As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 27, 2021
If ever a community felt like it was cursed, it would have to be Bandon and its history of fires, dating back to the first Bandon Fire which destroyed a large part of the business community in 1914 (first picture).
Bandon fire 1914
As I was reading through the 1916 issues of Western World I came across a large ad from the Bandon Garage, selling Pyrene fire extinguishers. It read: "A fire extinguisher saved Bandon from a second big fire. Recently when a fire started in a room at the Hotel Gallier (building at the far left) on a windy afternoon, a patent fire extinguisher which had been kept handy was all that saved the building and no doubt a large portion of the city. That little apparatus was worth a lot of money, altho it cost but a few dollars.
"Why not profit by this experience, especially during the dry season when the fire danger in Bandon is so great. Keep handy a Pyrene Fire Extinguisher.
"A handy little device which is a life and property saver in time of distress. Just the thing for Homes, Offices, Hotels, Restaurants, Sawmills, Steamboats, Automobile, in fact everywhere."
The ad pointed out that the price of Pyrene was $7, with an additional 50 cents for an automobile attachment.
A little more than a month later, the front page article told of two more homes being consumed by flames. In those days, where many homes were heated by wood stoves, and fire protection was practically non-existent, it was an all too common occurrence.
The article added: "The numerous fires occurring of late is causing considerable discussion as to the possibility of organizing a volunteer department and providing an adequate alarm. The present alarm is of no value except within a small radius in the business district. It is feared that unless the fires are checked, insurance companies may withdraw from this field altogether."
Things are markedly different today as the city of Bandon contracts with the Bandon Rural Fire Protection District for fire protection, with well-trained volunteers and premium equipment available at all times.
The second picture I am sharing is just one feature of what was then the beautiful Natureland Motel, located several miles south of Bandon on Beach Loop Road, that survived the Fire of 1936.
Natureland
Although the area behind the cottages, home and the windmill, all built by John Dornath and his sons, had clearly burned, the family was able to save their resort.
In June of 1939, less than three years after the fire, John Dornath was appealing to state and local officials to remove the fire hazards that remained in the vicinity of his complex.
An article in the Western World explained that Dornath "has been in communication with the Oregon State Board of Forestry, but so far reported that he has had no action and he is wondering what, if anything, can be done about it.
"Mr. Dornath states that all of the vacant land around his place is covered with burnt trees, tall firewood, Irish furze and other inflammable material that later in the summer will be a constant threat to the safety of his property holdings. He cleared away all the dead trees and brush from his own property, and is asking that something be done to get the other land cleared. If nothing is done, he declares that another disastrous fire may result with probably even greater loss of life and property."
The article goes on to explain that the state forester had asked Keith Young of the Coos Fire Patrol to examine the fire hazard.
"Considerable interest is being shown in Mr. Dornath's endeavor to have the hazards removed as many similar situations exist and if anything can be done to bring about a remedy, there will be a lot of other people ready to join," said the article.
The third picture of a large waterwheel appeared in the March 12, 1948, Western World, the size of which was evidenced by the fact that a man is standing to the left looking up at it.
Waterwheel, 1948
"A reminder of early-day lumber manufacturing activities in the Bandon area is this huge waterwheel on the ranch of Charles and Mollie Fahy, a few miles north of Bandon on the Seven Devils road. The size of the wheel may be judged from a comparison with the height of Emil Peterson, researcher for the Coos-Curry Pioneer and Historical Association, who posed for the picture. The wheel, idle the past 20 years, was part of the original Fundy, Stacy and Wasson mill that started operations in 1853. The wheel was rebuilt in 1866 and 1891, according to all available records. It provided power for the mill saws, turned by the small stream that runs from the Fahy lake, about three-fourths of a mile distant. Edmund Fahy acquired the mill in 1858 and it has been in the Fahy family ever since."
I am not sure who owns the property now, but it may be part of the Bandon Dunes Golf resort.
* * *
I've been seeing quite a few articles lately about the drought, and how illegal marijuana grows are taking much-needed water, especially in Southern Oregon counties like Douglas, Jackson and Josephine. But it's not just water that is being impacted; it's also electricity.
I still recall an article explaining the demand that marijuana grows were having on electric utilities, which really began to surface when recreational marijuana became legal in Oregon in July of 2015.
