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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 2015)
DREAM HOMES Assistance League of the Columbia Pacifi c’s eighth annual Home & Chef Tour shows off unique views of the old and new all while helping out Clatsop County kids A Story by MARILYN GILBAUGH $VVLVWDQFH /HDJXH RI WKH &ROXPELD 3DFL¿F dreds of school kids who don’t have those basics. presents its eighth annual Home & Chef Tour this $VVLVWDQFH/HDJXHRIWKH&ROXPELD3DFL¿F¶V2S weekend, featuring country homes in the Lewis eration School Bell program is all about providing and Clark area south of Astoria. Grab a camera and clothes to kids in need. “No” or “can’t” is not part a buddy or two — or three or more. Carpooling is of ALCP’s vocabulary. The Home & Chef Tour is encouraged, and a car is a must. From 11 a.m. to 4 WKHQRQSUR¿WYROXQWHHURUJDQL]DWLRQ¶VPDMRUIXQG p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, it’s a rare opportunity to ex- UDLVHU IRU WKH \HDU DQG SURFHHGV GLUHFWO\ EHQH¿W plore Clatsop County’s beautiful Lewis and Clark Operation School Bell. countryside, both inside and out. “Allowing us into a private home is a big deal. The Cascade Range and its towering forests sit We don’t take our hosts, our sponsors, our restau- as a backdrop to the region’s lowlands, meander- rants or any of the supporting participation we get ing waterways, pastures and farmlands (animals from so many, lightly,” said Davies, who is the included). This area is a gem in Clatsop County’s head of the Home & Chef Tour. “It is a big deal, awesome and expansive beauty, a beauty that is of- and we really appreciate it. ten usurped by the better-known Columbia River “But really, how can you say no, once you know DQG3DFL¿F2FHDQEHDFKHV this tour is all about supporting kids?” Five private homes (each housing a local chef The homes on this year’s tour are listed below inside), plus one well-known garden center cordial- in alphabetical order. Their addresses, including ly open their doors to greet, meet and offer signa- Brim’s Garden Center, are printed on the back ture taste treats to all comers. Assistance League’s of tour tickets ($25), which are available at Hol- Home & Chef Tour is a chance to get an up-close- ly McHone Jewelers in Astoria and at all Clastop DQGSHUVRQDO ORRN LQVLGH ¿YH SULYDWH UHVLGHQFHV County branches of Columbia Bank. Tickets and a DQGD¿WWLQJVL[WKERQXVVWRS map of locations will also be available at participat- Brim’s Farm and Garden Center has agreed to ing homes on the day of the tour. be part of this year’s tour. Owner and master gar- dener Linda Brim will be brimming with garden- The Bergerson Home ing ideas, answers for spring and fall landscaping David and Linda Bergerson’s home displays an questions, and demon- artist’s eye throughout, strations too. Brim’s from its bridged entry- will host a chef from ZD\ WR LWV RSHQ ÀRRU Assistance League of the Columbia Pacifi c Astoria’s Blue Scorch- plan. Much of the tim- er Bakery. ber came from 1950s When securing movie star Tab Hunt- homes for the 2015 er’s barn; he owned a 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 Home & Chef Tour, horse ranch located just Featuring fi ve homes in the Lewis and Clark area, south Assistance League of down the road. The res- of Astoria plus Brim’s Farm & Garden, 34963 Hwy 105 WKH &ROXPELD 3DFL¿F¶V idence was originally Mary Davies didn’t the Bergerson family’s Tickets: $25 ¿QG WKH WDVN WR EH WRR tile and stone business Get yours at Holly McHone Jewelers, much of a challenge. warehouse and mosaic 1150 Commercial St. in Astoria or at all Clastop County “I just ask very nice- art studio. Today it has branches of Columbia Bank. Tickets will also be ly and explain what evolved into a lived-in, available at each home on the day of the tour