As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
May 25, 2016
The first picture I am sharing this week was probably taken in the '70s, but again I can't seem to find the date. But it is a picture of Jim Perry's portable sawmill, which was set up on the gravel lot across from the blue (now green) Port of Bandon building.
Jim Perry's portable sawmill
Jim is the guy wearing suspenders in the middle of the picture. As you can see the building that now houses Devon's Boutique (on what used to be known as Wall Street) is not yet built. My guess is that Jim was cutting lumber for the Port of Bandon.
The second picture was a familiar scene in the '70s when the commercial fishing industry was thriving, as two fishing vessels, including the Halco, head out to sea. The Halco belonged to Jim Wise, who owned a small seafood business on the waterfront.
Commercial fishing vessels
The third picture was taken at the intersection of Highway 101 and West 11th as a Bandon School District 54 pickup heads onto the highway, across from what is now Banner Bank (but was Lanny Boston's service station when this picture was taken in February of 1975).
Intersection of Highway 101 and West 11th
You can see Ken Dennison's real estate office in the small building now owned by Dave Reed, which is undergoing a facelift. Note Larson's Laundromat and Cleaners, which also served as the Greyhound Bus Depot. At the other end of that building was The Style Shop and Marv's Men's Wear, owned by Marvin and Carol Manes, who later sold to Max and Mary Peabody. It is now Phil and Sue Nelson's video store.
Also note the large logging truck parked along the highway, which made it extremely difficult to pull onto the highway from 11th as there was no traffic light in those days. Also take note of the condition of the school district pickup, which had obviously seen better days ...
Also barely visible through the awning of the service station is Western Bank's symbol in front of the bank, when it was behind The Style Shop.
* * *
I've been hearing a lot lately from ardent beachgoers that Mother Nature has played havoc with beach access at Bullards Beach State Park. In the past, and again this winter, the parking lot at the lighthouse has been temporarily closed by driftwood, but an even larger problem of bank erosion has apparently resulted from severe wave action on the bluff between the restroom cul-de-sac (last big turnout before you get to the lighthouse) and the lighthouse.
For years people have been able to get to the beach from the trail behind the restroom building, or at other turnouts south of there as you head to the lighthouse. But this year, it has been treacherous if not impossible to get to the beach because of the sheer cliffs that have resulted from erosion. One woman told me that it is possible to slide down to the beach or navigate a switch back trail, but it is virtually impossible to climb back up without walking south to the lighthouse.
And since that access has been virtually eliminated for older/elderly people, if they want to get to the beach they need to navigate the logs and debris west of the lighthouse parking lot.
"This is such a wonderful beach, and it is such a shame that it is so hard to get to," said one woman, lamenting what Mother Nature has done to her favorite beach.
Bullards Beach State Park is, of course, one of the premier parks in the state and for those of us who prefer to view the beach from our vehicles, or to walk the trails, it's still a favorite.
But I did tell my friends I would speak up for them . . .
* * *
Last week I mentioned that Ruthann McSurdy-Wong had taken a turn for the worse in her battle with leukemia, but last Tuesday she lost that battle and her death is a real blow to the community of friends who loved her so much.
Her daughters, Frangi and SueLynn, were with her in Portland, where she had been for many months for treatment. Not long after Ruthann was diagnosed, and she had gone to Portland, the home she shared with her long-time partner, Gary Dawson, burned and they lost everything.
I am pretty sure there will be a Celebration of Life for Ruthann, but I have no information at this time.
Frangi works for Jason Tree at Pacific Blues and SueLynn works at Edgewaters Restaurant.
* * *
I reported last week that two members of the Bandon High School Class of 1967 had died within a week of each other: Kathy Ackerman and Brad Jarvis, but I did not know the circumstances.
Now I have learned that both died very suddenly of heart attacks, which hit without warning.
A friend said Kathy had been talking to her 99-year-old mother, Ruth Ackerman Padgett, on the phone, when she mentioned that she was feeling warm. Later when her mother was unable to get in touch with her, a friend went to investigate and found her near a window, which she had either opened or attempted to open.
Brad also died very suddenly of a heart attack. Both were 67 years old.
* * *
I've been reading on Facebook from people who have had Windows 10 installed on their computer, without their permission. A similar thing happened to me this week. I had been away from my computer for several hours when I returned to find a very strange page preparing to install Windows 10, which I did not and do not want. I hit next because I could not get it to go away, and when I did, I had to hit "agree" before it would continue to install the program.
