As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
January 30, 2019
The first picture I am sharing was taken in the early '80s after the remodeling of many of the Old Town buildings had started as evidenced by the clock tower shop, now occupied by Sassy Seagull, which had previously been the Kronenberg & Waldrop insurance office.
Old Town, early '80s
Bonnie Joyce of Myrtle Point was giving carriage rides through Old Town. Behind her you can see the former 230 Second Street gallery building, the barber shop next to it (now a large building which houses both Coastal Mist and Second Street Gallery), and at far left, the former Arcade Tavern building, now owned by Bill and Louise Moore.
The second picture was taken in 1968 as Bullards Bridge is closed to allow a small fishing boat to go under the bridge.
Bullards Bridge, 1968
I am sharing the third picture of members of the Bandon Fire Department and a team of high school girls with a trophy, taken in 1976, because one of the members, Lyle Fleetwood, front right, died last week. Others in the picture are Barry Winters, front left; the girls are, from left, Gayla Elliott, Cathy Strycker, Terri Titus and Lori Kreutzer. In back are Steve Fox, Jack Chappell, Roger Elliott and Bruce Jarvis. Jack, Roger and Bruce have all passed away since I took this photo over 40 years ago.
Fire Dept w/trophy, 1976
* * *
I learned this week that Judy Knox, long-time executive director of the Bandon Historical Society, was recently released after spending two weeks in Eugene's River Bend Hospital where she underwent surgery on her heart, including two stents and a valve replacement. She is now in a swing bed at Southern Coos Hospital, where she was sent for several weeks of rehabilitation.
Judy is one of my favorite people, and I wish her the best as she recovers from surgery.
* * *
Two musical events are coming up the weekend of Feb. 8-9 at the Sprague Theater. On Friday, Bandon Showcase will host award-winning jazz singer-songwriter Halie Loren, with the show beginning at 7:30. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Bandon Mercantile or at the door.
Saturday night, the renowned Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival, who have played several times at the Cheese Factory in Langlois, will be in Bandon for a 7 o'clock concert featuring the work of Ludwig van Beethoven and Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
While the concert is free, there is a pay-what-you-can suggested donation of $20 at the door.
* * *
I received a phone call from Joan Goodbrod last week. She admits she's having a hard time adjusting to moving to a new location after having spent her entire life in Bandon. But she's happy to be near daughter Cindy and knows it was a good move for her husband, Pete.
After I posted a picture and story about the Goodbrods in my column last week, several asked for their address.
Her address is Joan Goodbrod, PO Box 69, Apartment 112, Woodland, Wash., 98674. I know she would love to hear from her friends.
* * *
Received a note from his proud aunt Pat Hutchens Gripentog this week that Hunter Pier (grandson of Pat's sister, Alice) , who moved to Idaho last year with his mother, Stacey Pier, is starring in basketball . . . as I knew he would. From a very young age, Hunter had such a natural gift for all sports, and it's fun to hear about his success...although I wish they were at BHS.
He plays for Eagle, Ida., and this week they played their last regular season game, finishing with a 7-0 record and headed for the playoffs. Hunter is now 6-4 ... and still growing. He scored 113 points this season with 80 rebounds.
He has also been invited to be part of a summer travel team, and their are in the process of raising money for their expenses. Their school team is on line at Eagle Basketball Club Inc.
It's good to hear that both Hunter and Stacey are doing great!
* * *
I learned this week from Kirk Fleetwood that his dad, Lyle, died at the age of 83 in his sleep Friday night. Lyle moved to Bandon in 1961 where he went to work as a mechanic for Moore Mill at the old truck shop before retiring in 2000.
He married Janie Richert, who survives, in 1966.
He also had a small cranberry farm on Bates Road that kept him busy. Ironically, Kirk says, while looking at the original title for the farm, it showed that the property had once been owned by my father, Bill Dufort.
I knew Lyle best as a long-time member of the Bandon Fire Department. He stayed involved with the department in his senior years by serving on their finance committee, and he was also a member of the Langlois Lions Club for many years.
Lyle was one of the really good guys ....
* * *
I also received a call last week from Jerry Whitsett (brother of the late Joe Whitsett, former mayor of Bandon) telling me that Mark Garoutte had died at the age of 92.