Assistance League is homey mixed-media all about,” she said. gallery. For more information, contact Mary Davies at “When home owners Everything that 503-738-2672 or visit www.assistanceleaguecp.org hear it’s for clothing could be recycled has our Clatsop County been: stone and tile, wood, windows and kids, they’re on board.” Warm jackets, socks, shoes, pajamas and under- more. David’s degree in aeronautical engineering wear — these are basic clothing most people take is evident in cantilevered planks, beams, interior for granted. But in Clatsop County there are hun- bridges and a soaring center stairway. Handmade Home & Chef Tour 12 | October 8, 2015 | coastweekend.com dairy; today it houses 50 red Angus cattle on the Inmans’ working farm. The couple’s single-story country-style home, built in 1971, was purchased in 1992. Remodeling commenced immediately. Soaring ceilings, stone ¿UHSODFHVZDUPFRORUVWRFKHHUXSZLQWHU¶VJUD\ skies, and a massive rolltop desk from a Chicago railroad station (it was moved in and stayed put) add to the feel of a much-treasured and lived-in family home. Outside, Debbie’s gardening talent is evident, SRQGDQG¿UHSLWLQFOXGHG³,ORYHKRZLQWKHDI ternoon, the sun comes through the trees,” she said. “When we moved here, there wasn’t one plant. I got my love of the soil from my grandfather. I think I must channel him.” If you linger in the garden, don’t be surprised if a curious goat or two come by to say hello. Also en- joy bites by Fulio’s Pastaria, Steakhouse and Deli. The Mary Kinney Estate Mary de la Salandra stands outside her home in Lewis and Clark. An expansive porch and ornate wooden front GRRURSHQLQWRDKRXVH¿OOHGZLWKDYLQWDJHGpFRU and a year-round Christmas tree. From left, top row, Susan Wentworth, Mary Davies, Cheri Folk, Jane “I’ve loved old stuff since I was 13 years old,” Cartwright, Shelby Mogenson and Pat Rothenburger; second row, Marlene said. “There’s nothing new in our house Chris Holen, Loren Cross, Mary de la Salandra, Drake Radditz and except a relaxing tilt-back chair purchased for Brian Burgess are pictured outside of Mary de la Salandra’s home in Lewis and Clark. Built in 1912 by Mary Strong Kinney, the home is fea- George’s retirement.” 7KHSDUORU¶VZRRGÀRRUV²ELUG¶VH\HPDSOH² tured on Assistance League of the Columbia Pacifi c’s Home & Garden Tour, set for Oct. 10. came from the Tongue Point gym. “We designed, stained and placed everything in here,” Marlene furniture (dowels only please) from tables to doors said. “In the garden room, our oldest daughter did the painting and our youngest the stenciling, and I handles feature the couple’s attention to detail. The outdoor kitchen and smokehouse is David’s took care of placing the old drinking fountain. Now GRPDLQZKHUHKHVPRNHV¿VKFDQVDQGGULHVKLV our grandchildren ask when they can paint a wall.” When working on a home project, the couple provisions while Linda tends to a bountiful garden. “We’re hunter-gatherers, doing our best to recycle employs local builders, craftsmen and upholsterers. and sustain,” said David. “For our kitchen cabinets, I bought the knives 'UDNH5DGGLW]RI5DGGLW]5LYHU*XLGH6HUYLFHV we needed, and our woodworker carved the detail- will be the couple’s guest chef during the tour. ing while a local Astoria woman was making the VWDLQHGJODVVWR¿WLQWRWKHP´0DUOHQHHQWKXVHG The House Residence “I love them.” The George and Marlene House house is lots Baked Alaska will serve food at the couple’s of fun to say. It was designed by the couple and home during the tour. built in 1997 to purposely look like it’s been com- fortably nestled into its location for many years. A The Inman Farm small blacksmithing sign, one of George’s many 7KH ¿UVW WKLQJ \RX QRWLFH ZKHQ DSSURDFKLQJ hobbies, announces that you’ve arrived. The soft /DUU\DQG'HEELH,QPDQ¶VKRPHLVD¿HOGIXOORI yellow