I hit "decline" instead, and it finally went away and began "to restore my previous version of Windows," which I am happy to say I now have back.
It appears they will not give up trying to install Windows 10 on my computer ... whether or not I want it.
* * *
I saw a press release on my computer Sunday morning from the Oregon State Police about a 59-year-old motorcyclist from Coos Bay, Khris M. Sacket, who was killed on Highway 126, west of Walton Saturday afternoon.
I often talk with an older cyclist from Coos Bay (or maybe North Bend) when he rides to Bandon; unfortunately I do not know his name, so I am wondering if it was him.
The article said he lost control on a sweeping right curve, struck a Lexus sedan, was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on the highway. The motorcycle traveled off the roadway where it caught fire.
The driver of the Lexus, Toby Lee Gray, 45, from Florence, received minor injuries and was taken to Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence.
* * *
People have been asking about my good friend and fellow city councilor Brian Vick, who underwent shoulder surgery at RiverBend Hospital in Springfield last Wednesday.
I called him Friday just as he was checking out of the hospital after being picked up by a long-time friend, Gary, who lives in Washington. With Gary driving, Brian came into the Bakery Saturday, looking a bit peaked, and a little thinner, but he seems to be getting along fine. He's just hoping that the surgery will give him the mobility to once again play golf ... and be pain-free.
He'd waited a couple of years (to turn 65 and be eligible for Medicare) before he was able to have the needed surgery. Let's hope it was successful.
* * *
I have never been a big fan of Bernie Sanders, and after the near riot by his supporters in Nevada recently, I am even less enamored with him and his "free for all" socialistic ideas.
According to news reports, his supporters threw a major tantrum because they were angry about the process and outcome of the party's Nevada convention. They rushed the speakers' dais multiple times, drowning out speakers, screaming through bullhorns and shouting obscenities. One of the guest speakers, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said she feared for her safety.
And we thought Donald Trump's supporters were uncivilized??
An editorial in the Register-Guard pretty well summed it up: "If he can't face facts, if he can't control his own followers, or worse yet, encourages this type of behavior, how on Earth can he expect to run a country?"
* * *
Sailor Hutton continued to put Bandon on the proverbial map with her outstanding performance in the 2A State Track and Field Championships, held last week in Eugene.
The Register-Guard had a wonderful picture of Sailor, as she won the 3000-meter race in a time of 10:26.87. She set the record last year as a freshman in the same event.
Unfortunately, she was mentioned in the article four times as "Sutton" instead of Hutton . . .but people I talked to who read the article, apparently did not even notice. I guess that's the old "proofreader/editor" coming out in me.
At any rate, both Bandon boys and girls finished sixth in the state; the girls with 37 points, and the boys with 34 points.
Sailor won both the 3000 and the 1500 (in a new meet record as she broke the record she set the previous year). Toni Hall, a senior, won the high jump by clearing 5-2, and senior Raelyn Freitag, in her first year out for track, was third in the javelin with a toss of 104-1. Their 4x100 relay team (Hutton, Sarah Cutler, Rowan Reimer and Helen Wayne) came in eighth with a time of 4:23.33.
Leading the way for the Tiger boys was Sailor's twin brother, Hunter, who placed fourth in the 1500 and fourth in the 3000, along with eighth in the pole vault, where he cleared 12 feet. Zane Olive was third in the 800; Mitchell Brown was fourth in the 100 and seventh in the 200; while Josh Snyder was third in the 1500 and fifth in the 800.
Sailor and Hunter Hutton's parents are Brent and Tricia Hutton.
If I've missed anyone, I'm sorry, but I scanned the R-G sports page, as well as the World's, for all the info I could find about Bandon. And that's what I came up with ....
* * *
I have now sold three of my four 36x12 pictures of Moore Mill & Lumber Co., from my shop in the Continuum Center in Old Town Bandon, which I share with Davidson Pottery.
I had hoped that my scenic photography would be the "big hit," but it seems that people are more interested in history than they are in "beauty." I have also begun to print 16x20 black and white photos from my extensive collection, and once I figure out how to display them, I will have them for sale there, as well.
* * *
Speaking of "for sale," the house immediately adjacent to me on Harlem has just gone on the market ... after it was completely painted inside and new carpet installed throughout.
