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