4A • February 13, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com 5HÀHFWLRQV ELAINE TRUCKE Seven wonders of Cannon Beach: The cannon’s journey Ever wonder how Can- non Beach got its name? The story is as confusing as most historical rumor-wrapped tales, but it is still pretty darn good. A land parcel at Elk Creek grew to be the town known as “Eola,” which eventually became Cannon Beach. But that’s not really the story we are going to focus on. The focus of this story is of the original cannon that was discovered along the coastline in 1898. This car- ronade initially washed up in Arch Cape in 1846. Where did it come from? Well, WKH YHU\ ¿UVW FDQQRQ WR EH discovered in our area was torn, along with a portion of the decking, from the USS Shark. USS Shark The Shark, a U.S. naval schooner, wrecked on the Columbia River bar on Sept. 10, 1846. During the wreck, Lt. Neil Howison ordered three masts chopped down and all 12 of the ship’s can- nons jettisoned in an effort to help lift the ship off of Clat- sop spit. Before the ship’s crew could take action, the ship began to break apart, and pieces of the wreckage were scattered all over the bar. A piece of that wreck- age with several cannons attached washed ashore in what is now Arch Cape. Midshipman T.J. Simes was sent to visit the location, and his report indicates that he was successful in “getting one cannon above the high water mark,” but high tides forced him to leave the two others buried (You might re- member the exciting story of two cannons being discov- ered in Arch Cape in 2008.) In a twist of events, the cannon that was retrieved was lost again. However, tales of the cannon swirled. In December 1863, mail carrier John Hobson report- ed seeing a cannon in Arch Cape Creek (also known as Shark Creek). Soon after, however, the cannon be- came lost when tides buried it in the sand. Rumors of the peek-a-boo sightings of the cannon continued to spread. Lost cannon On May 29, 1891, ear- ly coastal settler James P. $XVWLQ HVWDEOLVKHG WKH ¿UVW SRVWRI¿FHDW$UFK&DSHDQG named the area “Cannon %HDFK´ ZKLFK UHÀHFWHG KLV KRSHRI¿QGLQJWKHORVWFDQ- non. Austin knew that the can- non was supposedly buried in a creek bed nearby, and he reportedly spent much time and money on his endeavor WR ¿QG WKH ORVW DUWLIDFW QR matter how unlikely his dis- covery might have been. He searched unsuccessfully for the cannon until his death in 1894. Four years after Austin’s death, mail carrier George Luce spotted the cannon in the waters of Arch Cape Creek. He ran to tell Austin’s wife, and neighbors John and Mary Gerittse lent their team of horses to pull the heavy item out of the water. Austin’s wife had the cannon placed in front of the SRVW RI¿FH LQ KRQRU RI KHU husband, and it was housed there (I believe) until 1945. The cannon moves In 1945, Mel Goodin purchased and platted the land known as Cannon View Park. To make way for home sites, the cannon needed 8QFRUNHG5DPEOLQJV ELAINE TRUCKE to be moved. George Van Vleet, of Van Vleet Log- ging, donated one acre to the state on which to place the cannon. The Oregon State Department of High- ways prepared a site on the east side of U.S. Highway 101. According to an arti- cle in The Daily Astorian, Goodin, who was the owner of the cannon, donated it to the public. The cannon and accompanying artifacts then were moved to the new lo- cation. How Goodin became the owner of the cannon, I’m not sure. This is where the story gets a little tense and even political. I was told that DQ XQLGHQWL¿HG LQGLYLGXDO was stealing artifacts from DURXQGWKHFDQQRQ$W¿UVWD chain, or two went missing, and then other pieces, until, ¿QDOO\DSRUWLRQRIWKHFDQ- non was “cut off.” According to a story re- ported by The Daily Asto- rian on April 12, 1989, the cannon and capstan had been repeatedly vandal- ized. It was because of this vandalism that the Clatsop County Historical Society and the Heritage Museum in Astoria chose to remove the artifact and put it on display in a safe and secure environ- ment. On April 13, 1989, the original cannon and capstan SUBMITTED PHOTO A child peeks into the cannon; the photo was taken in 1957. Several people have claimed to be the child, but who it is remains uncertain. were moved from the high- way site to the Heritage Mu- seum in Astoria. As part of an agreement with the Arch Cape Com- munity Club Committee, the Clatsop County Histor- ical Society placed an exact replica where the original cannon once stood. To the history museum What happened to the original cannon? Well, after some years, the cannon and capstan were given to the fully established Cannon Beach Historical Society with the express understand- ing that the artifact would be stored with the highest mu- seum standards. The dates are