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THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2019
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Jonathan Williams
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DailyAstorian
You know you’re from Astoria when…
Writer explores
town’s quirks,
charms and
past times
By HEATHER DOUGLAS
F
ull disclosure. This list was
inspired by a “Car Talk”
radio segment about Bos-
ton. I was born in Astoria
in 1977. While I have traveled
the world, I’ve spent most of my
life in this town. This is by no
means a comprehensive list, but
rather things that stick out in my
memory.
I hope locals have a laugh. For
newcomers, I hope you are brave
enough to ask a local to explain.
You know you
grew up in Astoria if …
A speck of snow means no
school.
You remember a time when
walking down the aisles of Payless
was entertainment.
You say “pop” and not “soda.”
You remember paying a toll to
cross the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
You learned to count back
change at The Chicken Coop.
You remember when the fair-
grounds was downtown.
You’ve had a pre-dawn donut
and coffee at Danish Maid Bakery
before clamming.
You watched “E.T.” at the
drive-in movie theater in Gearhart.
You remember the Port of Asto-
ria water tower, Hauke’s Sentry
and IGA.
You went to Gray School and
remember Bob’s Grocery store.
You got photography advice
from Chuck at The Compleat
Photographer.
You remember the tiny tree on
Youngs Bay Bridge which was
decorated for Christmas.
You remember when the Asto-
ria Column and Liberty Theatre
were in disrepair.
You’ve eaten at Fultano’s after
a sporting event.
You remember listening to
KAST and hearing about the “tem-
perature in the bogs.”
You’ve bought sweatpants,
duck boots, Xtra Tufs or Romeos
at Link’s Outdoors.
You’ve seen the Peter Iredale
shrink over the years in family
photos.
You took swimming lessons
from Carla Oja at Tapiola Pool.
You got an accidental mul-
let, rat tail or a bowl cut at the old
Astoria Beauty College.
See Astoria, Page B2
Photos by Sara Meyer
TOP: Heather Douglas riding her
horse in the fair at the Clatsop County
Fairgrounds in 1993. MIDDLE: Cannery
workers in Astoria. BOTTOM: Buoy 10.