It had been the home of Edna Cramer, who died several months ago at the age of 99, and the sale is being handled by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Joe Peter, of Portland through a Portland real estate firm (with an office in Coos Bay).
Unfortunately, the house on the other side of me has been in foreclosure for several years, and the weeds are beginning to overtake the place. Hopefully the bank will soon hire a yard service, as they did last summer, to take care of the place. I guess if it gets too bad I will go over there with my trusty weed eater and knock them down myself.
But first I have to figure out how to rid my place of earwigs ... before they completely destroy my new dahlias.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
May 18, 2016
The first picture I am sharing this week was probably taken in the late '70s, although there was no date on the envelope.
Bandon Beach Motel
The Bandon Beach Motel, owned by Ed and Margaret Gorman, was located on the southwest corner of Beach Loop and Eleventh Street, now a vacant lot owned by Mike Keiser (with nothing more than a rusted motel sign remaining). This was the first motel built, I believe, by the Gormans, before they built the Gorman Motel at Coquille Point, a property also now owned by Keiser. Although the sign says "restaurant," there was never a restaurant on this property, but the sign probably refers to the former restaurant located just west of the motel. That has also been torn down and is part of the group of properties owned by Keiser in that area.
The second picture pretty well tells it all, urging drivers to slow down. This was taken in June of 1975.
Highway 101 and 8th street, 1975
Not sure who owned the hardware store at that time, but it may have been a Western Auto. It is now Bandon Ace Hardware, and the readerboard sign is still there, although it is more likely to contain bible verses than warnings to drivers. You can see the Arco station, which is now a Chevron, and across the street is the "new" city hall, which was built in about 1970.
The third picture, taken in downtown Bandon in 1969, features former Western World owner Warren Strycker, Kronenberg & Waldrop owner and former mayor Eddie Waldrop and Walt Ashton, who was fire chief at that time ... advertising the Fourth of July celebration.
Fourth of July celebration, 1969
This was taken near the alley between what is now Sassy Seagull and Coastal Mist, which at that time was Kronenberg & Waldrop insurance (out of the picture behind photographer), Carver's Furniture, a barber shop (at one time operated by Carl Williams and maybe earlier by Van Spiller) and at the far end of the street, The Arcade Tavern.
* * *
If you happened to be coming into Bandon from the north late Friday afternoon, you may have wondered what happened. I understand the emergency vehicle sirens went off around 3:30 or 4 p.m., but the scene still wasn't cleared by 7 p.m.
I don't know the details, but I do know that a Brookings man, Andrew Hakanson, drove into the ravine at the end of the guardrail just north of Bandon. I don't believe he was seriously hurt, but after the Oregon State Police (with assistance by the Bandon Police Department) cleared the scene, a wrecker from North Bend remained on the scene for several hours, trying to figure out how to get the vehicle out of the ravine.
* * *
Kevin Kent posted on Facebook that his father, long-time resident Paul Kent, died May 12 after a long illness. Paul's wife, Alene, died years ago. I remember coming across some pictures in my collection of Paul when he served as Scoutmaster, probably back in the '70s.
Kevin was a member of the BHS Class of 1976 and is married to the former Therese Reilly, also a BHS graduate.
* * *
I've also learned of the death of Brad Jarvis, a 1967 graduate of Bandon High School, who died last week at the age of 67. He and his wife, Patty, who, I believe, is the mother of Ivan Hultin of Bandon, had lived in Chiloquin for many years.
Many of his friends posted on the "If you Grew Up in Bandon" Facebook page, including his long-time friend Randy Texley. Texley said that he, Brad and Dave Dornath had often hunted together at Silver Lake. "I was proud to wear #65 in football because Brad and Jack Chappell had worn it before me," Randy said, remembering two former Tigers, who are now both gone.
I remember that Brad's parents, Frank and Linda, had a beautiful home overlooking the river/ocean on Ocean Drive/Seventh Street and owned the Pastime Tavern.
I also learned that another member of the Class of 1967, Kathy Ackerman, died May 4 at her home in Hillsboro, where she had lived for many years. She was born Jan. 27, 1949, in Bandon to Homer and Ruth Ackerman. Her sister, Theresa, was in the class behind me and her older brother, Bobby, graduated a few years ahead of me. Kathy spent her last years caring for her mother, Ruth Padgett, who still lives in Hillsboro. She was one of seven children, including Theresa, Larry, Sharon and David, who survive her.