questionable, but it looks as though the cannon arrived at the Cannon Beach Histo- ry Center & Museum in the mid-2000s. In 2012, the original can- non and capstan were sent to Texas A&M to undergo a conservation process to SUBMITTED PHOTO The cannon, capstan, and other artifacts were removed from the shore, and possibly the USS Shark. Many of these artifacts were stolen or damaged in the late 1990s. stop the oxidation that had occurred during the time they were exposed to the elements. The cannon that Cannon Beach is named for will once more go on display at the beginning of next year at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum. Though the story of the cannon is still a sore spot for some, I believe that it is one of the wonders of our coast. From ship’s hull to town icon and everything in between, that little 1 ton cannon has had quite a journey. Elaine Murdy Trucke is executive director of the Cannon Beach History Cen- ter & Museum. Her column appears once a month. STEVEN SINKLER A look at some wines you’ve (maybe) never tried before Here’s how a wine tast- ing usually works: You put some money on the counter, and, in exchange, you hope to taste some outstanding wine. Occasionally, people are truly out for a strictly educa- tional experience, but let’s get real for a minute here: Most people are in chill-out mode and are hoping to get large pours of really great wine. In exchange, they are likely to buy a bottle or two of their favorites so they can continue what has become an enjoyable experience. I can tell you straight up, I’ve yet to hear someone com- plain about a large pour or a “bonus” pour! So, on Saturday after- noons, while most guys are working around the house, spending time with their kids or taking a well-de- served nap, I am hanging out with customers in the tasting room, pouring wine into their glasses and telling the stories of the wines they are tasting. I love it when the room is full and peo- ple are having a good time. And, it’s even better when the customers really like the wines in the lineup. My plan is always to help (Washington). A red grape that is primarily grown in Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany, Lemberger is known for FRPELQLQJ ÀDYRUV RI GDUN fruit and black pepper. Lemberger is a great wine Second in line to enjoy with roasted pork The second wine in the roast and grilled foods. I lineup was pinotage by was surprised that a cou- MAN Vintners (South Afri- ple of customers had not STEVEN SINKLER ca). Pinotage is a relatively just tasted lemberger be- new grape, which was cre- fore, but they had tasted Shake up iar with. I second-guessed ated by crossing pinot noir Kiona’s Lemberger. For the most part, we myself a number of times and cinsault. Because of The last wine in the showcase wine from the wondering what the reac- its pinot noir background, lineup was marechal foch 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW EHFDXVH tions would be and if I was MAN’s Pinotage had a cer- by Airlie Vineyards (Ore- that’s what most of our cus- potentially risking our oth- tain familiarity to it. Pino- gon). Marechal foch is a tomers are interested in. Re- erwise strong reputation, tage is a delicate red wine, French-American hybrid cently, though, I decided to especially with our regulars. full of red fruit. But, where- that is commonly grown shake up the Saturday line- 7KH ¿UVW ³ZLQH \RX¶YH as pinot noir has a unique in colder climates. I grew up and named the tasting, never tried before” was ³IRUHVWÀRRU´ÀDYRUSUR¿OH marechal foch in Iowa “Wines You’ve Never Tried aligote by Steele Wines SLQRWDJHKDVÀDYRUVRIFLQ- because it makes a high Before.” (California). Aligote is the namon and clove. Like pi- quality red wine and can A couple of weeks before second most widely planted not noir, this wine would be handle the brutal cold of the tasting, I starting work- white grape in Burgundy, a good partner with salmon, winter. “Foch” is more of ing with the distributors following the chardonnay EXW WKH VSLF\ ÀDYRU SUR¿OH a fruit-forward wine, but it to identify delicious wines grape. Aligote is also wide- would pair nicely with bar- GHYHORSVQLFHVSLFHÀDYRUV made from lesser-known ly planted in Hungary and becue. Our customers liked that make it a good match grapes. This isn’t as easy other Eastern European this one, too, and even bet- with spicy Thai, rich pas- as you’d think. Across countries. ter, it’s only $14. Again, ta dishes or your favorite the world, wine is made Very few customers had D WHUUL¿F YDOXH DQG ZRUWK barbeque. Because this from more than 3,000 dif- ever tasted aligote before, taking a risk to step outside wine is made in Oregon, ferent grape varieties, but but, happily, it was very your box. several