Mark lived in Lookinglass, Ore., and was a 1944 graduate of Bandon High School -- in the same class as my aunt Anne Sweet (Felsheim), Violet Gunter (Howard), Fred Cox, John Fogle, Jay Hess, George DeOs and June Scott (Gene's sister), among others.
Mark was a brother of Bette Garoutte Scotti's father, Bud Garoutte. His wife died several years ago and he is survived by a daughter, Rena, in Roseburg. His only son, Mark, died in a massive landslide in January of 1974 near Canyonville that killed nine of the 10 men who were repairing long-distance telephone cable for service to Medford. It had rained 11 inches in the previous five days on top of one of the wettest winters on record, which caused 15,000 cubic yards of soil to break loose from the hillside as the crew worked below.
* * *
I read a heart-wrenching story in The World last week about Steve White, a popular senior at Pacific High School and a member of the Pirates varsity basketball team, who is battling stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
The Pirates head coach, Ben Stallard (who lived next to me in Powers when he was growing up and now lives with his family in Bandon) said that there are five White siblings, three of which go to Pacific High. The family lives between Bandon and Langlois; the mom works at Langlois Market and the dad is a mechanic.
Several fundraisers have been held for the family, including one at a recent game in Bandon, and after reading the story in The World I sent $200 to help with expenses. I am urging anyone who would like to help to send a donation to Steve White, in care of Ben Stallard, Pacific High School, PO Box 8, Port Orford, Or., 97465. Or you could send the donation to me, and I will see that it gets there.
I know any help would be greatly appreciated.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
January 23, 2019
The first picture I am sharing is from my collection of old postcards, and it's one not often seen. I had no idea that the U.S. Life Saving Service had established a lookout on Coquille Point until I saw this photo, and began researching.
Lookout on Coquille Point
Not only was this lookout out on the point, but carpenters constructed a boathouse directly below toward the mouth of the river for a surfboat, breeches buoy, line, life preserves, and other equipment, according to Dow Beckham, in his book Bandon By-The-Sea.
A book on lighthouse and life-saving on the Oregon Coast pointed out that "The watch house was similar to those mounted at other stations on a tower. This one, however, was elevated by its location on Coquille Point and had no need for additional height. The watch house was an 8-foot cube with windows on each side, capped by a hipped roof, and built on a wooden platform."
Congress authorized the establishment of the U.S Life-Saving Station on the Coquille River in 1889 because of the increasing amount of shipping out of the port. The service built the station in 1891 and in 1892 brought in a trained crew. It was then that they build this lookout. In 1915 the Life-Saving Service merged into the U.S. Coast Guard. Crewmen maintained watch 24 hours a day from the lookout tower at Coquille Point.
A fire in 1921 destroyed the Bandon crew quarters. The Coast Guard then moved to a harbor building on First Street between Cleveland (what we now refer to as Little America) and Bandon avenues.
That building burned in the Fire of 1936, and was replaced several years later by the building, now owned by the Port of Bandon, that is on the property today.
The Department of the Treasury provided for a crew of seven men whom it paid $60 per month and a captain who received $70.
One of those crewmen was Leslie Kranick, grandfather of the Kranick siblings, several of whom still live in Bandon.
The second photo, probably taken around 1910, shows five men from the local Life-Saving station on the dock near the station (at the west end of First Street) after a day of fishing.
Life Saving Service, approx 1910
Leslie Kranick is second from the right. He married Ethel Metzler of North Bend and they had one son, Martin. In 1917, Leslie bought 160 acres of land south of Bandon, some with cranberries already planted. Later the family named it Kranberry Acres. Ethel taught in area schools for many years, and after her husband died, she married Walter Reichenbach. Martin married Vivian House (who died recently) and they had four sons, Dave (Pete), Gordon, Doug and Ron.
Leslie Kranick died in 1959 at the age of 67.
Dave and Marci Murray Kranick continue to operate the cranberry bogs, and in 2017, Kranberry Acres became the first cranberry Century Farm, with Doug and Marci accepting the honor at the Oregon State Fair.
The third picture I am sharing is a great photo of Pete and Joan Goodbrod, taken years ago during one of many local social events.
