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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2015)
2C THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015 HISTORIC PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Courtesy Cannon Beach History Center & Museums The Round Table, which was open by Evie and Win Boothby in 1961 in the “post office building,” was so named because the cafe consisted mainly of a round table 8 feet in diameter and surrounded by 12 stools. The Round Table of Cannon Beach By ELAINE MURDY-TRUCKE For The Daily Astoria The Round Table, which was open by Evie and Win Boothby in 1961 in the “post office building,” was so named because the cafe consisted mainly of a round table 8 feet in diameter and was surrounded by 12 stools. The Round Table gained popularity for several reasons. The Boothbys were an affable couple and good cooks to boot. Unlikely as it may seem from its name, Win Boothby’s sauerkraut custard pie even challenged the reputation of Mrs. Os- burn’s cream-drenched blackberry pie at Bill’s Hotel. The Round Table was also a con- venient place to stop in for coffee, and perhaps a piece of the sauerkraut pie, either before or after the 9 a.m. mail was ready next door at the post office. Finally, there was no better source of local news than the Round Table. Though one malcontent called it a “gossipy place,” this was denied by its patrons. In 1967, just three years after the tsunami, the town was hit by an exceptionally destruc- tive flood. West winds of great velocity and very high tides combined to drown the town under 3 feet of water, fling logs through windows and drive the occupants of the post office to a table top, from which it was necessary to rescue them by rowboat. In January of 1978, in anticipation of the Boothby’s retirement, the Cannon Beach Gazette wrote: “A landmark in Cannon Beach, the Round Table is where patrons sit and share the events of the day; on literature, arts and sports; maybe even write a letter; share a chuckle found in their morning mail or read a book. ... The atmo- sphere is casual and warm as a family gathering.” With the departure of the Boothbys in February 1978, the Round Table closed, but reopened a few months later under new management. In ZKHQWKHGHFLVLRQZDVPDGHWREXLOGDQHZSRVWRI¿FHWKH old building was razed and the Round Table closed for good. Elaine Murdy-Trucke is executive director of the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum. Courtesy Cannon Beach History Center & Museum This photo shows the high water evacuation at the Round Table/post office in 1967. Joe Huffsmith (holding boat), Win Boothby’s mother, Robin Booth- by, Evie Boothby (climbing into boat), Phylis Ricketts (clerk at post office) and Marie Mar- shall (postmaster). GE T Y O U R CO PY TOD AY ! D iscoverO urCoa st.com