customers had also the truth is that most wine well received. Score one for tried this wine before. Fruit-forward wine comes from about two doz- the unknowns! In the end, then, I’ll The next wine was lem- have to get more creative en grapes, and those are the Steele’s Aligote is crisp ones we are all most famil- DQGSDFNHGIXOORIDSSOHÀD- berger by Kiona Vineyards next time if I want to RXU FXVWRPHUV ¿QG VRPH new favorites and give them a solid, “Enjoy the vino!” as they head out the door. To that end, the Satur- day tasting lineup typically consists of four local wines: two whites and two reds. The staff and I research ev- ery wine in the store, so you can count on every wine on our tasting bar being deli- cious. vors, with nice acidity. This a very food-friendly wine and pairs nicely with salads, cheeses and seafood. Also, at less than $20 per bottle, it’s affordable and a great value. stick to the title of “Wines You’ve Never Tasted Be- fore,” but it was fun to treat our visitors to some- thing new and different and to hear their reactions. A few of our regulars gave me a hard time, but, then that’s what they usually do, so I’m used to it! Ready for adventure The moral of this sto- ry is that wine tasting is just that — an affordable way for you to taste wine, ask questions and decide if you want to take a bot- tle home with you. Keep your mind open because your palate may be up for the adventure even if the grape is unfamiliar to you. And, don’t wait for me to find it for you; if you have a wine you want to taste, give me a shout and I’ll be glad to order it in for you. No matter what wine you’re drinking, please drink responsibly. Don’t ever drink and drive. We want to see you again soon in our tasting room! Steven Sinkler and his wife, Maryann Sinkler, are co-owners of The Wine Shack in Cannon Beach. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Carbon standards To the editor, 2QHRIWKH¿UVWSXEOLFKHDU- ings of the Oregon Legisla- ture’s 2015 session was for Senate Bill 324, which extends the sunset for a low carbon fuel standards program set to expire Dec. 31. The alleged purpose of car- bon standards is to reduce the “carbon intensity” of fossil fuels. Producers of biofuels will be given “carbon intensity credits” for their production of “renewable” energy products. Suppliers of gasoline and diesel will be forced to purchase these “carbon intensity credits” to “mitigate” their carbon dioxide emissions. The Department of Environ- mental Quality estimates this will increase the price of gaso- line by about 19 cents per gal- lon. Consumer user groups are estimating costs to be closer to $1 per gallon. 6%UHTXLUHVQRQRWL¿FD- tion of the covert tax to be pro- vided to consumers. Most Ore- gonians won’t realize that they are paying an extra $2 to $20 to ¿OOXSWKHLUJDVWDQNV The carbon standards is not really about saving the planet. Even the complete elimination of ALL Oregon greenhouse gas emissions would not result in a measurable difference in global emissions. It’s not about social justice, either. Families living at or near poverty levels spend the high- est percentage of their income for energy. They will suffer the JUHDWHVWKDUPE\IRUFLQJDUWL¿- cial and unaffordable increases in energy prices upon them. Oregonians concerned about this misguided policy should contact their state represen- tatives and senators and urge them to oppose SB 324. 6WDWH6HQ'RXJ:KLWVHWW .ODPDWK)DOOV Why keep insurance company? To the editor, A current TV ad line: “So what I want to know is … why do you still have that insurance company?” We’d like to ask that question of city of Cannon %HDFKRI¿FLDOV A month ago there was a massive failure of the water main 20 feet up the hill from our Cannon Beach home. The 30,000-gallon reservoir drained in about three minutes, then drew more water from its feeder reservoir. A lot of that water surged down into our property and under our home. Result: large deposits of road gravel, rocks, dirt and sand in garden beds and yard; broken fence; under- mined retaining wall, walkway and foundation. A month later, the city and their insurance company, (CIS – Citycounty Insurance Ser- vices), have denied our claim and refused to do anything to repair extensive exterior dam- age and clean up the mess they made. An estimate for the res- toration and cleanup is hefty. We are frustrated that the city has been slow to deal with this problem for which it is fully answerable. Where are simple common sense and neighborly respect here? Why doesn’t our city have policies and proper adequate insurance, WKDW IXO¿OO WKHLU UHVSRQVLELOLW\ for the damages their structures have done? A month ago! So … why do they still have that insurance company? 'RXJODV-+DGOH\ &DQQRQ%HDFKDQG &KDUOHYRL[0LFK