Pete and Joan Goodbrod
Joan grew up in Bandon, while Pete arrived here, I think, in the early 1950s to play baseball.
Pete, who will be 90 in May, has suffered from Parkinson's Disease for quite a few years and the couple had been living at Pacific View. But recently Pete ended up in the local hospital and because of his condition, he was not able to return to assisted living.
His daughter, Michelle and her husband, have now moved Pete to a skilled nursing home in Woodland, Wash., while Joan has moved into a studio apartment on the Assisted Living side of the facility.
I talked with Joan shortly before she left, and she really hates to leave Bandon and her many life-long friends, but she knows it's the best thing for Pete.
"My heart breaks for them as this is going to be a traumatic move from what's so familiar. Bandon has been their home for so many years and they are going to miss everyone and the memories that keep them going," said Michelle, who lives not far away in Kalama.
Jerene Fraser Shaffar, who was best friends all through high school with their other daughter Cindy, was instrumental in helping Joan prepare for the move. "She's like another daughter to me," Joan said.
* * *
Never was the adage "when bad things happen to good people" more apropos than with the news that Jesse Pullen, son of Port Commission Chairman Reg Pullen and Joan Lovell, died suddenly last week at his home in Eastside.
Jesse, 34, graduated from Bandon High School in 2003 where he was a star football player ... and an all around special guy. I was covering sports for the paper in those days and he was one of my favorites.
A family member said he had recently been in an ATV accident, and although he hadn't been feeling well, had apparently not gone to the doctor. One theory is that he may have suffered a blood clot to the heart.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his younger brother Jordan, his grandmother Rose Pullen, his significant other Sara Breckon, and their eight-year-old daughter Makenzie.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. at the Old Town Marketplace building.
This is the second tragedy for the Pullen family, as Reg's brother Gary and his wife Teresa also lost their son Will several years ago.
Our hearts go out to the Pullen family.
* * *
A Celebration of Life will be held this Saturday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m. in the Brookings Senior Center for Herb Looney, who died Dec. 13 at the age of 90. The Looney family moved to Bandon around 1951 and lived here for many years before he moved to Brookings in the early '70s where he and his son Bob opened Reliance Appliance.
While he lived here he was a shovel operator, ran the projector for the Bandon theater, and coached Peewee baseball, according to his daughter, Diane Looney Armitage.
* * *
I also learned this week that long-time resident Chuck Chowning died Friday of a heart attack. Chuck, who I best remember as always having a smile on his face no matter the kind of day he was having, was a member of the class of 1970 and was in his mid-60s.
* * *
A one-time star athlete at Bandon High School, Stan Goodell, was recently named a National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Goodell, who graduated from BHS in 1972, is a cross-country coach in Grants Pass. He was one of two winners from Oregon and one of 22 total winners from all high school sports across the country.
The honor was not so much about winning and losing, but rather about the impact he has made on the lives of his athletes.
"You can't mention the word cross country in the state without his name coming up," said Grants Pass athletic director Clay Rounsaville.
He was an all-sports athlete at Bandon High, having been involved in football, basketball, wrestling and track and field.
In 2013, Stan received the Distinguished Alumni award from SWOCC, where he ran track and received his associates degree in 1974. He attended Southern Oregon University, where he also ran cross country and track, and graduated with a teaching degree in physical education and social sciences.
I have known him since he was a young boy and am so proud of the man, coach and person that he has become. This is a well-deserved honor for a man who has touched so many lives.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
January 16, 2019
The first picture that I am sharing was taken several years after South Jetty property owner William Schlichting posted a sign on jetty road indicating that the jetty road would be closed after May 17 (1957) because part of it crossed his property.
South Jetty, 1959
He later changed his mind, and allowed the jetty road to remain open temporarily. An article in Western World explained it.
"Schlichting said his decision resulted from the present impassable condition of the proposed new jetty road. He added that after he begins work on a new rock shop early next week the road across his property will be open to one-way traffic only."
The picture that I am sharing was taken two years later (1959) during the building of the road to the South Jetty, which I am pretty sure bypassed Mr. Schlichting's property. (Sorry for the confusion, as I had planned to share Mr. Schlichting's sign, but when I went to send it along with my column, it was nowhere to be found. And when you have over 30,000 digital files on your computer, it's not that easy to find.)
