As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 25, 2023
The headline and subhead in the April 13, 1915, Bandon Recorder read: "A Modern Bake Shop (first photo) will be built during the present summer by Paul Stephan on First Street and Chicago Avenue."
Seaside Bakery
This is the story of one of Bandon's oldest buildings, which survived the Bandon Fire and today is the home of Cranberry Sweets.
"Paul Stephan will soon drive the foundation piling and place the caps and joists for a new bakery on his 50x150 lot at the corner of First Street and Chicago avenue. He expects to have the building completed before the rains commence in the fall. The new structure will constitute a bakery and is modern in every sense of the word. $1,000 will be spent on the oven for it. Mr. Stephan paid $3,000 for the lot about a year ago."
As you look down First Street, you can see Bandon's second school building, built in 1894 on the hill over looking the Coquille River and the Pacific ocean.
Some years after the Fire, the Seaside Bakery had been closed, and the Stephan building served as Bandon's Post office.
I often spend my evenings reading the historic documents in my collection, and this week it was the booklet put out by the Randolph Community Club in 2001, celebrating their 75 years in existence.
The 40-page book contained many newspaper clippings (from Western World) as well as pictures shared by the members and others which had appeared in the paper.
Although I have written about the old Bullards Ferry (second photo) in my column more than once, the clipping that I found in the Randolph Club book contained information that I had not previously seen.
Bullards Ferry
It's headlined "Progress Catches Up With Bullards Ferry," and I believe was printed in 1954.
"The Bullards Ferry, a Coos County institution for more than 62 years, went out of existence Wednesday when the new steel Bullards bridge (third photo) replaced it as the transportation link between the north and south shores of the lower Coquille river near Bandon.
Bullards Bridge
"The ferry took its name from Robert W. Bullard, who had a hand in its establishment, was its first operator and who built a store of the same name at the ferry landing on the North bank in 1892.
"The ferry had its start in the spring of 1891 when Bullard, aided by S.W. Fahy and John Hamblock Sr., who did the drafting, started building a small scow for carrying vehicles across the river. Bullard built the north approach to the landing; lumber and planks for the scow and the approach were hauled by ox team over a sand road from the pioneer Fahy sawmill. Bandon interests built an approach to the landing on the south bank and the ferry went into operation early in September 1891.
"James Morrison of Bullards was on hand to help Bullard with the first trip cross the river with passengers, a Captain Harkins and his son-in-law, Fred Schetter, who had traveled south from Empire by horse and buggy. Harkins was the skipper of the Nora Harkins, a vessel built at Parkersburg in 1882 and which was used in and out of the Coquille River.
"A hand-powered cable system was used to operate the ferry until a few years before Coos County took over the operation in 1901. Bullard purchased a small gas-powered boat to tow the ferry and continued in charge of the ferry for several years after the county took over. The boat continued to furnish the motive power until the original scow was replaced by a new one with the power plant installed on board."
* * *
A story in Oregon Live/Oregonian this week mentioned action taken recently by the Oregon Board of Education.
"Oregon again says students don't need to prove mastery of reading, writing or math to graduate, citing harm to students of color." This is the second straight year that Oregon has moved away from requiring students to master important subjects before they can graduate. The article said that "Oregon high schoolers will not need to fulfill an essential skills requirement in order to graduate for at least the next five years."
This is just one more example of poor decisions coming out of state government, infamous for its one-party rule!
The irony of this article is the news that came out recently that showed Coos County schools continue to struggle to make up academic ground lost in the Covid pandemic.
An article in the World explained that the Department of Education released data from English/language arts, math and science testing which showed the majority of students are failing to meet state standards.
I will talk about the results of the three small schools (Bandon, Myrtle Point and Coquille).
In English/language arts, Bandon schools had 47.5% of all tested students meet the state standard, a slight decrease from the previous school year. Two grade levels in Bandon -- seventh grade and 11th grade, exceeded 50%, with the high school juniors leading the way as two-thirds of students passed the state test.