For example, Pacific Power compared a small indoor grow operation to "hooking up 28 refrigerators that run 24/7."
While looking through my files, I discovered an email from former city manager Chris Good, written in November of 2015, who replied to an article I had forwarded him about the problem.
He said "We do have a least two grow operations within our service territory. As a matter of fact, we had a power outage Monday off 101. We had to replace three transformers, and we'll charge the grower for the upgrade. And this isn't the first time it's happened. So far, it's not been confrontational. Of course, I hope it stays that way," said Good.
* * *
I promised you I would print Barbara Dodrill's new address as soon as her daughter, Nona Scott, sent it to me. Here it is: Barbara Dodrill, 1005 NE 17th Ave., Apt. 209, Hillsboro, Ore., 97124.
Barbara is already missing her friends in Bandon, and I know she would love to hear from you.
* * *
Pat Kerker has announced new winter hours for 101 Plants and Things, which will be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
* * *
I hadn't read much about the recent accident of the boat that capsized outside Umpqua River Bar at Winchester Bay, which took the life of the mother and daughter of a Rogue Valley woman, Kristin Zippi. Five people were aboard the vessel when it capsized, with three of them thrown into the water and rescued by the Coast Guard. The other two, a woman and her five-year-old granddaughter, were trapped in the cabin.
Over the past year and a half, Zippi also lost her sister and later her home in the Almeda Fire.
* * *
People keep asking what has happened to the lighted crosswalk on Ninth Street; the council and city manager have been asking the Oregon Department of Transportation the same thing.
Early in October, both City Manager Dan Chandler and I heard from the state, indicating that they were still having difficulties finalizing the right of way needs for the intersection improvements.
"With that said, we do feel like we are getting close to resolving the 9th Street ROW issue and it should be resolved within the month. I know this has not been ideal as I know the 9th street crossing improvements are needed and we all have been working towards getting these improvements put in place for some time," said Chris Hunter, southwest area manager for region 3 of ODOT.
* * *
Jessie G, country rock singer and songwriter, sang that National Anthem at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday before the Green Bay Packers/Washington football game.
Jessie is the daughter of Bandon High School graduate Peggy Hunt Goergen and her husband, Bill, who have lived in Brookings, where Jessie grew up, for many years.
An Internet search said Jessie G is worth an estimated $30 million. A definite success story for a beautiful and talented young woman who grew up helping her commercial fisherman father in his business.
* * *
If you haven't already gotten your flu shot, don't forget that Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center will be offering its free flu shot drive-through clinic on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bandon City Park.
* * *
If you've never seen the blockbuster movie ET, or even if you have, you might want to come to movie night at the Sprague Theater in City Park Saturday night (Oct. 30) at 6 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 11 to 18, and free under 10 if accompanied by an adult. Theater manager Jeff Norris says the concession stand will be open. The theater has posted signs about the governor's mask mandate.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 20, 2021
While reading my grandfather's editorial in the July 20, 1916, Western World titled "We Need A Bath House," I thought of one of the pictures in my collection, featuring a group of people frolicking on the beach in front of Face Rock (better known as Sphinx Rock in those days). The picture is not dated, but judging from the attire, I would say it was probably in the 1920s or maybe earlier.
It seems that Victor Murdock, a national political figure, was in Bandon the previous week for the six-day Chautauqua , and while here he took off his shoes, rolled up his pant-legs and with other prominent Chautauqua folks went wading in the surf.
" 'This is simply great,' he said. 'If they only had a place here where one could get a bathing suit and change clothing, how we would love to fight those wonderful breakers.' And in the evening from the lecture platform, he told the people that with the exception of the Jersey coast in France, Bandon had the most beautiful beach he had sever seen. The Jersey coast is similar to this one in scenery, he said, but it is not superior.
"We, who live here, little appreciate what a wonderful resource the local beach really is. The time is rapidly approaching when people from all parts of the interior will come here to spend their summer vacations. We should begin to prepare for them, and the first prerequisite is a bath house -- a place where pleasure seekers can rent suits and change their clothing. Such a place would encourage local people to take advantage of the surf and Bandon would soon gain popularity and become one of the favored summer playgrounds of the Pacific."
The six-day Chautauqua featured speakers from many parts of the country, and was underwritten by a number of Bandon businessmen. The following year, they hoped to make it self-supporting by selling at least 500 tickets.