The second picture was taken in August of 1957 of Jess Moore's Golden Eagle Service Station (across from the present City Hall), which later became the Chevron/Standard station.
Golden Eagle Service Station, 1957
Last week, after opening in their new location downtown, Chevron closed this service station. Earlier, a spokesman had advised the city planners that they would either close it or try to turn it into a keylock station for large trucks.
It appears that they have chosen to close it. It's probably just as well as large trucks coming into this already dangerous intersection would not be good.
The third picture was taken in June of 1957 at the city's old reservoir site on Spring Creek east of town off Highway 42S (on the north side of the highway across from Goodnight Lucas' Bandon Feed business).
City's old reservoir, 1957
The city was planning to turn the old reservoir into a community swimming pool. The council had given the go-ahead to Warren Albertson to begin the ground-moving and clearing.
"The immediate needs appeared to be an access roadway north from Highway 101 (this was before the highway to Coos Bay was built) opposite Twin Fire motel, some shaping to make a gentler slope at the water's edge, and scraping some vegetation and mud off the sand bottom of the reservoir, which has been drained."
"The consensus of opinion expressed .... was to complete, as quickly as possible, the minimum amount of work that would allow people to swim in the reservoir, under recreation program supervision, this season.
"The idea was to 'try it and see' whether a favorable reaction will result, before going into construction of any extensive facilities. If use of the reservoir swimming area can be made soon, it is planned to use part of the annual $1200 summer recreation funds, supplied $600 each from the school and the city, to provide life-guard supervision.
"At the June 19 council meeting, Raleigh Greene, pool committee chairman, presented a sketch of the reservoir site and of a proposed bath-house building with full facilities, for which a rough estimate of $8200 was submitted."
Other members of the pool committee were John Fasnacht, Bob Schultz, Ralph Swenston, Alvin Mullikin and Ron Larson. Fasnacht was manager of utilities (city manager) and Mullikin was the high school principal. I believe Swenston was on the school board, and Schultz and Larson were businessmen. Greene owned the theater.
This is the year that I graduated from high school, and I have no memory of ever swimming out there, so I am wondering if some kind of liability issue surfaced. But as soon as I find out what happened and why this apparently did not materialize, or if it did, it was short lived, I will let my readers know.
* * *
Two weeks ago I told you how Bandon Inn, owned by Peggy Howard Backholm, had been named the No. 2 fan-favorite destination out of 100 honored in Oregon.
It gets even better.
Sunday's Oregonian named the 25 Northwest Adventures for 2019 ... and that is not just for Oregon but for the entire northwest.
Of the five towns named, Bandon was one of them. The others were Leavenworth, Wash., Ashland, San Juan Island (Washington) and Spokane, Wash.
The writer says: "Bandon: The southern Oregon coast has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to natural beauty and attractions, and Bandon is one of the best small towns to anchor your visit.
"The town has a requisite lighthouse, craft brewery and sandy beaches, but is also home to a renowned sand labyrinth artist, world-class golf course, recycled art museum and a trio of dueling seafood shacks."
This is the kind of positive publicity you can't put a price on ...
* * *
City Manager Robert Mawson advised the city council this week that he, planning director Dennis Lewis and public works director Richard Anderson had met with the city's parks and recreation commission to talk about moving forward with a grant application to Major League Baseball for the purpose of improving the two baseball fields in the center of city park, best known as the Little League (Peewee) complex.
He said the idea for the improvements started 10 years ago, but never moved forward. Two members of the commission, Troy Russell and Christine Hall, are helping put together the construction estimates and narrative for the grant application, due April 1.
It would be neat to see the Little League facilities upgraded.
* * *
Speaking of recreational facilities, the City recently completed a transaction to purchase the old Face Rock Golf Course.
The primary focus is to keep it as a natural resource and greenway area with walking/hiking trails, educational opportunities and related activities. It is not intended to become a park with ball fields and playgrounds. It is the largest piece of undeveloped, natural resource-designated land in the city limits. The property will need to go through the parks and recreation commission and the planning commission to come up with a conceptual plan for development into a park. There will be a public process that will allow plenty of time for public input.