In Coquille, 46.5% met the state standard. Three grade levels, fifth, eighth and 11th, exceeded 50%. Fourth graders struggled the most with only 33.9% meeting the state standard.
Myrtle Point had the lowest ELA scores in the county with 29.5% meeting the state standard. Unlike the other districts, Myrtle Point fared best at the lower grade levels, with 46.2% of third graders and 42.1% of fourth graders reaching the state standard.
Countywide students continued to fall short of the state standard in math. In Bandon, 29.4% of students met the state math standard, with only third graders exceeding 40%.
In Coquille, 31.3% of students met the state standard in math, a 5% increase over 2021-22. Eighth graders struggled the most with only 6.7% of students passing the test.
Myrtle Point struggled again in math, with only 17% meeting the state standard. That was an improvement over the previous year. In Myrtle Point, only third and fourth graders had more than 25% of students meet the standard.
In the science test in Bandon, only two grades were tested. Fifth graders had 39.4% pass while eighth graders had 19.6% pass.
Coquille had 24.9% of students pass the science test, with high school juniors leading the way with 47.4% meeting the standard.
Myrtle Point had 9.6% pass the science test, led by fifth graders who had 20% pass.
Results from Powers were not released due to the small number of students who were tested.
* * *
I imagine that some of you did not hear that Friday night's free concert at the Sprague, sponsored by Bandon Showcase, had been cancelled ... until you arrived at the theater. I know the Showcase people tried hard to let people know after learning that the singer, Haley Johnsen, had come down with Covid.
* * *
I was sorry to read that long-time VFW officer Joseph Addair had died Oct. 10 at the age of 77. Joe always had a smile on his face and a willingness to lend a hand where needed.
I also heard that Dr. Richard Foutch, 73, Bandon, who had worked as a provider at Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center on two separate occasions, had died recently. He had previously been medical director in the emergency department until January of 2020, and later left the employee of the hospital. He was an osteopathic physician.
* * *
Facebook and NextDoor blew up Saturday night with people from many parts of the community indicating they had heard what sounded like gun shots .... or fireworks ... going off in their vicinity.
On Sunday, a woman posted that "Someone traveled around our town last night lighting off mortar fireworks. We saw one go off at Fourth and Ohio and someone running away. Bandon police were all over trying to track them down."
I have not heard if the police ever found out who was setting off the fireworks, but they definitely caused a lot of problems for people with animals, and others who thought it was someone recklessly shooting. Strange how people get their "kicks" these days!
* * *
A press release which came out of Northern California last week indicated that a man who had murdered a sheriff's deputy in Crescent City, Calif., was later arrested in Curry County after authorities found his black Mazda sedan on Friday.
The slain deputy was Deanna Esmaeel, who was the mother of actor Marty York, best known for his role as Yeah-Yeah in the 1993 movie "The Sandlot."
Daniel James Walter, who was arrested in Curry County, was reportedly the murdered woman's boyfriend.
* * *
We keep hearing how dangerous downtown Portland has become, and an item in the Oct. 15 Oregonian bears that out. A man from Phoenix, who was to be a speaker at the annual conference of the National Organization of Minority Architects, had stopped by Powell's City of Books, and then stopped for a coffee.
As he walked through downtown, Samuel Gomez heard a popping sound, and he came upon a violent scene with a man lying on the pavement. Gomez pulled out his phone to document the scene, which showed a middle-aged man in a Mercedes SUV, reloading a gun. And seconds later, the man fired at Gomez from less than 10 yards away, with the bullet going through one of his legs and breaking the femur in the other leg. He had been in Portland four hours.
He was immediately rushed to a Portland hospital, and the article said he was scheduled to remain for an indefinite period while he recovers. He missed the conference.
The man on the pavement, in the picture that Gomez snapped and was later featured in the Oregonian, was dead!
It's not hard to see why the League of Oregon Cities no longer holds its annual conference in Portland.
