As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Feb 26, 2020
The first picture I am sharing this week is of the original Chappell's Service Station, taken during a time of flooding by Ferry Creek in 1940.
Chappell's Service Station during a flood, 1940
I had a lot of good pictures of the "new" station, which I will talk about in today's column, but it appears that I may have already run the best ones, but without the interesting story. An article on the front page of the Aug. 29, 1963, Western World talks about the open house scheduled for Chappell's new service station. It sat on this same lot, across from the cheese factory, which today is a vacant lot just east of the Station Restaurant.
Here's what the article said: "Open House is scheduled tomorrow at George Chappell's Chevron Service Station to celebrate the opening of new, larger, modern facilities erected this summer in place of the small station (pictured above) which was torn down to make room for the new.
"Opening of the new station comes in Chappell's 23rd year of business at that same location, on Highway 101 (2nd street east) in downtown Bandon, where he has been operating since 1940.
"Chappell, a graduate of Bandon High School, entered the service station business in June 1937 in partnership with Ralph Young as Chappell & Young at an 11th and Highway 101 location.
"During his 26 years in business, Chappell has served in various community activities, including several terms on the school board and city council."
I love this second picture, taken in front of the Western World office in December of 1980, when the paper office was located in what is now the east end of McKay's Market.
Cub Scouts, 1980
A group of Cub Scouts had gathered in front of the office with some of the Christmas trees that they were planning to sell from their lot near the intersection of highways 101 and 42. I eagerly turned to the issue that this picture appeared in, only to learn that the photographer (probably me) did not get the names of the kids in the picture.
I am hoping that one of my readers will recognize these three Cub Scouts. The middle boy looks particularly familiar, but I am afraid to guess for fear I will be wrong.
The third picture is one that I borrowed from the Bandon Historical Society museum. Jim said I can use their photos any time I want to since they often post pictures from my collection on their website. As I have mentioned in the past, I have left my entire collection of Bandon history to the museum in my will, and it's fun to be able to share each other's pictures.
The photo is from an old postcard, simply titled "Dance Pavillion Bandon by the Sea," and is a picture of the Silver Spray Gardens, which was located on the bluff overlooking the beach. Pavilion is actually spelled with one 'l' but maybe in those days it was two "ls" who knows.
Silver Spray Gardens, 1930s
A front-page article in the May 30, 1935, Western World (a year and a half before the disastrous Bandon Fire which wiped out the Silver Spray Gardens along with pretty much everything else on the west side of town) is headlined: "Bandon Beach Season Opens."
"The summer beach season is here and with the closing of the schools more and more visitors from distant places, as well as from the inland neighborhoods directly tributary to Bandon beach, are seen enjoying the wonderful scenery and the modern recreational facilities that are offered here.
"The coming weekend will see hundreds of visitors from all over the southern Oregon and northern California areas. It is the formal opening of the Silver Spray Gardens, the initial event each year that is looked forward to with pleasure."
Two years earlier, in May of 1933, there was an article about the Silver Spray having been leased by the county court to Geo. P. Topping for another five years. Topping was an attorney, who served as mayor from 1914 to 1923, and school board chairman. It is confusing because the item in Western World would lead the reader to believe that the Silver Spray was somehow in receivership and under the direction of the county.
But this same picture in Dow Beckham's book about the Fire says that George Topping built and operated the Silver Spray Dance Hall in the '20s and through the 1930s.
At the time it was the largest dance hall in Oregon, and the orchestra was among the best. The band leader most often mentioned in connection with the Silver Spray was Bum Garten, who often played for dances throughout the county. Members of his Swing Band included Piercy Sweet (father of John and Sue Sweet), Robert Norton (father of the late Barbara Norton McMahon) and Gene Wade, who was the uncle of Marilyn and Margaret Wade.
Just to give you an idea how popular the Silver Spray was .... the June 6, 1935, Western World carried a front page article, headlined "Three Thousand Attend Opening Dance Here."
"It was attended by probably the largest crowd in the history of the big dance pavilion. Traffic officers in charge of the parking in the vicinity of the hall estimated that there were some 500 more people in attendance than last year. They estimated that the crowd numbered close to 3,000."