The editor added: "Chautauqua week made us forget our troubles for a little while, and it was worth the price if for that alone."
A Chautauqua is described as "an institution that provided popular adult education courses and entertainment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries."
I am using the second picture, taken in May of 1939 by the Corps of Engineers, to illustrate an article in the Feb. 9, 1939, Western World about a new plan for the lighthouse, which can be seen in the lower third of the picture. Note the wooden walkway north of the lighthouse which leads to the lighthouse keeper's residence.
If you are viewing this on a computer screen, you can blow it up and find lots of landmarks, including the old high school on the hill in East Bandon, just above the north end of the old truck shop.
If you are viewing the print version, it will be harder to see, although you can find Moore Mill in the background with smoke billowing up from the wigwam burner.
Earlier believing that the lighthouse on the north bank of the Coquille River was to be discontinued, the city council adopted a resolution opposing such a move.
Instead Mayor K.I. Franklin received a letter from the superintendent of Lighthouses assuring them the contemplated change would actually be an improvement.
"So far as this office is aware, there is no intent to abandon the lighthouse at Coquille River. There is an approved project covering the installation of a light of increased candlepower and an improved fog signal at the end of the south breakwater designed to improve the aids to navigation at the entrance of the Coquille River. When this new aid goes into operation, the present lighthouse will be changed to an electric light and the fog signal at that location will be discontinued. The services of the two lighthouse keepers will be retained in their present quarters on the north side of the river. A larger and more adequate boat will be provided and the keepers will be placed in charge of the ranges and minor lights in Coquille River," said the official.
Eight months later, a front page article is headlined: "Lighthouse buildings are abandoned." These are the buildings you see behind the lighthouse in the third photo, although from a different perspective than in the second photo.
The lighthouse property had been transferred from the U.S. Lighthouse Department to the Coast Guard Department. It meant the elimination "of one of the oldest landmarks on the local landscape--the lighthouse keeper's residence on the north sandspit."
An appraiser was to be coming to Bandon to determine the value of the residence and outbuildings that were to be disposed of. "The old lighthouse tower will likely be left as a landmark, at least for the time, but the equipment will be taken out and neither light nor horn will be operated, said the spokesman."
It was to be replaced by the new light on the south jetty.
* * *
Although I don't have a photo to go along with this story, I found some interesting history about Port Orford in the June 8, 1939, Western World in an obituary for Kate Unican Leneve.
She was the last of the Unican family, who had lived in or near Port Orford since 1851. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Unican, originally from Ireland, arrived in Port Orford in the first party to be brought by Capt. Tichenor in the summer of that year, with a company of soldiers, following the Indian attack on the nine men at Battle Rock which had temporarily prevented settlement.
"The Unicans settled on a homestead three miles north of Port Orford, on the high ground south of Elk River. There Kate Unican was born March 16, 1864.
"One of her early memories was a harrowing incident of her childhood occurring when the great forest fire of 1868 swept a roaring avalanche of flame over the Coast range and to the ocean, devastating a wide region in southwestern Oregon.
"Only the resourcefulness of hardy, pioneer parents saved the family from death in the flames, surrounded as they were on all sides by burning forests. The children, Kate and her small brother John, were lowered into the well, securely tied to the big bucket which was operated with a windlass. The parents sought a swampy place and dug into the mud and thus saved their lives. When the fire had passed on the second day, they hurried to the well and were rejoiced to find their children also alive and safe. All that day, with their children, sustained only by a few blackened apples found in the little orchard, the Unicans reached Port Orford to find there only three buildings unburned."
She was later married to Dwyer Leneve, who opened the first drug store in Port Orford.
* * *
I saw an article in the World recently that said the Biden administration has announced plans for seven offshore wind farms, one of which is expected to be off the Oregon Coast.
The article explained that on June 23 in a presentation to the Curry County Board of Commissioners, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management outlined their process in identifying locations for the truly massive wind turbines, the largest of which would be taller than the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument at more than 850 feet.
The article said, "A trove of documents ... show that the site possibilities extend the full length of the Oregon coastline -- although the South Coast is more likely, because winds blow stronger there."
* * *
I saw a very troubling article in The Oregonian (and later Sunday in the Register-Guard) about a crowd of around 100 people in downtown Portland last week, who went on a rampage, smashing storefront windows, lighting dumpsters on fire and generally causing over half a million dollars in damage .... and the Portland police did nothing to stop them.