* * *
Don't forget the free drive-through flu shot clinic Wednesday, Oct. 25, in city park from sunrise to 1 p.m., or while supplies last.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 18, 2023
The front page of the Western World for May 19, 1960, told the story of Ernie Luther (first photo) being chosen as Citizen of the Year by local educators.
Ernie Luther, 1960
Ernie was given the coveted award at the annual Appreciation Night Banquet given by the Bandon teachers for members of the school board, retiring teachers and citizens of the year candidates.
"Luther was selected for his work in the Bandon Cub Scout program, the summer recreation PeeWee baseball program of which he is director, youth chairman of the Bandon Lions Club and his general work with young people.
"Since coming here two years ago, he has taken a most active interest in the youth of the community and has given many hundreds of hours without pay in directing those activities.
"Other nominees for the high award were Harris 'Silver' Martindale, janitor of the Bandon Heights school, who was honored for his friendship and help to the young people of the schools. He has been very Active in the Lion's committee for children's activities. Mrs. Ray Peacock was the third candidate."
Chairman of the school board Elmer Gant gave a short speech. Mrs. Luella Will, president of the Bandon teachers, installed the new officers, while Mrs. Zerva Glasscock gave a humorous reading.
Supt. Roland L. Parks was master of ceremonies.
The second item comes from the July 30, 1925, Western World.
"Bandon is only just beginning to see the fulfillment of its dream of being a summer resort and the effort and money that has been expended here during the past two years to make things more attractive and convenient for tourists and vacationists will be returned several times over with interest.
"The new road around the bluff to the beach, the numerous comfortable cottages (second photo) that have been built and the new natatorium are long-needed developments, according to a visitor who suggests a road down to the beach and a planked parking space for automobiles as a logical and valuable extension of what has already been done.
Bennett's Cottage Camp
"The visitor said make things handy and comfortable for the vacationists and they will go back inland and do more advertising for your resort than you could get through the expenditure of thousands of dollars otherwise. But don't give them an opportunity to knock. They can do you a lot of damage if they are dissatisfied for any reason, and there are a lot of little things that will rouse the ire of the touring public."
The 60-point headline in the Feb. 11, 1937, Western World tells the story of the Cottoneva (third photo) which went aground at Port Orford.
The Cottoneva
"The Cottoneva, formerly the Frank Stout, the first vessel to call at the port of Port Orford since the maritime strike, is fast aground opposite the Knapp Hotel, a total loss. The captain and crew of some 28 were taken off by the Port Orford U.S. Coast Guard crew.
"The vessel arrived in port Tuesday, dropped its anchors and drifted alongside the new wharf which had been built inside the main structure that washed away last winter, and started loading. About 200,000 feet of lumber had been put aboard when at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the captain decided that the southwest wind was getting too strong for safety and he started to put to sea.
"The vessel was pointed seaward. In pulling against the portside anchor to get away from the wharf, the anchor chain apparently fouled and broke. The wind held the vessel back, drifted it sideways and turned it completely around. Separate effort was put forth to back out against the breeze with the engines in reverse, but without success. All the time the vessel drifted and it is believed struck the steam chest, part of the wreckage of the steamer Victoria which sank in the Port Orford harbor in 1883. Realizing that it was impossible to buck the wind and get out of the harbor the captain apparently gave the engines full steam ahead and ran the vessel on the beach in order to save the crew and cargo.
"The Cottoneva is now about 400 feet down the coast from Battle Rock. It is inside from where the Joan of Arc was wrecked in 1919. The vessel, a wooden craft built in 1917, is somewhat larger than the steamer Bandon but of similar type. It's home port is San Francisco."
* * *
One of my favorite people that I always loved talking to in the coffee shop when I spent time at my home in Powers was Mearl McDaniel Jr., and I was shocked and saddened to learn that he had allegedly been killed by his 39-year-old grandson, Robert T. "Robbie" McDaniel, in a disturbance at Broadbent Friday shortly before noon.