A funeral mass is being held Monday (May 16) at St. Matthews Catholic Cemetery in Hillsboro.
* * *
Went to the Sunday show of MarLo Dance Studio's "Once Upon a Time" at the Sprague Theater. I continue to be blown away by the quality of Maria Merriam's (and helpers) shows, and this had to be one of the best. Over the years I don't think I've ever missed one of her shows, which are almost always sold out as it was this afternoon.
The highlight has to be the very youngest dancers, who absolutely steal the show .. and your heart. But the older dancers dazzle you with their graceful dance moves and peppy tap dancing. And the costumes, as always, were beautiful.
Dedicated to the Bandon Public Library, Once Upon a Time told the story of a young dancer, Elli Schulz, who visits the library after dance class.
One of the alumni parents, Sabra Kachelein, spearheaded the painting of the new backdrop, funded by a grant from the Coos County Cultural Coalition. It was truly a work of art.
Long-time assistant Trish Shropshire also played a major role in making this a first-class production.
The next production scheduled by MarLo Dance is the always-favorite Nutcracker, set for December.
* * *
I still remember the wonderful backdrops painted for years by Ruthann McSurdy-Wong for Bandon Playhouse productions. As most of you know, Ruthann has been in Portland for over a year being treated for leukemia, but apparently she has taken a turn for the worse and her two daughters, Frangi, who works at Pacific Blues, and Sue-Lynn, who works at Edgewaters, went to Portland Friday to be with her.
My thoughts and prayers are with Ruthann and her family.
* * *
VFW Commander George Trott asked me to remind people that there will be a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the VFW Cemetery.
George has been trying for years to revive the annual Memorial Day services that were held in years past, and he promises there will be a rifle shoot and taps, and he's hoping to have speakers, as well.
"I just want young people to realize what Memorial Day really means," George told me. "It's not just another three-day weekend."
* * *
I mentioned last week that Laurie and Barry Osborne have plans for their old liquor store building, which has been vacant since they moved to their spacious new Beverage Barn one block over.
Laurie says they may open a supper club, and bring in guest chefs to prepare the food. It's only in the planning stage at this time, but it sounds exciting.
I have also learned that Jon Hawkins, who recently purchased the McNair Building, is planning to open a brew pub in the building, which will also be the new location for Bandon Vision Center, owned by his wife, Dr. Nicole Rush (Erenfeld).
* * *
It was a bit unsettling to read that Oregon oysters (from Coos and Netarts bays) "contain a cocktail of pharmaceuticals and other potentially harmful chemicals," according to researchers at Portland State University.
Those include pain relievers, antibiotics, antihistamines, PCBs, mercury and pesticides.
Individual concentrations of the chemicals are within safe levels set by the Oregon Health Authority, according to an article in the Statesman Journal.
"However, the health risks of eating seafood that contains a combination of these chemicals are unknown, said the research team, which also includes researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Oregon DEQ."
Doesn't really make me want to order a batch of raw oysters . . . or cooked, for that matter.
* * *
If you have an Epson printer, and are always battling a magenta cast to your pictures, I would love to talk to you. I have two printers, both Epson, including an RX500 and a Workforce 7520. In the past I also owned two others, a 1270 and a 1280 . . . and they all had one thing in common: color photos with a magenta tinge.
No matter how hard I try, and I have spent hundreds of hours and untold ink cartridges trying to rectify the problem, my pictures never look like they did when I took them or what they look like on the computer monitor.
I have great luck with black and white pictures, and since I plan to enlarge some from my extensive collection, it's OK, but occasionally I would like to print a decent color photo. And that's hard . . . .
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
May 11, 2016
I have seen a number of pictures of the flood of 1941, when Ferry Creek overflowed, but I had never read the story ... until I found it in one of the old Western Worlds from my late uncle's house.
The subhead reads: 'Narrow highway bridge and extreme high tide back up swollen stream which invades eastern part of business section."
The Jan. 2, 1941, paper tells the story of the flood, which had actually occurred the last week of 1940. "Rowboats were in evidence on Bandon's main business street last Thursday when flood waters from Ferry Creek, following several days of torrential rains, were held up by the narrow bridge near the creamery at the foot of the hill leading to East Bandon and inundated several blocks of the business district."