Portland Police Bureau officials say the reason they allowed it to happen is because of legislation passed earlier this year by the Oregon legislature, which restricted the use of things like pepper spray and rubber bullets for crowd control.
The article explained that the exception would be if the circumstances constitute a riot and if the officer using the chemical reasonably believes its use is necessary to stop and prevent more destructive behavior.
Talk about a city without law! I guess 100 people doing over $500,000 worth of damage doesn't rise to the point where police will intervene. Makes you wonder what that threshold would be?
Police said 35 separate locations were targeted, including banks, retail stores, coffee shops and government buildings!
I can only imagine how the business community feels ....
* * *
Did you know that Bandon has lost over 100 trees in City Park in just seven years ? That's the question asked by Christine Hall, chair of the city's parks and recreation commission and a member of Friends of Bandon Parks.
People are urged to come to City Park on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. to spend a couple of hours planting trees to replace those lost to storms and aging. They will gather at the City Park gazebo.
* * *
I was sorry to learn that Earl Stephens, a member of the BHS Class of 1962, died last week at the age of 78. Earl and his wife, Kathy, had recently moved back to Bandon to be nearer family. Among Earl's survivors are his brother Harry Stephens and his sister Debbie Storm.
* * *
For those of you who have been wondering when the Bandon Public Library will once again be open to the public to browse the shelves, the answer is now. They announced that the library will be open on Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* * *
I learned recently that longtime Bandon resident and community volunteer Barbara Dodrill, 94, is moving to assisted living in Hillsboro to be near her daughter, Nona Scott. Barbara and her late husband, Don, moved to Bandon in 1948. Don worked for the City of Bandon for many years and Barbara taught business and accounting at SWOCC.
As soon as I have it, I will let people know her new address.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 13, 2021
I thought about the empty shelves and shortage of product that we have experienced during Covid as I read an article in the June 8, 1916, Western World about the effects that Bandon was feeling because of the longshoremen's strike.
It not only impacted the merchants, whose products were waiting on the dock in San Francisco, but because there was no way to ship their product, both Moore Mill and the Prosper mill were forced to shut down.
"The longshoremen's strike which has been on for a week has already had a marked effect on business conditions along the coast, and unless it is settled in a short time will prove disastrous to coast cities.
"It's affect was brought home to Bandon and community quite forcibly this week, when both the Prosper and Moore mills shut down on account of lack of wharfage on which to store the lumber.
"The steamer Elizabeth (first picture) has been tied up at San Francisco and it is not known how soon she will return.
Steamer Elizabeth
The Brooklyn arrived Monday and was loaded by the mill hands at Prosper. Several yardmen who refused to assist in the loading, it is rumored, have severed their connection with the company. The Acme arrived in port today, but it is probable that it will not be loaded, unless done by the mill hands at the Moore plant.
"Nearly every local merchant who buys goods in California is becoming anxious over the situation as many have freight at the dock in San Francisco waiting shipment and others are running low on stock and are wondering what they will do if the Elizabeth does not return soon. It may also affect the local perishable fruit and other food supply as much of it is shipped in from the south."
The shutdown of Moore Mill came at a particularly bad time as the mill had been open only a couple of months after having been closed for two years because of a downturn in the lumber market and the aftermath of the June 1914 fire, better known as the first Bandon Fire, which burned much of Bandon's business district.
Back to the present day. The City Council has talked a lot lately about speeding on Highway 101 through town, with the hope that our local police will issue more tickets ... or do what they can to slow people down.
But over a hundred years ago, in June of 1916, the Port of Bandon Commissioners received a request of a different nature. Property owners along the Coquille River wanted the Port to regulate the speed of river steamers (second photo).
Steamer Dispatch, Coquille River
Meeting in regular session in Coquille, the commissioners discussed the petition received from the property owners.
"The petition was in the nature of a request from the property owners for the Port to regulate the speed of river crafts,. They claim excessive speed of boats cause the waters to wash heavily along the river banks, thus eating away the earth rapidly and also filling up the channel more rapidly," said an article in the Western World.
"The port desires to take action on the matter of speed regulation and in order to obtain the views of all concerned has issued notice of a special meeting of the Commissioners, property owners and river boat men," read the article.