I understand from Powers friends that Robbie had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and may have had other problems as well. Apparently, he had been fired from Rose City Wood Products at Broadbent, commonly known as the Adamek (Jim) Mill, the previous day, and had allegedly returned to the mill Friday with a weapon with which he was threatening the mill manager, Frank Adamek.
Someone reportedly called Mearl, asking him to come to the mill and help defuse the situation. Instead, he ended up losing his life.
Robert McDaniel was arrested on the charge of second-degree murder and was taken to the Coos County Jail where he was booked and remains in custody.
Mearl's granddaughter, Stephanie Patterson, is the long-time city administrator for the City of Powers.
My heart goes out to his family, including his longtime friend Florence Sturman, for such a senseless tragedy. The community is grieving!
* * *
The annual free drive-through flu shot clinic, hosted by Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center and the Southern Coos Health Foundation, is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25, from sunrise to 1 p.m. or while supplies last, in Bandon City Park on 11th Street.
A spokesman said both the regular and the high-dose vaccine (for those 65 and older) will be available. Donations are welcome.
* * *
All Bandon area Veterans are reminded that the annual group photo, which will appear in The World on Veterans Day, will be taken Saturday, Oct. 21, at 10:30 a.m. in the high school gymnasium. The photo page is sponsored by Joseph Bain Insurance, The World and the Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center.
* * *
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the VFW Hall on Bates Road for Edith Hunt Winters, who died May 6 in Bandon at the age of 99. She would have been 100 years old on Oct. 27. Among her survivors are two sons, Barry and Jodie Winters and Dan and Riki Winters. Preceding her in death was her husband, Roger Winters; son, Steve Winters; daughter, Debbie Winters-Llewellyn; and her twin sister, Edna, as well as other siblings.
* * *
People are reminded that the annual Holiday Meals, both Thanksgiving and Christmas, will not be held this year, due to various circumstances, according to co-chairman Colleen Wiesel.
* * *
A spokesman for the Riverview Christian Fellowship of Coos Bay posted on Facebook Thursday that Pastor Daniel Fox and his wife Anna had landed in the Pacific Northwest with half of the Israel team from Calvary Corvallis. The group was in Israel when the war broke out and had been there for several days before they were able to leave. The remaining members of the worship team were said to be arriving in the Northwest the next day.
Daniel is the son of Pastor Matt Fox and his wife, and he attended school in Bandon. His sister, Amanda (Mrs. Greg) Looney, had been able to speak to Daniel when they were still in Israel, and had been keeping friends and family posted.
* * *
Don't forget the Bandon Recycling Event Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 5 to 7 at the Bandon Library. People are asked to bring their #2, #4 and #5 plastics, clean and label free, to this inaugural event.
Another event set for Wednesday, Oct. 18, (6 to 8 p.m.) is the "Night at the Museum." People can call Gayle at 541-347-2164 to see if tickets, which are $10, are still available for the wine, food and fun event.
Bandon Showcase is presenting Haley Johnsen in a free concert Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sprague Theater. Seating is limited; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Info at BandonShowcase.org.
* * *
People are reminded that Coos County property tax statements were mailed out Oct. 16, and if you have not received a bill by the first week in November, you are advised to contact the tax office at 541-396-7725. To avoid loss of discount, payment must be received or postmarked by Nov. 15. Interest will start accruing after Dec. 15. Coos County will process all payments in their office again this year. No payments will be going to the former Portland lockbox.
* * *
The Gorse Action Group has teamed up with Oregon State Parks for a demonstration of new and exciting solutions to gorse removal and revegetation for the Oregon Coast where the terrain may be steep, etc.
Thursday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 3 p.m. there will be a vertical rope access demonstration over the edge of the rock face on extreme terrain, one headland south of Face Rock Viewpoint and Wayside. People can park in the lot at Face Rock Viewpoint for a good view. Information will be available to educate people about the new techniques, and gorse removal, treatment and revegetation methods.
On Friday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be multiple drone demonstrations in the area.
No gorse will be removed at this time, nor herbicides used; the drone application demonstration will be simply water and blue dye, according to Liza Ehle, GAG spokesman.