exterior of the home is bordered by a walk- JUD]LQJ%RHUJRDWV7KHQH[WLVWKHH[SDQVLYH way garden, showing off Marlene’s master gar- view of the Youngs Bay area, including the high dening skills and hinting at more to come in the peak of Saddle Mountain. In the lower pasture, a backyard. big red barn, built circa 1900, was once part of a The 1912 Mary Kinney Estate — aka the Stone House — is a landmark in the Lewis and Clark area. Current owners Mary de la Salandra and her husband, Raymond Martin, bought the house in 2013 and are only the third owners of the resi- dence. “Every morning I wake up not quite believing that I get to live in this house!” said Mary. “It’s a dream come true.” Designed by a widowed Mary Strong Kinney when she was 53 years old, the house has long had a reputation as one of the most extraordi- nary homes in Astoria. Built on a 100-acre par- cel, it overlooks the Lewis and Clark Valley with a full view of the river. The four stories, plus an all-wood attic (which musician and owner Ray- PRQG KDV FODLPHG IRU KLV PXVLF VWXGLR ¿QGLQJ WKH DFRXVWLFV DPD]LQJ LV LQ D VTXDUHIRRW Craftsman style. 7KHKRXVHKDVIRXU¿UHSODFHV¿YHEHGURRPV RULJLQDOOLJKW¿[WXUHVDQGFXUUHQWO\VLWVRQDVHY en-acre wooded site. Virgin wood trim, some measuring 2-by-20 feet, is from the Kinney Mill. This wood, as wood lovers love to say, “you just can’t get anymore”; it will make any wood appre- ciator’s day. Many of the stones built into the exterior re- putedly came from passing ships. In the 19th cen- tury, cargo ships used stones as ballast, material that provides stability in wind and water (insuf- ¿FLHQWO\EDOODVWHGERDWVFDQWLSKHHORUFDSVL]H Mary Strong Kinney, born in Salem in 1859, was widowed in 1898. She raised four sons, man- aged her late husband’s saw mill near Astoria and never remarried. President of the Astoria Wom- en’s Suffrage Club, Kinney was elected to the Or- egon House of Representatives in 1920, serving as the only women in the legislature in 1921. She was later elected to the Oregon State Senate, serv- ing from 1923 to 1925. In the crash of 1929, Kinney lost her fortune and her Astoria home. The Stone House later sold in the 1930s for $7,000 to Mary and Arthur Fil- OLJHUZKRDWWKHWLPHOLYHGLQ6ZLW]HUODQG7KHLU children and family lived in the house for many years. Photos by Joshua Bessex A large window provides ample light in the dining room of Ramona Pope and Brad Hunter’s home. During the Home & Chef Tour, attendees will ¿QGIRRGVHUYHGE\$VWRULD&RIIHHKRXVH%LVWUR The Pope Digs The Ramona Pope and Brad Hunter house has survived many evolutions. Occupied by 10 differ- ent families over its nearly 100 years, the building ZDVRULJLQDOO\KRPHWRD¿VKLQJIDPLO\ ³5XPRUKDVLWWKDWWKH¿UVWIDPLO\LQRXUKRXVH was here before the dyke,” said Ramona. “You came home by boat or over trails. There were no roads.” At another juncture it was the Battlecreek Chicken Farm. Plumbing was an outhouse until 1952. During the tour, Beach Burrito will serve as guest chef for attendees. The original house was just a small square. “We bought the house and four acres 26 years ago when the house had grown to 1,500 square feet and the land was valued at more than the house,” Ramona said. “Today our home is a 3,000-square- foot, four-bedroom country home. We took walls down, bumped out bedrooms, doing nine remod- eling projects over the years — along the way dis- covering old bottles and ancient newspapers in the walls. “Sometimes we ask ourselves what we were thinking when we bought our house. Then we re- member that we didn’t see it like that. We saw our The kitchen in Ramona Pope and Brad Hunter’s Lewis and Clark home, which is part of the eighth annual Assistance League of the Columbia Pacifi c’s Home & Chef Tour, taking place Saturday, Oct. 10. dreams.” October 8, 2015 | coastweekend.com | 13