The Port Commissioners, who included Col. R. H. Rosa, T.P. Hanly, E.E. Johnson, J.E. Norton and Assistant Secretary C.M. Spencer, set the meeting for Coquille City Hall on the 17th day of June, 1916, at 10 o'clock a.m."
In the next week's paper, there was another article about a petition. But this one came from the Panter family, who owned Myrtle Point Transportation, asking that no action be taken.
In the 1880s, the Panter family formed the company with William Russell Panter as president. After the turn of the century the Panters enlarged their fleet of boats which plied the Coquille River by adding the Venus, Liberty, Antelope, Coquille, Myrtle, Echo, Telegraph and the Dora, all steam sternwheelers. The Telegraph was placed in service in May of 1914.
The Port commissioners said they would find out just what rights the port had to enact a speed limit, and act accordingly.
Now for a bit of history about the third photo.
Several weeks ago I ran a picture of the Yockey Electric building on Fillmore Avenue, which is now owned by Reese Electric.
A front-page article in the Aug. 24, 1972, Western World announces the sale of the business.
"The Yockey Electric Co., owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Yockey, has been sold to their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin C Borgard, who with their two sons, David and Douglas, have moved into her parents' house behind the store.
"Borgard (at right) has been employed by the Marshfield Electric Co. and for the past several months has been a foreman for the H.L. Morris, Inc. Co., an electrical contracting company, and has been working on the Otter Crest Condominium at Newport.
"Mr. and Mrs. Yockey have moved to their lovely new home which they have been building for the past two years on Chandler Road. However, Yockey is not exactly retired as he is now employed by his son-in-law in the business that he has operated for the past 21 years."
* * *
I saw some interesting information on KEZI news the other night, which showed the percentage of vaccinated employees at each school district in Coos County. A couple of the figures were broken down into two categories: teachers and staff. But for most, it was just a percentage of employees.
The figures showed that 76 percent of the Bandon teachers were vaccinated, compared to 53 percent in Coquille, 88 percent in Myrtle Point and 90 percent in Coos Bay. I can't verify these statistics because I am not sure where they came from.
But I did go on the Oregon Health Authority website after seeing an article in The World indicating that Southern Coos Hospital had 7 Covid cases, and it appeared from the article that those were current cases. Since I had not heard that, and I am on the hospital board, I searched for answers. With help from Amy Moss Strong, who guided me to the website, I was able to see statistics for care centers, schools, and places of employment, and the date of the information.
It showed that Southern Coos Hospital's cases were in August, while Coquille Valley Hospital had six cases in September. The biggest shock was learning that in early August, Pacific View reported 35 cases and eight deaths, primarily, I understand, in the Alzheimer's wing.
There were a lot of cases in Coos County schools, particularly in the Coquille district, but only two were noted in the Bandon district. The information showed that on Sept. 10, one staff member had Covid at the high school, and on Sept. 14, one student was reported to have tested positive at Ocean Crest Elementary School. Compared to other schools in the county, those were very low numbers.
* * *
I was sorry to learn that Jeff Kerker died recently at the age of 74. He and his wife Pat owned and operated 101 Plants and Things for many years, with Jeff always being the smiling face behind the cash register. I did not know that he was ill although I do remember that the last time I was out there, a few weeks ago, someone else was behind the counter.
* * *
I know that this is something that a lot of locals don't want to hear, but I've learned that again this year, there will be no community holiday meals, on either Thanksgiving or Christmas. I know it was a hard decision, but with the number of Covid cases that continue to surge through Coos County, it was probably the right decision. We can only hope that by this time next year, we will have returned to some kind of normal.
But we said that last year, didn't we?
The best way to make this happen is for everyone to get vaccinated.
* * *
It's been a couple of weeks now, but I forgot to mention the fact that two people in a black four-door hatchback reportedly shot a motorcyclist in the leg while the two were headed south in the Langlois area. A camera recorded a picture of the vehicle, but I don't think the license plate was visible. Oregon State Police said the vehicle was possibly a Volkswagen, and the man and the woman were in their 20s or 30s. The male was described as tall and thin, with short dark hair and a dark complexion. The female is described as white with short hair with pink or purple highlights.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police at 1-800-442-2068.
* * *
If you saw a large group of people standing on the Fillmore bridge at the mouth of Ferry Creek, looking over the edge, you probably wondered what was going on.