* * *
The rainfall for the month of September was 2.93 inches, for a rainyear total of 61.06 inches, compared to 58.19 the previous year.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 11, 2023
The first picture which appeared in the Western World 44 years ago, in September of 1979, heralded the expansion and relocation of Bandon Fisheries plant, which was completed the previous year.
Bandon Fisheries, 1979
The caption beneath the photo reads, "The plant now has some 10,000 square feet of usable floor space .... three to four times the old plant's size. The building and refrigeration equipment carried a price tag of around $200,000, while additional processing equipment cost another $150,000.
At the time the picture was taken, Bandon Fisheries Superintendent Bob Fellows said the company was employing about 100 people, with the average being 65.
"But, that will increase with the year-round black cod operation which requires 40 workers," said Fellows.
"With the exception of Black cod, Bandon Fisheries processes the same products (shrimp, crab, tuna and salmon) than it did prior to the expansion. Our salmon production is about the same as last year's, around 400,000 pounds, so far. Last year we bought 300,000 pounds of crab," said Fellows.
"Bandon Fisheries president Graydon Stinnett has seen the company go through a lot of changes since he purchased a small food market on the waterfront from George Dow in 1964 (at First and Chicago). He operated the business as a retail seafood market, grocery store, retail and wholesale meat market, and also offered a frozen food locker for storage until shipment."
Today that site is the home of the Port of Bandon's Loft building.
"By 1968 Stinnett had begun a small scale shrimp processing operation in the back room at the store. That year Bandon Seafood, as it was called, merged with Cape Fisheries.
"In 1971, Cape Fisheries changed ownership and name .... to Bandon Fisheries. Then in 1972 Stinnett and his partner, Cary Cox, bought the company. The expansion and relocation of the plant was begun in 1977."
Today the building pictured is owned by the Port of Bandon and is leased to Lori and Barry Osborne, who operate Farm and Sea, the marketplace and other businesses in the building.
The second picture appeared in the Western World May 14, 1959, and I am sharing it because I love seeing the old Moore Mill Truck Shop in the background, as well as parts of the mill.
Moore Mill Truck Shop, 1959
"The fishing boat 'Guard' could almost have passed for a submarine on Tuesday while the mostly-submerged craft was being dragged into shallow water in Bandon harbor.
"Fred Satterfield, new owner who had just bought the 'Guard' the week before, said he found her sunk Monday morning. Apparently a piece of 'drift', a 3x12 timber, had punched a hole in the boat while it was moored at the Port of Bandon boat basin.
"When this picture was taken, Ken Stovall and Leonard Taylor, fellow fishermen, were lending Satterfield a hand as they towed his vessel into the tideflat between the Moore Mill truck shop and Bandon Seafood Market. When the tide ran out, the boat was patched and later refloated."
Other boats in the picture include Stovall's Chief.
The third photo, of a lone Clydesdale horse running on the Bandon beach is mentioned in a March 1982 article in Western World letting the public know that the Budweiser Light commercials would soon be aired.
Clydesdale horse running on the Bandon beach, 1982
"Simultaneous with the upcoming Oregon-wide introduction of Budweiser Light beer, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., plans to air a series of new television commercials that may look familiar to the state's residents.
"Budweiser Light's new 'Bring Out Your Best' television advertising campaign includes two commercials filmed in Oregon, the first of which is scheduled to air at the end of March," as the article mentions that "the spot was filmed at Bandon Beach 30 miles southwest of Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean."
I took this photo of the lone Clydesdale during filming on the Bandon beach. In the darkroom I also added a stack of rocks behind the horse, and have shared that photo a number of times as it more clearly identifies the location as the Bandon beach.
"Distinct from the famed eight-horse hitch, the single, unharnessed Clydesdale for Budweiser Light symbolizes traditional quality and taste, and also a youthfulness, spirit and masculinity in a 'new breed' of light beer.