One man familiar with the purchase said the city got it at a great price ... and should have purchased it sooner.
I think it will be a wonderful opportunity for long-term recreational uses.
I played golf there for years and still remember how much the eastern part of the property is protected from the wind. It's like a different climate as you move away from the ocean ... along Johnson Creek.
* * *
Don't forget the jazz/folk concert Friday night at the Sprague Theater, beginning at 6:30. The Hot Licks band will be playing music of their founder, the late Dan Hicks. We will also be treated to the folk music of Josh Reynolds (son of Kingston Trio great Nick Reynolds) and friends, who call themselves the Powerline Junkies.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at Bandon Mercantile, Norris the Taylor, Langlois Market or in Port Orford at Circle K Market. Bandon Historical Society is one of the sponsors.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
January 09, 2019
I am sharing this first picture because I want to talk about what was very nearly built on this property many years ago.
Stacking lumber, 1971
This picture was taken in August of 1971 as a Moore Mill & Lumber Co. Hyster was stacking lumber on the vacant lot between what is now the Alabama Avenue parking lot and First Street. Across from the Port of Bandon's Old Town Market, this is the vacant lot owned by Fred Gernandt and Kirk Day, which is leased to the city for a parking lot.
But as the community tried to rebuild from the disastrous Fire of 1936, plans were revealed in March of 1939 that the city fathers were planning to build a civic center on this parcel of land.
It was to include the post office, the city hall (with fire station) and a library in a three-building group on three lots owned by the City at First and Alabama. There would be rear access to the buildings from Wall Street, which was scheduled to be widened. Wall Street, which was an extension of Second Street beneath the hill about where Devon's Boutique now sits, was a gravel street well into the '60s before it was closed permanently. The city hall was to be the largest building, with a smaller post office alongside, as well as a combination library and women's club room facing Alabama.
The primary reason for the plan was to build a permanent structure for the post office, in the heart of town, which would then be leased to the federal government.
For whatever reason, the plan never materialized, and most of the land has sat empty all these years.
The second picture I am sharing was taken from about where Bandon Inn is now, looking east through downtown Bandon, probably sometime in the '50s (or maybe even in the '40s judging from some of the vehicles).
Downtown Bandon
In the foreground, to the left, you can see more of Moore Mill's lumber, as that lot was used for quite a few years as a storage area.
You can see M&L Grocery, where my family shopped while I was growing up, and is now the parking lot for the Minute Cafe, which is next door.
The car parked between the back of M&L and the building that now houses Olivia's Cottage, is about where the Pedway is today.
The third picture was taken in May of 1958 as Hazel Colgrove, representing the Bandon Women's Civic Club, presents a plaque of appreciation to Mel Dahl, long-time owner of Lloyd's, as well as other buildings in the downtown area.
Hazel Colgrove & Mel Dahl, 1958
The Women's Club, Chamber of Commerce and the Lions generally held their meetings in the back of Lloyd's, which was one of the very few places where big groups could be hosted in those days.
Today, as we all know, Lloyd's is shuttered, and has been for three or four years.
We heard that it had been sold to the couple who own The Blue Moon in Coos Bay, but sadly that deal apparently fell through.
I talked to a man Saturday who had grand plans for the building, which included putting in an interactive aquarium, which would allow visitors to talk with commercial fishermen out on the seas, which watching fish swim below the building. Unfortunately he did not have the means to purchase the building, but he certainly had innovative ideas for a great destination attraction.
* * *
Speaking of great destinations, Peggy Backholm's Bandon Inn was named No. 2 in Oregon Business Magazine's 100 Best Fan-Favorite Destinations in Oregon, released recently.
High Life Adventures was the No. 1 fan favorite, followed by Sweet Cheeks Winery (Eugene) at 3rd, Swan Island Dahlias 4th, Wall Street Suites (Bend) 5th, Wheeler on the Bay Lodge and Marina as 6th, Five Pine Lodge (Sisters) 7th, Douglas County Museum 8th, Boulder Falls Inn and Japanese Gardens (in Lebanon) at 9th and the Historic Balch Hotel (at Dufur on the Columbia River Gorge) at No. 10. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort was 34th, Wildlife Safari was 38th, Jerry's Rogue Jets was 42nd and Tu Tu' Tun Lodge (Gold Beach) was 55th.