And that was only one of the dance halls in Bandon during that era. Others included Dreamland Pavilion, which was on Second Street where Lloyd's Cafe now sits. The other was Azalea Gardens east of Bandon off what is now Highway 42S. All three were destroyed in the Fire, along with Wecoma Baths, Bandon's salt water natatorium, which I will be talking about in future columns.
* * *
We had a little excitement at the Town Hall meeting Thursday night, at which time we fielded questions about the upcoming election for rate-setting authority.
But if you have read anywhere that someone was thrown out of the meeting, it simply is not true. I did rap the gavel (which turned out to be the hand-held mic) but I certainly did not ask anyone to leave the meeting.
For the most part, people were respectful but at times asked questions that the council simply could not answer as several had to do with the budget.
We are planning to hold another Town Hall meeting, probably in mid-March as staff begins preparation of the budget. Staff will be available to explain various facets of the budget, with particular emphasis on answering the questions that were posed the other night.
I opened the Town Hall with a statement, which said, in part:
"If we are not able to set our rates as 99 percent of other cities and utility companies do, we will have to consider drastic action. And that would be to sell our water and sewer utilities to a private company, which would mean we would have no control over the rates.
"I can assure you that we will not gut our police department, close the Sprague Theater and the Barn and slash our other city services, just so we can continue to sell our water for less than it costs to provide it."
I then urged people to support ballot measure 6-175.
* * *
A large sold out crowd packed into the Port of Bandon's marketplace building Saturday and Sunday for the second-annual crab feed fundraiser, to enjoy crab and listen to some top-notch local area bands.
* * *
The next big event is the always popular Bite of Bandon, which will be held Saturday, March 7, at The Barn. My guess is it will be sold out soon so people need to get their tickets at soon as possible.
It was interesting as I asked Google the date of the 2020 Bite of Bandon and it came back: "Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m." Of course the 2 a.m. time was a dead giveaway that something was wrong with that answer, but I have seldom found mistakes like this when I turn to Google, so it was surprising. Tickets are $40 each or a table of 8 for $280, and can be purchased at Bandon Ace Hardware, Bandon Mercantile or online.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Feb 19, 2020
The first picture I am sharing this week was taken in July of 1958 when the Perry brothers started their new box factory at the corner of 11th and Rosa Road.
Perry brothers box factory, 1958
Brothers Voyle C. (Sid) and Carl (Bub) Perry had been operating a box factory and electric sawmill in that location under the firm name of Perry Bros. Veneer. The new plant was to be in addition to present facilities, and was to manufacture fruit and vegetable boxes for the California trade.
Construction work on a concrete block and sheet iron building 50 x 150 feet was already underway by Dow-Conn-Struction, local builders.
"The Perry brothers are the third generation of local box manufacturers. Their grandfather, F.S. Perry, started in business some 50 years ago (around 1908). He was later joined by his son Frank and O.L. Zentner operating as the Perry Veneer Co. Later Frank Perry continued in a similar line, and now his two sons, Voyle C. and Carl, are carrying on the family tradition."
This was on the site that now houses Tom Stadelman's Bandon Supply business. The car in the photo is traveling north on Rosa Road.
Some 10 years later (1969), the Perrys built a new sawmill on the east side of Rosa Road on the site of the former mill, which was completely destroyed by fire in August of 1966.
The second photo I am sharing features Wolf Daniel Braun, who moved to Bandon in the spring of 1979 where he opened a leathersmith shop on Second Street in Old Town Bandon in the same building occupied by Bandon Candle and Gift Shop.
Wolf Daniel Braun
Interestingly enough Braun's shop, The Cobbler's Bench, continues to operate at the west end of Second Street under the ownership of his son, Peter Braun. Bandon Candle and Gift Shop started by Lynn Markham (now Davies) and her late husband Chuck Markham continues under the ownership of Lynn and her daughter, Jessica Brink, but has branched out to include several shops along the east end of Second Street, including the Toy Store. Lynn estimates that she is the oldest business in town under single ownership, about 45 years, and the Cobblers Bench is not far behind.