"In addition to the two Budweiser Light spots, Oregonians may also recognize the setting and people in Budweiser's 'Lumberjack' commercial, which has been on the airwaves for several months. 'Lumberjack' features local people exclusively, and was filmed at a Rogue River logging camp near Grants Pass on Elk Mountain."
* * *
I don't know the details, but I understand Robert Freeman's house in the area of Rosa Road burned to the ground Friday night. Fire Chief Lanny Boston knew nothing about a fire nor did dispatch, but apparently Robert had no phone and no way to contact the fire department. Although the small home burned, he was able to keep it from spreading into the brush and onto his neighbor's property.
A source said Robert lost virtually everything except the clothes he was wearing and his cat. A friend has been assisting him, and he now has a place to live in a small unit on the property.
* * *
I've learned that due to various circumstances, Holiday Meals will not be able to provide any community meals this year, which essentially means there will be no Thanksgiving or Christmas community dinner this year.
"We wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday season," said Colleen Wiesel, co-chairman of Holiday Meals.
* * *
I've learned that Larry Wold, 83, who was a member of the Bandon High School Class of 1957, died Oct. 2, in Central Point, where he had made his home for many years.
He retired from Boise Cascade Corporation after 30 years of service. He and his late wife Gloria traveled extensively after his retirement. A memorial service will be held at a later date. He had five children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
* * *
It was a huge shock when I learned that one of my favorite Bandon restaurants, Edgewaters, was closing permanently, effective Sunday, Oct. 22.
Owners Larry and Sheila Langenberg and Bob Grizzle, the chef, have owned the popular waterfront restaurant for 12 years.
In a statement posted on Facebook, they thanked "all those who have made an impact on our lives and granted us the opportunity to live our dreams. We love this community and appreciate all the support you have given us."
The building was leased from the Picerne Group, which also owns the old hospital property overlooking the Coquille River Lighthouse, as well as other investment properties in Bandon.
I understand the Langenbergs and Grizzle own the former Two Mile Cafe building, four miles south of Bandon, and may have future plans for the building, but on a much smaller scale.
They will certainly be missed by those of us who have frequented their restaurant many times, and also loved the festive wine dinners, for which they have become well known.
* * *
As one restaurant closes, another opens. I understand the new Ghost Tree Grill on the grounds of Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, is opening Oct. 21.
Ghost Tree Grill is visible down the fairway from Old Macdonald's 18th hole. The Pacific Northwest inspired steakhouse and raw bar is named after the fabled Ghost Tree on Old Macdonald's third hole. The centerpiece is a grand bar that flows from the interior to the exterior, while an outdoor courtyard offers al fresco dining and a fire pit, according to information I found on the Internet.
* * *
Harv Schubothe, the driving force behind Greater Bandon Association, has earned the prestigious Executive Director of the Year award for his exceptional impact on downtown and main street revitalization. Since GBA's inception in 2010, Harv's visionary leadership led him from coordinator to executive director, cementing his commitment to community partnerships and growth. His dedication to continuous improvement resulted in the Ford Family Foundation's Community Fellow selection in 2014, paving the way for GBA's evolution into a catalytic community builder.
His strategic prowess culminated in a successful three-year-plan, Main Street Refresh, and securing National and State Accredited Main Street status in 2023.
Harv recently retired as Executive Director, a position now held by Bethe Patrick.
* * *
A new group, known as Bandon Recyclers, has formed, with the goal of keeping plastic out of landfills. A collection event is held the third Wednesday of each month at the Bandon Library from 5 to 7 where people can bring their #2, #4 and #5 plastics, which will then be transported to a Lane County transfer station.
The first event is Wednesday, Oct. 18. For information contact Cody at 541-347-3221 or cbarkdull@cityofbandon.org.
* * *
People are reminded of "The Return of the Night at the Museum," which will take place at Bandon's History Museum Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for a chance to visit the museum "after hours." They can be purchased through Gayle at the museum, 541-347-2164, or there will be a limited number available at the door.
Hors d'oeuvres by Sharon Haga and wine and beer provided by Lori Osborne will be served and people are invited to take the special "History Detective's Challenge."
On Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m., Bandon Showcase is presenting a free community concert, featuring Haley Johnsen, a Portland-born musician with a knack for genre-bending pop, rock and folk music.
Seating is limited, so audience members are encouraged to arrive early, with doors opening at 6:30 for the 7:30 show. Information: 541-290-9989.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
October 04, 2023
This is the story of what happened to the steamer Fiefield, which wrecked on the Bandon bar in 1916.
The first twin-screw Fifield, owned by A.F. Eastabrook of San Francisco, was built at J.H. Price's Bandon shipyard and was lost to a fire at that facility in 1907. Kruse and Banks, a North Bend shipyard, launched a $100,000 second version in 1908, designed to carry 30 passengers, 700,000 feet of lumber and miscellaneous freight between Bandon and San Francisco every 10 days.
Staterooms were equipped with hot/cold running water, electricity and all the modern conveniences for the reasonable one-way fare of $10. Heavy seas brought the Fifield to her final resting place on the south side of Bandon's South Jetty on Feb. 29, 1916 (first photo).
The Fifield, 1916
Inbound on a rising tide with passengers and hay/grain, the 185-foot vessel was carried by a strong northwest current to the jetty, lifted off the rocks then smashed again on the jetty. The Bandon Coast Guard rescued 26 passengers and crew; no lives were lost.
An article in the March 2, 1916, Western World explains .... "As the Fifield got well into the surf, a line was thrown to the members of the Coast Guard crew who waded out into the breakers (second photo).
Coast Guard standing in the water
The lifeline was at once rigged up and all of the passengers and crew, along with their baggage, came in on the breeches-buoy."
Mindful of the rampant looting of the steamship Santa Clara on Coos Bay's jetty in November 1915, guards were immediately stationed nearby. Salvage efforts during the following two months failed.
It wasn't long after the wreck before authorities told the public that the Fifield was not in danger ... and "that the work is progressing preparatory to making the necessary repairs before launching her in the water."
Two months after it wrecked, work was started to run a line from the tug Jaqua, anchored just outside the breakers due west of the wreck of the Fifield, to pull the Fifield out of the sand where it had become anchored.
"Off and on during the night up until the time set for the pull on the wreck, crowds gathered on the beach and by midnight, several hundred people were assembled at the jetty to witness the operations.
"Although the Fifield was filled with a cargo of fifty oil drums, which were placed aboard the latter part of the week to enable the wreck to be kept afloat as it is moved into deep water, the sands have sifted into the ship during the past few days and the ship is held rigid in the sand now even at high tide."
Unfortunately the rescue efforts did not work.
The April 27, 1916, paper tells of its demise.
"The steamer Fifield, disabled and beached near the south jetty .... passed into history early Monday morning, when during high tide the breakers pounded her to pieces. Succeeding tides have completed the work of destruction and what was formerly one of the finest among the smaller coasting steamers on the Pacific is now but a mess of kindling wood and tangled iron, strewn for a mile down the beach (third photo).
The Fifield wrecked on the beach
The vessel was considered to be worth $150,000 and it was reported that she was insured for $51,000.
* * *
I was sorry to learn that long-time Bandon resident Bill Binnewies had died Sept. 12 at the age of 87 after being hospitalized for a long-standing arterial condition. Bill had a distinguished career in the National Parks Service, and following his years of service, he retired in Bandon. He was honored by the Greater Bandon Association as volunteer of the month in 2018, for his work in the community, which included president of the board of Shoreline Education and Awareness (SEA). He had been a regular presenter of programs on wildlife at Bullards Beach State Park. He was also active in the National Active and Retired Federal Employees group.
His daughter, Diana, who lives in Bandon, plans to have a memorial celebration for him in June 2024, according to long-time friends Ann King and Rick Toth.
* * *
I just learned that FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 11:20 a.m. The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer phones. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and TVs. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
This is not to be confused with the first-Wednesday testing of the tsunami alarm by the City of Bandon, which goes off at noon, and is also slated for Oct. 4.