It adds that the water completely covered the floors in the Bob-Otto Court, where it also did considerable damage to the service station which is also the Greyhound bus depot. And that is the first picture I am sharing.
1941 flooding
The reason I chose the second picture, taken in the early '60s, was because of the huge presence that Lloyd's had in downtown Bandon. As you can see there are two Lloyd's Cafe signs, one for the section which was formerly Erdman's City Market and the second sign, which was the original and much smaller version of Lloyd's. Next to it was the Pastime Tavern, which is now Bandon Sweets and Treats.
Cranberry festival parade, early '60s
I can identify several of the girls on the float, including Jane Loch, center front, and next to her, on the right, is Mary Lou Burgher. Behind her is Sharon Ward and next to her is Karen Kiefer. I think that Sally Baird is standing in the middle at back. This was, of course, a Cranberry festival parade, probably 1963 or 1964.
The third picture, taken during the Cranberry Food Fair in 1961, features Hazel Colgrove, with her famous Cranberry Catsup, which is still being made and marketed today by her youngest daughter, Paula Colgrove. I know it can be purchased at the Bandon Historical Society museum's gift shop.
Hazel Colgrove, 1961
* * *
Two Bandon people have been arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery, which occurred last Monday at the home of long-time Prosper area resident Phyllis Moody, 81.
According to Phyllis' son, Ron, who works for the city, a young woman came to his mother's door the previous Friday and said she had lost her job as a nurse and needed money because her car had broken down. Phyllis invited her into her home, where she had money hanging off the refrigerator ready to give to her housekeeper. Phyllis gave the woman some money, and she left. But the following Monday morning, around 10 a.m., two people (including the woman who had allegedly come to her home Friday) broke into her home, with Phyllis inside. One of them pushed her out of the way, grabbed the money off the refrigerator and fled, according to Ron.
Police said they arrested Jamie Davenport and Troy Washburn in connection with the incident. They have since been released from jail.
* * *
I always plan to write a letter to the editor endorsing my favorite candidates, but forget that the ballots are mailed several weeks early, and this year I did not get around to it.
Several of my friends have called me for advice on how to vote on some of the contested elections, and here is what I tell them.
For Coos County treasurer, I am a strong supporter of Meghan Simms. I have read several letters to the editor questioning how she could be both finance director and treasurer.
Commissioner Melissa Cribbins answered it this way: "This is really much ado about nothing. She would have a .75 FTE (full-time equivalency) position as finance director, reporting to the Board of Commissioners, and a .25 FTE elected position as treasurer. It would really be two jobs ... and we could fire her as finance director and she would retain her elected position, or she could be recalled as treasurer, and retain her position as finance director. It is cleaner than what some counties have done which is add the treasurer position as a stipend."
I have seen a lot of signs for Coquille Mayor Matt Rowe, who I definitely would not vote for.
For the office of 15th district Circuit Court judge, I support Megan Jacquot, and lean toward Val Hoyle for Secretary of State.
There has been a lot of hoopla surrounding David Brock Smith running for state representative (Coos-Curry), but he is an extremely knowledgeable, hard-working guy, and has the strong support of out-going representative Wayne Krieger. He certainly has my vote.
* * *
It was sad to learn of the death of Junedah (June) Skeie who passed away last week from the complications of cancer. She was surrounded by her husband, Owen, and their five daughters. She and her family (including Cranberry Queen Liza-May) had made many friends in Bandon. June was from Singapore and a friend said she loved to welcome people to her home to eat Malaysian food as she was an excellent cook. Her youngest daughter, Sarah, is a sophomore at Bandon High School.
I remember sharing a table with her several years ago during a special dinner at Edgewaters, and she was such a delight to be around.
* * *
Last week I shared a picture of the Safeway store in Bandon, about which little is known. Later I received a phone call from a man from Port Angeles, Wash., who was a former Safeway employee and has a number of the old Safeway employee magazines.
He says that the Bandon store was in the Marshfield District. "Bandon is not listed in August 1935, but it is in March 1936. So the store was created in that five-month span," according to Fred Westfall.
He then sent me several pages from the November 1936 employee magazine, which contained an article about the store. "We have been having lots of excitement - much of it not very enjoyable - due to forest fires in southwestern Oregon. Bandon, which was becoming well known as a summer resort, was completely burned down. Stores, hospital, telephone office, library, office buildings, Coast Guard station - just about everything was wiped out by fire.