In an interview, which appeared in Western World, and written by me, Braun said he had signed up for a position on the board of Grains and Goods Co-op, and was also interested in the Bandon Playhouse. Over the years, Daniel did, in fact, appear in a number of Playhouse productions. He is retired and lives in Hawaii.
The third picture I am sharing was taken in June of 1961 during a fish derby for youngsters sponsored by the Bandon JayCees.
Fish derby, 1961
The kids fished in the whey that spilled into Ferry Creek from the Coquille Valley Dairy Co-op. In the upper edge of the photo you can see a truck hauling milk cans that has backed into the cheese factory to deliver its load of milk.
Winners pictured in back are, from left, Richard (Rick) Howard, Bill McNair and Terry Dornath; in front are Victor Napier and Eddie Napier. Terry, who I understand has recently moved to the Sixes River area, caught the biggest fish ... a 16 and 1/4-inch trout, as well as two nine-inch trout. Victor Napier won the younger division with a 10 and a half-inch trout. This was just the beginning of Rick Howard's long avocation as one of the best sports fishermen in the area. Bill McNair spent his adult life in Gold Beach. The McNair family owns Cougar Lane Lodge at Agness as well as the jet boats which travel up and down the Rogue River.
* * *
I was sad to read of the death of Dan Almich last week. Through their non-profit New Artists Productions, Dan and his wife Anita have touched the lives of hundreds of young people who learned about all facets of the theater and how to be good citizens under their tutelage.
Dan and the late Ray Kelley, as volunteer members of the Bandon Lions Club, spent months spearheading the building of the Sprague Community Theater, which was later turned over to the City of Bandon. It is a priceless asset, cherished by the community, and Dan Almich played a major role in overseeing the construction of the facility.
Dan is also survived by sons Daniel and Michael.
* * *
Will Shindler left an envelope at city hall for me last week to let me know that his sister, Sarah Shindler, had died at the age of 68. Sarah had recently moved from Bandon after purchasing a park model along the Rogue River and was looking forward to her new life.
A friend who was expecting Sarah to visit her early in the week became worried when she did not show up, so she called a neighbor, who found her in a diabetic coma. She was rushed to the Gold Beach hospital and then to a hospital in Salem where her daughter, Molly (Mrs. Perry) Herbst, lives. She died Wednesday night.
Sarah had three daughters and a son, and is survived by her brothers Will of Bandon and Bo of Gold Beach, and sisters, Rachel Hernandez of Bandon and Mary Shindler of Seattle. A brother, Mickey, died years ago, and a sister, Catie, died several years ago.
* * *
I've also learned that long-time Bandon resident Steve Perkins died last week, but I do not know the details. If I learn more, I will let my readers know. He did a lot of construction/handyman work for people and was the one who painted the exterior of my house five or six years ago.
I understand that he and his girlfriend recently became parents.
* * *
The city council will be holding a town hall meeting on the upcoming ballot measure to return rate-setting authority to the council this Thursday night, Feb. 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Barn/Community Center. This is the same date that the Coast Guard will be hosting a community meeting from 3 to 6 p.m. to explain their plans for the foghorn. So if you're interested in one or both issues, come to the Barn Thursday.
It is also important to point out, as we talk about our utilities, that they are considered enterprise/business funds and need to pay for themselves. We cannot continue to lose money in our water and sewer departments, and if we are not able to set our rates, there is a real possibility that we would consider selling those two utilities to a private company. At that point, we would lose all control over the rates. We are not going to gut our police department and other city services while we sell our water for less than it costs to provide it. It just doesn't make sense. We have also provided in the ballot measure that we will not raise rates higher than the average of like services provided by other cities and utilities in the area. That in itself is a guarantee.
* * *
I heard last week that the newest elected member of the Bandon Port Commission, Brian Kraynik, has resigned. And he confirmed it for me.
"I stepped into public service too soon in my life and need to spend the next 10 years focusing on my young family. My kids (9 and 11) and boat tour business are my top priorities. I fully intend on being involved with the Port after my kids have left the house. I don't wish to comment on the commission or staff, other than to say, I was not a good fit with the current makeup."