* * *
"The Return of the Night at the Museum" will take place at Bandon's History Museum Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., the third edition of this social gathering after a three-year pause.
Tickets are $10 for a chance to visit the museum "after hours." Hors d'oeuvres by Sharon Haga, a taste of On the Waterfront wine and Bandon Brewing Beer provided by Lori Osborne, and an opportunity to take a special "History Detective's Challenge" will be part of the evening. Contact Gayle at the museum, 541-347-2164, for tickets or information.
* * *
Bandon Showcase is presenting Haley Johnson in a concert on Friday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. at the Sprague Theater. Johnson is a Portland-born musician with a knack for genre-bending pop, rock and folk music. Bandon Showcase is offering this event as a gift, free to the community, to thank people for their more than 20 years of support. Seating is limited so audience members are encouraged to arrive early. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. For information call 541-290-9989.
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The League of Women Voters is sponsoring the program "Dollars & Sense of Coos County Finances" Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Coos Bay Library.
Speaking will be Commissioner John Sweet, Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio, District Attorney Paul Frasier and Director of Community Corrections Mike Crim.
The public is invited to learn and ask questions about the budgetary needs and future challenges for public safety and law enforcement services in Coos County.
I am sure they will be talking about the problems created by having only one 48-bed pod open in the 250-bed county jail.
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Sorry that so many people missed the wonderful fireworks display Saturday night, which was a tribute to Anthony Zunino, who has been the head pyrotechnic guy for the Fourth of July fireworks for nearly 27 years. As most of you know, Anthony is battling colon cancer, and his community of friends is pulling for him to beat the disease. Many Bandon residents were able to capture the beautiful display with their phone cameras, and posted them on Facebook for all to enjoy.
I talked about it in my column, but no matter how hard I try, and how many people complain that they don't know what is going on in town, if people choose not to read my column, they may miss some important events .. like this special fireworks tribute.
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According to information in a recent issue of Golfweek, only two resorts in the United States have five courses among the top 200 in the United States, and those are Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
Both are bucket-list destinations that every golfer should see, hopefully more than once. "They offer all the golf most players would ever want in one vacation," said the writer.
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People are reminded that Bullards Beach State campground will close Oct. 15 and reopen March 15 after an upgrade to the main sewer line.
While the campgrounds will be closed, people can still enjoy the day use areas, boat ramp, lighthouse and horse camp, which will remain open, according to Nick Schoeppner, park manager.
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Sports fans who have Dish TV, like I do, were probably pretty upset when Dish last year dropped the Fox network, which carried many of the top sporting events, including the Super Bowl. They also dropped Root, which carried many local sporting events.
The one thing they didn't drop was the price of the monthly service; mine is still $129.
But with the start of the new college football season, I knew I had to find a streaming service which carried Fox. Unfortunately, I thought I was looking for FS1 so I signed up for Sling Blue and Orange, at a cost of $55 a month, only to learn that they did not offer the Fox network, only FS1 which I still had through Dish.
My latest streaming service is Fubo, which I believe will cost me something like $80 a month. I've stopped worrying about the price, but my combined TV bill will be over $200 a month.
I blame Dish for this mess, but am not ready to give up the three major networks or the Pac12 network, although the complete dissolution of the Pac12 (now the Pac2) will most certainly impact that network. And when it does, I will look for a cheaper carrier than Dish.
I'm sure they won't miss me, but it would be satisfying to cut that cord ....
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Don't forget that they are offering free computer classes at the library on Tuesdays at 4:30, through Oct. 17.
Still to come is Email Basics, Oct. 3; Computer Basics for Windows 10, Oct. 10, and Mobile Device Basics: Android, Oct. 17.
The classes are made possible by the Public Library Association and AT&T.
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I recently saw a photo of a broken window in Old Town Portland, which read: "The main source of broken windows in Old Town is sidewalk bricks the city didn't mortar down."
Unbelievable! How about mentioning the people that throw the bricks through the windows. Might they in some little way be responsible?
Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn
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