Last year Bandon Inn was 14th, up from 37th the previous year, and Bandon Dunes was 27th, up from 29th.
Favorites are based primarily on Google, Trip Adviser and Yelp reviews.
Reviews are often based on amenities that are available, as well as how well people are treated by employees.
It is a tremendous honor for Peggy and her staff ....
* * *
You won't want to miss a great musical event at the Sprague Theater Friday night, Jan. 18, brought to Bandon by Josh Reynolds (son of Kingston Trio great Nick Reynolds), with a lot of help by our theater manager Jeff Norris. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show to start at 6:30.
It will feature the Hot Licks Band with a jazz and folk revue, along with music by Powerline Junkies: Buddy Woodward, Tom Guard and Josh Reynolds singing songs from the Kingston Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, John Stewart and other folk greats of the '60s and '70s.
Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased in Bandon at Bandon Mercantile or from Norris (Norris the Taylor), in Langlois at The Langlois Market and in Port Orford at the Circle K Market.
You can see more information on the beautiful posters, designed by Rebecca Malamud of Langlois, which have been put up around town.
Sponsors include the Sixes River Fire Department, Bandon Historical Society and Friends of the Sprague.
* * *
I received the latest update Sunday on Matt DePaolo, the BHS graduate who was critically injured in an ATV accident Oct. 22, in Arizona. His mother, Linda, reports that "Matt is moving to a neurological rehab situation as North Mt. is not set up to address traumatic brain injury rehab patients. His physical injuries have healed and now it's time to focus on regaining his other functions to get him capable of more everyday life. He is at Banner Behavioral Center now and will be there for a while until a bed opens at the appropriate neurologic rehab center. Continued good thoughts and prayers appreciated."
Barry Winters, a close family friend, said he got to talk to Matt on the phone. "It was awesome. I said, 'Matt this is Barry.' He said, 'hi, old man how are doing?" He still has gibberish and I talked too fast, but that is the first real conversation since the accident," Barry said.
* * *
My weather guy, Gerry Terp, sent in the latest rainfall data, which shows 7.72 inches of rain for December, compared to 4.62 for the same month last year.
The rain-year total for 2017-18 (October through September) was 67.13 inches of rain, compared to 102.04 inches the previous rain year.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
January 02, 2019
I love the humor of the first picture I am sharing, which occurred during a particularly heavy rainfall in February of 1975 near what was then Bob Elliott's Shell Station, now the site of The Station Restaurant and Art By The Sea Gallery.
Bob Elliott's Shell Station, 1975
Bob's daughter, Gayla, recalled that the city had not done anything to fix the road between Coast Lumber Yard and her dad's station (Fillmore Avenue) which caused the water to pond alongside the station. Mike Morris brought his decoy ducks down and let them "swim" around in the water while he stood on the sidewalk with a gun, pretending to be hunting ducks. Among those looking on were Bob Elliott, left, and his son, the late Roger Elliott, at far right. Nord Johnson is next to Roger, and I think that is Steve Birkholz next to him. Not sure about the tall guy next to Bob. On a side note, I always love talking to Bob when he visits the museum during special programs and events. He's been here even longer than I have.
The second picture was taken in the same area, even though the Shell station is out of the picture at left. This was taken during 1962 as the city installs a sewer system across the highway near the intersection of Fillmore Avenue.
Installing sewer system, 1962
This is a great picture of the service station that was there in those days. In fact, I think my father (Bill Dufort) had the first Gilmore station on this site in 1941. Later, in the 1970s, Ray Hallinan operated Bandon Book & Stationery at the location before it became Gibson Graphics. And now it is the home of an eclectic array of interesting looking metal sculptures.
You can also see the large building, which is now Forget-Me-Knots Quilt Shop, that housed Thelma and Herb Lindvall's real estate and insurance business, as well as the Bandon Beauty Shop. Thelma, who lives with her daughter and son-in-law, Kathie and Dick Copsey in the Portland area (Tualatin), celebrated her 95th birthday in early December.