Coquille Indian Tribe employees and community volunteers used a wide net to corral adult Chinook salmon for delivery to the Bandon State Fish Hatchery.
Helena Linnell, the tribe's biologist, explained their efforts at securing brood stock is very important to making sure that the fishery continues into the future.
The volunteers included local port officials and members of the Oregon Anglers Alliance. The truck and holding tank used to transport the fish to the hatchery was provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A comprehensive article about the efforts appeared in The World on Tuesday.
As part of a letter writing campaign urging the Governor to increase the efforts of ODFW in addressing the salmon fishery, I wrote a letter on behalf of the City of Bandon.
On Oct. 6, the Governor announced that she was asking the federal government for direct relief for the struggling salmon industry, both commercial and recreational, pointing out the negative impact the downturn in the fishery was having on the region, particularly on small communities and local Indian Tribes.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 06, 2021
"City Will Prosecute Ordinance Violators" was the headline in the Feb. 24, 1916, Western World. The subhead read: "City Attorney and Marshal find people are slow about removing obstructions." What were they talking about?
Although I am not sure that the first picture I am sharing was taken that same year, it clearly demonstrates the kind of things that the city wanted removed, as you can see piles of lumber and debris on the sidewalks and in the street.
Obstructions in the street
"Obstructions in the streets of the city must be removed or those responsible may have to face the municipal judge one of these fine mornings and tell the reason why," read the article.
"At the last council meeting the matter was brought to the attention of that body through petitions from citizens, and the council passed a resolution directing the city attorney and city marshal to give all offenders due notice and then if they failed to do anything, to enforce the ordinance governing placing obstructions in the streets or on the sidewalks. Several have taken the hint and have complied with the law, but there are a number who have paid but little attention to the edict."
The notice to citizens, signed by City Attorney G.T. Treadgold, required him to enforce the ordinance against obstructing streets, adding that "all persons maintaining street signs, wagons, merchandise, wood or other obstructions in any of the streets of the City after March 1 will be prosecuted for such offense."
Eight months later, in one of the most sensational murder cases of the century, City Attorney Graydon Treadgold was gunned down by a disgruntled Bandon saloon owner as he left the courthouse in Coquille. Already one of Bandon's leading citizens, he was 31 years old.
I am not sure when the second photo was taken, but it represents the hardships that travelers experienced coming over Camas Mountain, between Roseburg and Myrtle Point, during the winter in the horse and buggy days.
Travelers on Camas Mountain
In 1916, the stage from Roseburg was using a six horse team and sending two men with each wagon. An item in the Jan. 27, 1916, Western World explained that mail service had been paralyzed for weeks.
"Mail service between Coos County and the outside world during the past two weeks has been extremely bad. On account of the snow and slides along the Roseburg-Myrtle Point road, only a portion of the mail, mainly letters, has come in via that route. The balance was held at Portland for shipment on the Kilburn. It is estimated that several carloads had been stacked up on the docks there before the boat sailed. The Kilburn was due into Coos Bay today and Friday Bandon should receive an extraordinary consignment of postal matter.
"City Recorder Kauarud had been greatly concerned over the whereabouts of the $80,000 bonds which were sent by registered mail from Portland on Saturday, Jan. 14. The bonding house had kept the wires hot wanting to know why the local city officials didn't sign the bonds and return them, which was to have been done at once. The fact is the bonds were lying on the Portland docks awaiting the Kilburn. They were located there through a tracer sent out from the Portland office."
In a separate article, as the trek by stage over the Camas Mountain was described, it was pointed out that the company had removed the coverings from the wagons and was running as lightly loaded as possible, handling only the mail.
"They would take a passenger out, but he would have to accept the curtailed accommodations as well as run chances of walking a good share of the way. Passenger traffic had almost stopped, only one or two persons having gone out that way of late, and incoming passengers are coming to Coos County either by boat or the railroad and stage line via Florence."
The third picture features the Bandon Centennial Court, who appeared on the front page of Western World in April of 1959.
Bandon Centennial Court, 1959
Queen Joan DeCosta (Mrs. Pete) Goodbrod pins a Centennial button on the lapel of Bill Cook, an electric company executive. Princesses from left are Mrs. John Wright, Mrs. Ken Hickam, Mrs. Dean Wooley, and at right, Mrs. Melvin (Nadine) Borgard, Mrs. Dave Franson and Mrs. James Corwin.