Port Commission chairman Reg Pullen said he "was sorry that Brian decided to resign, because he did have a lot of interesting new ideas. It would be good to have some younger people on the board," Pullen said.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Feb 12, 2020
It's going to be hard to write my column today (Sunday) as both Oregon and Oregon State women's basketball teams are on TV, and at 5, it's time to watch the Oscars.
This year the Oscars will be a lot more meaningful for me because I have watched some of the most nominated films, including Marriage Story, Little Women, Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood, and Parasite (well at least I tried to watch it, but turned it off after 45 minutes because I hated where the story was headed).
The first picture I am sharing was probably taken in the '80s, but I do not have an exact date. Us old-timers can remember when the business on Baltimore Avenue, that is now Sweet Peas, looked like this. The front of the building went clear out to the sidewalk when it was the Lown's Fabrics store.
Lown's Fabrics store, 1980s
Later, an owner removed the front section of the building in preparation to rebuild, but learned that because of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and city regulations, they could not rebuild. The new owners, Chip and Jean Salmon, beautifully landscaped the area where this building sits and turned the back portion, both upstairs and downstairs, into a popular garden and gift store.
Back in the '50s, Ron and Gladys Larson operated Larson's Cleaners in this building before moving uptown to the building across from Asian Garden which is being remodeled by the new owner Randy Hoffine into a local office for his real estate business, Pacific Properties.
Later, local realtor Frances Cavoretto and her son, David L. Davis, remodeled the old dry cleaners building into their real estate office, with David in front and his mother in the back office.
The back part of this building housed several other businesses in recent years, including Danielle Benjamin's Raven shop. Before that I believe Ilse von Roon operated her Gypsy Wagon business there for a short time. I also think Continuum Center owner Bob Webb lived upstairs at one time and operated Baltimore Street Antiques.
The transformation of the building today by the Salmons makes it hard to believe any part of it is the same building. (After I had written this I realized that I had shared this picture several months ago, but decided to go ahead because I have more information about it this time).
The second picture, of course, was taken not long after the Fire of 1936 when the American Red Cross moved into town and established a tent city along the waterfront, from Chicago Avenue east to house many of Bandon's displaced residents.
Tent city after the Fire of 1936
In Curt Beckham's book, Bandon-by-the-Sea, he quotes Lowell "Chili" Giles as saying:
"In four days, Bandon had changed from a typical seaport city to a 'Klondike' boom town. The Red Cross had pitched rows of tent-houses for many of the homeless. Rubble was being shoved aside to make way for business houses. Martial law had been declared to minimize looting and about 35 state police were billeted there to back up the decree. It was a scene of bustling activity, if nothing more than acquaintances reviewing the fateful night. Always, there was the one question -- 'What were you able to save?'
"As there was no place to buy food, most ate in the community 'soup kitchen.'
"The term going downtown now meant going to the Bob-Otto Court, a service station, and a few motel units. One could always find someone who knew what new buildings were being constructed -- or information on friends not yet seen. The Court also maintained a bulletin board for messages."
While the Bob-Otto Court did survive the Fire, along with the Coast Lumber Yard a block east, they have long since been torn down. The Chevron station is on the site of the old Bob-Otto Court and the location of the Coast Lumber Yard is a gravel parking lot next to the Laurel.
The third photo is one I wanted to share last week, but had to get a better copy from Jim at the museum. These boys are the Punt, Pass & Kick winners from October of 1970.
Punt, Pass & Kick winners, 1970
The event was hosted by Edgar Capps, owner of Capps Motor Company, who was assisted by some of the fathers and other community members.
Pictured from left are Brian Davis, Mitch Moody, Jerry Kiefer, Brad Bowder, Bill Caldwell and Wayne Strong.
* * *
I attended a special birthday party Saturday honoring long-time Bandon resident and native Marjorie Bullard Stephenson .... on her 106th birthday. Believe me, this special lady would amaze you.