Next to their building is the Coquille Valley Dairy Co-op, at that time home of Bandon's Cheddar Cheese.
The third picture features one of my all-time favorite people, Dick Sutherland, who was one of the most successful coaches to ever guide Bandon Tiger teams, both football and baseball.
Dick Sutherland
While going through the October 24, 1957, Western World, I found a neat tribute written to Coach Sutherland by a WW staffer.
"The alumni of Bandon High and many other sports-minded football fans were pleased at Friday night's victory when the Tigers, for the first time in more than 20 years, won a game from the Red Devils (Coquille). It was a great victory and cause for rejoicing.
"Incidentally, however, local fans should realize that Tiger football has been built up during several years past, and that the present time, good as it is, is a build-up of football strategy and physical experience that goes back to the first year that Coach Dick Sutherland arrived on the scene. He and his assistants deserve the credit.
"We've heard some criticism about how tough Sutherland is with his boys, but we've noticed that in all the tough games this season the Bandon lads came out unscathed while some of their opponents were carried off the field. The Tigers have learned to hit hard and how to take it. When they make the team under Sutherland, they've got to be good."
Having kept both the official baseball scorebook and football stats for Coach Dick, I can definitely echo what the writer says.
* * *
I was saddened to learn of the sudden death of Angelo Giardinelli, owner of Angelo's Italy in Old Town Bandon, who died Friday afternoon. Angelo and his wife, Sarah Mautner, were loved by the community and tourists alike, as evidenced by the many positive reviews on Yelp commenting about the wonderful family atmosphere, delicious food and the great music.
Allen Giardinelli, one of Angelo and Sarah's 10 children, is an accomplished jazz guitarist and, along with his mother, often entertained people while they dined while Angelo was busy making the guests feel at ease. He was particularly proud of his large and extended family, whose pictures grace the walls of the popular diner.
On his Facebook page, Angelo posted that his was the third generation of Giardinelli family-owned restaurants, the first two having been in Rome, Italy.
A Celebration of Life for Angelo will be held Tuesday (New Year's Day) at 2 p.m. at the old Langlois Cheese Factory.
A sign on the door of Angelo's advises that they will be closed until further notice.
* * *
Bandon lost a long-time resident, John Procetto, whose wife Geri is the longest serving member of the Bandon City Council. John was 88 and had been in failing health in recent months. He died Sunday evening.
He and Geri had already retired to Bandon to enjoy their twilight years when John suffered a massive stroke in December of 1997, and was given 6 months to live. But with Geri's loving care and support, he lived an additional 21 years. He often accompanied her to city functions and demonstrated how active a person can be while confined to a wheelchair.
Their daughter, Trish, visited from her home in California in mid-December, and wrote a wonderful Facebook tribute to her parents. Another daughter, Dona, died in 1984 when she was a teenager.
* * *
I've known for quite a while that two Bandon men had purchased property along the waterfront in Coos Bay for commercial development.
The project known as Coos Bay Village is located north of the Coos History Museum and has received approval from the planning commission to begin construction.
The applicants are Greg Drobot, president and owner of Face Rock Creamery, and Daniel Graham, vice-president of Face Rock Creamery. Daniel has been spearheading the project on the ground.
The applicants will be installing, at no cost to the city, a new stoplight and intersection at Hemlock Avenue.
A spokesman for the City of Coos Bay said the applicants have "worked very hard to get where they are. Now that they have all of their approvals, it's just going forth and making it happen." Construction will begin this spring with occupancy in the summer of 2020.
A You Tube video touts the project as an exclusive mixed-use waterfront village development, with retail - restaurant, second-floor office with open water views, building pads, flexible lease space and built-to-suit custom buildings.
* * *
Pauline Brown, who with husband John moved from Bandon last summer to be closer to their kids, posted a sign from McKinney, Tex., seen by her son, which made her feel right at home.
Two street signs at an intersection read: Royal Liverpool Drive and Bandon Dunes Drive.
Bandon Dunes was the home of the 2007 Curtis Cup, and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, in Hoylake, England, will be the site of the 2019 Walker Cup.
It's hard to beat advertising like that.
Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn
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