* * *
After running an article about the rescue of five people in a boating accident off the Bandon bar nearly 50 years ago, Bill McNeil, who was on one of the rescue boats with his father Hugh, reached out to me to see if I knew where Terry Mazzotta, one of the survivors, was living. I didn't, but I wrote about it in my column, and before long Terry communicated with both Bill and me after several people had sent him the article from my column.
He even remembered working at the Ocean Spray cranberry shed for my dad during that time. After he retired from the North Bend Fire Department, he moved to Arizona, and now resides in Tumalo, a ranch area between Bend and Redmond.
* * *
I understand that last week, for the second time, the local VFW post was shut down because of several Covid cases among customers and at least one employee. Hopefully they have now been able to reopen this week as I know a lot of people enjoy spending time there.
* * *
Speaking of Covid cases, I learned this week through Facebook that a popular Myrtle Point couple, Chuck and Judy King, both died of Covid several days apart.
Chuck was part of the King ranching family, and he spent a lot of time at the auction barn back in the late '50s. We had been friends for years, but I hadn't seen him since I left the Herald a few years ago. So sorry to hear this. I know Chuck was a couple of years older than I, and Judy was probably about the same age.
Another poster said one of his dear friends is in the hospital in grave condition.
I often hear anti-vaxers say, "oh well, it is mostly old people who are dying." Unfortunately, that is no longer true, and even if it were, you don't realize the impact until it happens to someone in your family or a friend. Or a treasured community member.
This makes seven people that I personally know who have died of Covid, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why everyone would not be beating down the door to get a Covid shot. I know a lot of us are hoping for our booster as soon as they become available for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients like they apparently are for Pfizer.
In the world, the Covid death toll is 4.7 million. More than 700,000 have died in this country, where only 65 percent of the population age 12 or older is fully vaccinated.
My favorite Oregonian columnist Steve Duin talked about vaccine resistance in his column Sunday, particularly pertaining to the NBA, where an estimated 95 percent of its players have been vaccinated.
"On one level, I understand the lack of civility in vaccine resistance, rooted as it is in the angry fixations on conspiracy theories and medical quackery.
"But in the gated theme parks of the NBA -- where coaches, referees, medical staff, team officials and reporters and photographers are under vaccine mandates -- my impatience with this arrogance may be matched only by that of Kareen Abdul-Jabbar," said Duin.
" 'The NBA should insist that all players and staff are vaccinated or remove them from the team," said Abdul-Jabbar. 'There is no room for players who are willing to risk the health and lives of their teammates, the staff and the fans simply because they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation or do the necessary research.' "
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On the good news front, Mike Greenway posted several days ago that his wife, Michelle, was coming home to continue to recuperate from Covid. He agreed that they do not know what long-term effects she may have, after being in intensive care for several weeks, but they are just thankful that she is now home.
I know she had a lot of people praying for her, and we are all glad to hear that she is home where she can be with her family.
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The rainfall information for the month of September indicated we had 3.78 inches for the month, compared to 2.62 the previous year, 4.87 in 2019 and less than half an inch (0.45) in 2018.
Since the rain year is considered to be from October through September, it is interesting to note the differences over the last 17 years. The total for the 20-21 rain year was 61.68 inches, compared to 52.79 for 19-20, 61.66 for 18-19 and 67.13 for 17-18.
The most rainfall during the 17-year period came in the 16-17 rain year when we recorded 102.04 inches of rain, compared to the driest, 2012-13, when we received 41.71 inches.
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The issue of vacation rental dwellings, commonly referred to as VRDs, is heating up in at least one area of the coast.
An article in The Oregonian said the voters in Lincoln County will decide this fall on a ballot measure that would completely phase out vacation rentals in residential areas in unincorporated areas of the county. It was said to be the latest and most drastic proposal to address the increase of short-term rentals through online platforms such as Airbnb along the Oregon coast.
So many of the coastal communities, including Bandon, are facing the same problem as long-term housing is converted to vacation rentals, which drives the cost of rentals even higher as the supply diminishes and the demand escalates.
Often people will buy a home with the intent of using it for an investment property, feeling they can generate more income than with a simple month to month rental. If that option weren't available and people were forced to simply occupy the home or rent it long-term, would that drive the price of the real estate down? It's something to consider .....
Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn
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