"We have all read about such catastrophes, but unless it comes close to home, we really can't realize how terrible such a thing can be. We certainly extend all of our sympathies to all of the people who were left destitute by the fire.
"The personnel of our Safeway store No. 139, which was at Bandon, were all lucky enough to get away safely, although they lost just about everything."
Safeway was not out of business for long as the December 1936 magazine reports the opening "of our new Safeway store in Bandon. November 6 was the opening date and Jesse H. Aldrich was the beaming new manager."
According to the article, there was also a Safeway store in Powers in 1936.
No one is sure when the Safeway store closed (and I am pretty sure the building then became McNair Hardware), but Westfall said in 1938 the employee magazine changed to a newspaper format and he has not found any information regarding when the Bandon store closed.
* * *
I meant to mention this several weeks ago (and maybe I already did) after reading, on the front page of Western World, about a big stand of Cypress that were being cut in City Park to make way for an amphitheater.
To begin with, they were not Cypress trees; rather Shore pine. But the big misconception was that the city is building an amphitheater.
Again, I want to say that the proposed amphitheater is a berm of dirt with seating hewn out of it in a stair-step fashion.
I do know that a woman called Matt Winkel last week to say that she would not support our ballot measure (to raise base water rates $10 a month for residential and $20 for commercial/industrial) because we were constructing a big building in City Park.
I am not sure if a correction ever appeared in Western World, but if not it should have because the woman probably does not read my column.
* * *
Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate on Saturday, but in spite of it being overcast and cold (at least until 4:30 when the sun came out briefly), the weekend festival/anniversary at Face Rock Creamery was a big success. The sun did shine Sunday, but the wind came along with it.
There were a steady stream of people enjoying the live music, $2 hot dogs, $3 hamburgers, wine tastings and $2 beer, along with several fun events (like the Swimming Pool committee's dunk tank). Well, that would be fun for those doing the dunking ... not the dunkee!!
I am routinely asked if I want to be in the dunk tank, but considering that I swim only side stroke (which means never putting my face in the water), that is not something I would relish.
I have pledged $1,000 to the swimming pool because I definitely support their efforts . . . but they will have to do without me in the dunk tank.
* * *
The council approved two liquor license applications at our May meeting including one for 2 Dogs Barking, LLC (Cornelia Mathis and Cody Carney), who plan to open a new restaurant/lounge, Speakeasy 33, in the former Kiwanis Thrift Shop building (now owned by Leo Lewandowski) just east of Face Rock Creamery at 323 Grand Avenue.
It's not just the name of their business which is intriguing, but also the fact that they have now painted the outside of the building a deep gray/black, which really gets your attention.
They plan to be open five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday) from noon until midnight, and be closed Monday and Tuesday, with restaurant seating for 30 and lounge seating for 10.
The other liquor license application came from Dennis and Nora Thomason of Cork Masters, LLC, who plan to host wine events and tastings at their home ... by appointment. Dennis has been in the wine business for more than 25 years as manager of Tiffany Drug in Bandon and later operating Bandon Fine Wines.
I have also heard that Laurie and Barry Osborne plan to open a restaurant in the old liquor store building, across from Fred Gernandt's building, but that is about all I know. Knowing them, whatever they decide to do will be top-notch. They are premiere business people . . .
I've also heard a lot of positive things about Broken Anchor Bar and Grill, which opened last weekend to big crowds.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
May 04, 2016
Maybe it's because I have recently found a number of "new" old photos, or maybe it's because I don't have as much to talk about this week, but I've decided to use four photos with my column.
The first picture I am sharing is the M&L Grocery, owned by Fred Moore and Carl Lorenz, which is where we shopped when I was growing up.
M&L Grocery
I remember that Hugh McNeil (who is now in a rest home in Myrtle Point) was the popular butcher, who had his shop in the back of the store. This was located right next to The Minute Cafe, where the cafe's parking lot is now. I am not sure when this picture was taken, but it was probably some time in the '40s or '50s as you can see the sidewalks are still wood, rather than concrete.
I don't remember Safeway being in Bandon, but I know this picture was taken after the Fire as I was looking through 1941 issues of the Western World this week and saw their ad.