The party was held in the Alexander Hall at the First Baptist Church, hosted by her daughter, Carol Fugere, and also honored Marjorie's son, Fred Hultin, who shares her birth date.
In the last year, Marjorie has been making her home with a family in Coquille after she took a bad fall and could no longer live alone.
Marjorie was born in one of the houses that still stands in Prosper. The Bullard family property, where Bullards Beach State Park is now, was deeded to her ancestors in the 1850s by President Lincoln.
This information came from Bill Smith (who loves history as much as I do), who said his mother, the late Mary Younce Smith, was the very first babysitter that Marjorie had hired to babysit her two small children (Carol and Fred), as Mary lived next door on the boardwalk that went from the bridge out toward Prosper.
Also present for the party were Sally Baird Johnston and Susie Baird Webber, daughters of the late Betty Bullard Baird (Marjorie's sister) who died several years ago at the age of 99.
* * *
You know you've made it big when you appear in the News Quiz of the Sunday Wall Street Journal. The first question in the Jan. 25-26 quiz was: "University of Oregon hoop star Sabrina Ionescu has won praise from Steph Curry and LeBron James. In what category has she surpassed any other Division 1 player in history -- male or female?"
The choices were points scored, career assists, triple doubles or all of the above. The answer, as we basketball fans know, is triple doubles. Not only that, but she now has twice as many (24) as any other NCAA player and is said to be, without question, the best player in college basketball at this time.
A triple double means that she has reached double digits in scoring, rebounding and assists in a single game.
* * *
I saw an interesting ad from Bank of Bandon in the May 31, 1934, Western World, which could have just as well been written today. Here is how it reads:
"Tourist Dollars Add to Community Wealth ..."Tourist Dollars are outside dollars that add to the wealth of the Community. They should be sought after with greater diligence. The Bandon Community has every facility for attracting the tourist and vacationist. It should, through united effort, and through individual contact with visitors, encourage their stay over a longer period of time. Tell them of the various local attractions and hold them to see all.
"More outside dollars means more wealth for the community. They augment the capital that through your local bank can be put to work in local development, and in the establishment of payrolls."
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Feb 05, 2020
I love the first picture I am sharing because part of it still stands today, although you have to look hard to realize it's the same building. It's not far past the old golf course on Beach Loop Road, on the right side of the road before you get to Crooked Creek/Devil's Kitchen.
John Dornath & Sons artistic complex, 1935
This picture was taken before the Fire of 1936, apparently to advertise the Dornath's new artistic building materials on sale at their shop in Coquille. The complex, which much later was owned by Margaret Gorman, did survive the Fire, and I still remember the little cottages that were to the left of the main house, which is pictured here. Everything is gone today except the main house, which no longer looks like this.
If you look closely to the right in the photo you will see the windmill, which was described along with details about the house in a June 6, 1935, article in Western World, from which I will quote.
The headline on the 1935 article reads: "Novel House Attraction," with a subhead: "John Dornath & Sons Feature Unusual Showplace at Beach."
Years earlier the Dornath family had come to Coos County to engage in the manufacture of fancy cut shakes for house-building.
"After experimenting over a period of four years they developed various specially designed machinery with which to produce distinctive and unusually attractive materials from comparatively low grades of lumber. Then a printing method was developed to produce fancy designs in any shade of coloring.
"The elder Dornath, born in the old country, has knowledge of the native architecture of various parts of Europe.
"Wishing to show what can be done with the materials and plans that he has worked out, Mr. Dornath has used nine different kinds of woods and as much coloring as possible. The main house is of English design on the exterior and of Swiss design on the interior.
"To the north of the main building is an old-fashioned Dutch windmill, which furnishes the water supply. The building has three stories, with a tank on the third, sleeping quarters on the second, and a little summer kitchen and the pumping plant on the first floor.
"Another building is a caretakers cottage and still another, decorated with Indian relics, is in the nature of a tea garden.
"An ornamental fence has been erected across the front of the property, which blends well with the buildings and the landscaped garden."
The complex was constructed by Mr. Dornath and his sons, John, Theodore (Ted), Enno, Stanley and Jasper.
