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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 2017)
NOVEMBER 30, 2017 // 21 A BUILDING SPEAKS OUT I will be decked out for Dec. 2 Holiday Faire FOR COAST WEEKEND I am a building. I am an old building in Astoria, and I live at the southeast corner of Third Street and Marine Drive. On my last birthday, I was about 110 years old. If I could talk, I could tell you many a tale about folks, especially from the days when vice was more wide- spread. But that will wait for another day. I am going to be dressed up for the holidays and will greet everyone 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, during the Holiday Faire. The people who rent my floors — that is, Dots ‘N Doodles, North Coast Fix, Astoria’s Best Framer and Astoria Art Loft — want to do something special for the holidays. Hap- pily, they asked if they could feature me, and I agreed (as long as they decked me out in holiday finery). Let me tell you a little about myself. COURTESY JO POMEROY-CROCKETT SCOTT LEAHING PHOTO Here I am, at Astoria’s Block 14, early 20th century. Me today, the building at 106 Third St., in Astoria. In 1859, the land I am on, known as Block 14, was owned by E. C. Crow, and later, by Cyrus Olney. In the 1890s and early 1900s, a lawn tennis court occupied my space. The name of my street was Concomly Street, later changed to Astor Street and, finally, Marine Drive. To the east on Concomly/ Astor was a tenement build- ing, Engine Company No. 1, and in 1888, a boat shop. Other buildings in Block 14 included sheds, a board- inghouse and some other houses. By 1908, the lawn tennis court was gone, to be replaced later with several buildings. The Engine Com- pany became Fire Station No.1. I owe my existence to a gent named Peder Gimre, who immigrated from Nor- way about 1890. Some years later, Gimre built me, and I became a planing mill — a very successful planing mill, I might add. I’m proud of Mr. Gimre, because he helped other members of his family come to Astoria. The Gimre family opened businesses, including a shoe store, and contributed greatly to our community. Mr. Gimre and his wife, Josephine, were hardworking people, which is why I did so well. They lived at 1893 Harrison Ave., according to the 1920 census. The Gimres conducted business in me until about 1960. Sadly, Mr. Gimre went onto Glory on Jan. 29, 1962, at age 96, and the business changed hands. The following years saw me house various businesses. For a while, part of my first floor was a lube and oil-change shop. The second floor housed a plumbing business. Later, my sec- ond floor became Meade’s Upholstery, where beautiful furniture was created and re- built for more than 35 years. My lower floor housed Rose Oriental Antiques, a classy operation. Other businesses came and went. I was given fairly good care, so I never became rundown like some buildings I know. Today, I house new people. I am owned by Paul Larson, who takes very good care of me. On my first floor, Scott and Tim have a won- derful art supply store named Dots ‘N Doodles (managed by a very bright dog named Doodles). Beside them is North Coast Fix, staffed by Jay Rosen and Marilyn. They are fun because they refurbish furniture, some of which is older than I am. They also know how to cane chairs. Upstairs are Michael Bruhn, a framer, and Astoria Art Loft. I am filled with creative, artistic people who love me. When they vacuum me, I like to surprise them with a soft, low purr. Please come visit me Saturday, Dec. 2. Please no- tice my new paint, my clean windows, my sturdy doors and my beautiful floors. Also, you may take advantage of the 25 percent off sale at Dots ‘N Doodles, the open house at North Coast Fix, the frames and mats at Astoria’s Best Framer, and the arts and crafts at Astoria Art Loft. As we old buildings say, “Keep your roof strong, your windows and doors tight, your inside warm and dry, and you’ll have tenants who will love you.” — As told to Jo Pome- roy-Crockett CW Official Rules: Who can enter? Results: Other contest rules: • Photographers of all ages; must be residents of Oregon or Washington state. • Top 10 photographs will be published in the Coast Weekend print edition on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. • All photographs entered may be used in future publications by the EO Media Group What photographs are eligible? • All subjects are welcome. • Digital entries: Digital photographs may be color or black-and-white and must be JPEGs, maximum of 5MB, 300 dpi resolution and at least 5”x7” in image size. • Top 25 photographs will be published online at CoastWeekend.com on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. • Each entry must include the entrant’s name, home address, age, a description of the photograph and email address. • Gift cards will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners, plus a People’s Choice winner voted for online Dec. 18 to Dec. 24. Submission deadline: • Entries will be accepted Friday, Nov. 17 through Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 Submit all photos online at: www.coastweekend.com/cwphotocontest