Safeway
This later became the old McNair Hardware building across Delaware Avenue from Noah Davison's Bandon Market, which you can see at right. The new McNair Building, which houses Black Horse Boutique and a pizza parlor, now sits on the spot, and Davison's Bandon Market burned back in the '70s and is now a parking lot. I understand that the McNair Building has been purchased by school board member Jon Hawkins and his wife, Dr. Nicole Rush OD.
I looked at Safeway's ad in the July 3, 1941, issue of the paper and saw that they were selling 46 oz. grapefruit juice for 15 cents, luncheon meats for 29 cents a pound, spring fryers at 3 for $1, and blade cut beef roast at 21 cents a pound. They also announced that they would be closed on Friday, the Fourth of July.
Not sure why they eventually decided to leave town, but it would be nice to have a Safeway store in Bandon.
I showed a bit of the Bandon Seafood Market last week, but here is a much better, and probably older, photo judging from the car sitting in front of the store.
Bandon Seafood Market
This was owned by George and Nella Dow when I was growing up and signs on the windows indicate they are selling fish, crabs and clams, rabbits and fryers, and offer ice and cold storage services ... which I do remember. This is about where the former Port of Bandon office, and now The Loft restaurant, sits.
The fourth picture was taken before the Fire of 1936. At the time this picture was taken, probably the early to mid '30s, the First National Bank building housed an attorney, someone named W. E. Baskerville (although I can find no other information about him), C&C Cedar Co., the bank and the Western World.
First National Bank
A sign on the center door reads "telephone and telegraph." The reason I know this was taken before the Fire is because in the window of Western World I can see the reflection of the Hotel Bandon, which was across the street on the east side of Alabama ... where M&L Grocery was built after the Fire. The masonry bank building survived the Fire; most of the others in that area, including Hotel Bandon, were destroyed. Today it houses the Cobbler's Bench and Spirit of Oregon, with the Masonic Lodge upstairs. This building was recently named to the Historic Register.
I have found a number of historic things among the belongings of my late uncle, Lou Felsheim, including bound volumes of all the papers for the years 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1952. At night I am poring over the old papers and have been learning so much about Bandon's history, As soon as I am through I will be turning them over to the Bandon Historical Society museum, although they are very fragile and I am not sure what we will do with them.
One of my biggest "finds" was a two-page spread when my father, Bill Dufort, opened a new Gilmore Service Station and Western Auto dealership in 1940. I knew he had owned a service station in Grants Pass before I was born, but I was not aware that he had owned a business in Bandon. The two-page spread included a picture of my father with the mayor K.I. Franklin, although my grandfather got the caption mixed up, and mis-identified the two ... but I certainly knew the difference.
* * *
My grandfather, L. D. Felsheim, who owned the paper at the time of the Bandon Fire in September 1936 (as well as when the first fire hit Bandon in 1914), was the eternal optimist. Two slogans above the masthead a few months after the Fire read: "Build Bandon Bigger and Better" and "Keep Up That Fighting Spirit."
But the 72-point headline told a different story: "WPA can't help workers; only those on relief to be housed."
As winter approached, and many people were without housing, town fathers had hoped the WPA (federal Works Progress Administration) was going to build as much housing as possible for those in need.
But no, it turned out that "only those indigents, who had no work and no prospects of obtaining any, could expect to receive shelter from the WPA."
And it was clear from the front-page articles (and a front-page editorial) that the my grandfather was not happy about that.
Fortunately, the mill survived the fire as did other industrial businesses on the waterfront, so people still had jobs even if they had nowhere to live.
He closes by saying: "Our indigents will be housed. Our workers, the backbone of our community ... the men, women and children in whose welfare rests the very future of Bandon ... will be suffering in tents or moving to other communities where there are houses for the renting.
"The one ray of hope for those with jobs but no money is the possibility of securing the cooperation of their employers or some other person or organization in financing the building for them (of) shacks to live in for the winter.
"The Red Cross will assist those with some means, but who haven't sufficient to meet their needs in the way of a temporary abode."
Although certainly not as dire, this brings to mind the rental housing shortage in Bandon today ... 80 years after the Fire.
As locals, caddies and people who just want to live in Bandon battle for the very limited supply of rental housing, prices soar, which eliminates even more people from being able to live here.
I know the hospital district was seeking a rental for a new doctor, and when a house was found, they were advised by the property manager that there were 60 applications for the same house.