Ted Dornath was the father of two of my classmates, Marlene and Ted Jr., as well as Diane and their younger brother, Terry, who I understand may be living in the Sixes area.
John Jr. was the father of Art and Clifford Dornath, both of whom raised their families in Bandon, with several descendants still living here, including Art and Kathy's children, Betty Albertson and Theresa Paxton, and Clifford's son Mike Dornath and his three sons, Mark, Josh and Jay.
The senior Dornath also had five daughters, but it was his sons that were involved in the construction business with him.
The second photo was taken in May of 1960 when Bill Ellis Sr. and Ken Hickam opened Bandon TV and Appliance, in the building that recently housed Bandon Video and is now being remodeled by Randy Hoffine of Coos Bay for his Pacific Properties business, across the highway from the Asian Garden. Just south of this building is where Banner Bank is now located. When this picture was taken, Western Bank was behind this building.
Bandon TV and Appliance, 1960
This was the same weekend of McKay's grand opening, with Denny Atkinson as manager and Kenny McKay as owner.
I had a great picture of Punt, Pass and Kick winners from October of 1970 (with Brian Davis, Mitch Moody, Jerry Kiefer, Brad Bowder, Bill Caldwell and Wayne Strong) that I wanted to run as my third picture; unfortunately it was such low resolution that I could not get it to print, so I had to make a change.
The picture I am sharing is of me at the age of 26 in March of 1966, sitting on a log on Moore Mill property where I had gone with the Bandon High School sophomore class to plant trees. My sister Maggie was a member of the class so I had probably gone along as a chaperone, although the bag on the log beside me clearly contains my Western World camera.
Mary Schamehorn, 1966
I remember doing a photo page for the paper with pictures I had taken that day. If I ever find the negative of the PP&K kids, I will scan it at a higher resolution and share it.
* * *
Once again, the city's number one critic, Rob Taylor, is ranting on and on about our ballot measure, which will restore rate-setting authority to the city council so we can take care of our utilities.
What we all need to remember is the utilities (water, sewer and electric) belong to all of us; we, as elected officials, are simply the people who are responsible for taking care of them.
The day may come, and I pray that it doesn't, that if the water and sewer funds (which are considered enterprise/business funds) continue to lose money, we may be forced to sell them to a private business. And then none of us will have any control of how high the rates could go.
Personally, I would support the efforts of the city council and vote yes for ballot measure 6-175 rather than face the possibility of losing our ability to operate our utilities in a cost-effective and safe manner. But maybe that's just me.
I truly believe that the majority of people in Bandon understand that we are trying our best to take care of our utilities... and name-calling probably won't assist us in that effort.
* * *
I received the rainfall figures for January from my "rain guy" Gerry Terp, who reported 14.57 inches for January, which made it the wettest in the last 15 years, since he recorded 20.45 inches in the 05-06 rain-year. January's rainfall for last year was 6.79 inches.
Calendar year rainfall has been all over the chart in the last 15 years, ranging from a high of 86.59 inches in 2017 to a low of 34.19 inches in 2013.
The average calendar year rainfall for the last 15 years was 64.32 inches, which included three years (2017, 2012 and 2006) with over 80 inches. The low year of 2013 was definitely an anomaly as the next lowest year was in 2009 with 50.50 inches.
January of 2015 was very dry, with only 2.56 inches recorded.
* * *
I was sorry to learn of the death of Rose Pullen, who died Jan. 26 at her Prosper home at the age of 91. Rose and her family had arrived in Bandon when she was 5 years old and made their home with the Pullen family. She later married Bill Pullen, who she had met when she was 5 and he was 7, according to her beautifully written obituary. Bill owned a number of businesses in town, including the Western Auto Store which is now Bandon Ace Hardware. They also grew cranberries for many years.
She was such a beautiful gentle lady, who will be missed by all who knew her. Her survivors include two sons, Reg and Gary (Terri), and their families.
A funeral service will be held at Amling-Schroeder Bandon Chapel this Saturday, Feb. 8, at noon, with interment to follow in the VFW Cemetery on Bates Road.
Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn
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