate a little positive energy . . .




As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn

December 05, 2018

The first picture I am sharing this week shows Santa (who looks a lot like long-time city employee Bob Hiley) crossing Second Street headed to the Bandon Theater for the annual Christmas for kids celebration.

Santa crossing Second Street
The small building on the corner of Second and Highway 101 was the home of Van Auken Real Estate and possibly an art shop at that time, and earlier had been Paul Detert's jewelry store. Today it is the Bread & Wine shop across from Bandon Coffee Cafe.

The second photo was also shot at Christmastime, and pictures the city hydro-electric truck erecting the community Christmas tree on the property where City Hall is now located.

Erecting the community Christmas tree, 1960s
I don't have a date for this picture, but it was obviously taken sometime in the '60s. In back you can see Capp Motor Co. (now the building which houses Washed Ashore and Broken Anchor) and across the river, Moore Mill & Lumber Co's wigwam burner.

The third picture was taken in May of 1975 as little Ingrid Clausen (now Mrs. Shane Wakeley) walks in a high school fashion show.

Ingrid Clausen, 1975
Ingrid works at Alloro Wine Bar and Restaurant and is the daughter of the late Phil and Jackie Clausen. Her husband is a checker at Ray's.

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The election for city officials in Brookings got a little heated, but no more so than most elections across the country. But when incumbent mayor Jake Pieper was re-elected over his opponent, Teresa Lawson, he basically fired two volunteers (including Lawson) from their city positions the day after the election.

At any rate, Mayor Pieper asked city budget committee member Lawson and tourism advisory board member Candice Michel to resign from their posts.

Lawson's "crime" was apparently saying, during the campaign, that the "city budget needs more detailed review from the committee."

In his letter to Candice Michel, the mayor wrote: "Over the past several months, on more than one occasion, you have made public comments at city council meetings that were inappropriate for a city committee appointee."

Ironically, it was Pieper who initiated the appointment of both women.

I've heard of a "sore loser," but a "sore winner?"

Unbelievable!

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I love the historic tidbits that I pick up as I read through the old Western Worlds. The headline on the front page of the paper of March 9, 1939, reads: "Investigating anonymous letter."

My grandfather writes: "Someone in Bandon ... who styled himself 'Citizens League of Bandon' is apt to be tapped on the shoulder by a G-Man at some time in the near future, when he will be held to answer charges of libelous statements made in a letter addressed to G.E. Anderson, contractor, who is building the grade school here."

Authorities believe the letter was prompted by jealously on the part of some who failed to get employment on the local job.

This was two and a half years after the Fire destroyed Ocean Crest grade school, along with most of the town and residential district. Elementary students had been going to school in the old east Bandon gym, next to the high school (which did not burn).

Even after the grade school was completed (in its present location) and the new high school opened around 1950, the old gym still served high school students (like my class) who were bussed across town for PE. I believe it was finally burned in a "burn to learn" by the fire department sometime in the '80s.

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Bandon High School graduate (1973) Colleen Donahue Russell has written a book, "Feminine Path to Wholeness: Becoming a Conscious Queen," which I bought last week on Amazon.

It is a great book, made even more interesting by the story of Colleen's growing up in Bandon with six sisters and two brothers (her father was city manager in the '70s) and the struggles she faced as a single mother en route to becoming a "conscious queen."

She was in my photography class at Bandon High School, which made her book, interspersed with her wonderful art, even more special to me.

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I learned that the storage building at The Crossings Golf Course was struck by lightning during the Thanksgiving week storm, causing extensive damage to 15 of the 51 golf carts which were plugged in that night.

An ardent golfer said the damaged "carts lost their brains. I called it brains but it is the control module much like the computer on a car."

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I was so proud of myself for being able to identify everyone in the Lions March of Dimes picture last week. But my pal Dayton Turner had to burst my bubble. It was Larry, not Jerry, Quillen in the photo ... and Jim, not Carl, Claiborne. Oh well, I was close.

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I've seen some discussion about the "road diet" and the role it might have played in some residents of Paradise, Calif., not being able to get out of the burning area.

A man wrote into the Register-Guard with an opposite viewpoint.

"While it might seem that with more lanes traffic would flow more quickly, drivers fleeing a fire are likely to switch lanes any time there's a gap rather than wait patiently if the other lane begins to move faster. This chaos of weaving cars itself would slow traffic. And as panicked drivers jump from lane to lane they are very likely to cause an accident which could shut down one or both lanes.

"Studies show that 'road diets' can maintain traffic flow while reducing crashes, injuries, and deaths," said the writer.

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Had it not been for the last two weeks of November, the rainfall would have been minimal, but we ended up with 7.01 inches compared to 3.15 inches for October. Last year's two-month total (October and November) was 18.89 inches, compared to a whopping 30.06 inches for the same two-month period in the 16-17 rain year (the year we had 102.04 inches). Last year's rain-year (October through September) total was 67.13 inches.

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I have been putting together some fabulous books of people and places in Bandon ... mostly during the '50s, '60s and '70s. If you're interested in learning more about them, email me at marys@coosnet.com or call me at 541-404-7291.

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Don't forget the annual Christmas light parade at 5:15 Saturday, following a nog/cider walk from 3 to 5 in Old Town Bandon.


Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn

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