Most people do not want to be in the rental business, and for good reason (I speak from experience with my Powers property), but people need decent housing at an affordable price. And a lot of people simply cannot afford to buy a house, let alone put down first and last month's rent, which in many cases is now exceeding $1,000 a month.
The sad thing is there are a number of bank foreclosed properties around town that could serve as much-needed rentals, but most banks do not wish to be in the rental business ... so they just sit empty and deteriorate.
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Bandon turned out in high style to welcome the National VFW Auxiliary president Francisca Guilford, who arrived in Bandon Friday afternoon with a police escort and followed by a number of VFW officials from across the state.
Madeline Seymour, Bandon VFW Auxiliary president, was in charge of her visit, and she did a fabulous job. Guilford arrived at the Face Rock Creamery shortly after 2:30, where she was greeted by city and chamber officials.
That night, I was honored to sit at the head table with the President, Madeline and three other state officials for a dinner at the VFW Hall, attended by nearly 100 people. I read a proclamation from the mayor proclaiming April 28 as "Our Veterans - Now and Forever" Day in honor of National President Francisca Guilford and all members of the VFW Auxiliary for their outstanding volunteer service to veterans and their families, the City of Bandon, and our great country."
She gave a stirring speech, which brought everyone to their feet. She left Bandon the next morning at 5 a.m. as she continued on her visitation across the Pacific Northwest before she headed home to Alaska.
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Just a note, in last week's column I mentioned that TJ Vedder, who died recently, was the son of Rusty Vedder. I later learned that Rusty was his uncle; his father was Jerry Vedder.
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In observance of their third anniversary, Face Rock Creamery is sponsoring a Face Rock Festival this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and 8, and they have plenty of activities planned both days from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Local brewers 7-Devils, Arch Rock Brewing and Hop Valley will be serving $2 pints alongside $3 burgers, $2 hot dogs, Panini, fried curds and ice cream. There will also be wine tasting from 6 Northwest wineries, Mother's Day massages, chocolate tasting, food demos and live music from the BHS Jazz Band and "Done Deal."
Let's hope the weather cooperates like it did this weekend. I am not sure what the official temperature was on Sunday, but I am sure it was in the mid to high '80s, depending on where you were. It was downright hot.
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Among my uncle's possessions I found a scrapbook with clippings of my early days in the newspaper business. I knew that I had been a real "newshound," but did not realize just how aggressive I was even at the tender age of 20 until I read a front-page article, headlined "Hospital Directors-Elect Accept Oaths; New Administrator Sought."
While reading along, I thought, "well, this is a pretty boring story." That is until I got to the subhead which read: "Spectators dismissed."
"After the routine business had been taken care of, White (board chair Pastor Paul) announced that the meeting was adjourned, without a motion or a second being made to this effect, and requested that the public leave.
"As the Western World reporter (that would be me) made no attempt to leave, White further requested that she please leave as confidential business was going to be discussed.
"When asked by the reporter what right White had in asking her to leave, he told her that the board was going to consider four applicants for the job of hospital administrator and that these files were highly confidential.
"At this time Director (Carl) Lorenz stated that he had never seen an instance when a taxpayer had been asked to leave any school board meeting where teachers were being considered for hiring.
"It was also pointed out to White at this time that he had no legal right to ask any taxpayer to leave a meeting as board members were elected by the taxpayers to represent them and that the hospital was a tax-supported institution.
"After a lengthy discussion between White and the reporter concerning his request for her to leave, she left the meeting as he made it quite clear that further business would not be carried out in her presence."
Today, that could not have occurred as it would not have mattered whether I was a taxpayer or not, a reporter is allowed to sit in on executive sessions. My guess is that the Open Meetings Law, which governs issues like that, had not come into effect as certainly it was not mentioned as a justification for allowing me to stay.
At any rate, soon after I turned 21, I ran for one of three seats on the hospital board and out of 6 candidates (most of them way older than I) I polled the second highest number of votes and ended up serving as secretary of the hospital district until I married and moved to Coquille where my husband served as an Oregon State Police officer.
It took a very old and weathered newspaper clipping to remind me of my start in the newspaper business, which spanned 55 years.
Not sure if I pasted those old clippings into the scrapbook . . . or if my proud grandmother did, but it wasn't long before that ritual ended . . . and I just kept on writing for another five decades.
Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn