January 26, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A
Cannon Beach is a little town with a lot of history
O
ne of my favorite comments
from museum visitors is,
“Who knew your little town
had so much history!” The truth
is Cannon Beach’s past might not
be as lengthy as that of European
towns or as rich as New York, but
Cannon Beach can hold its own
with tales of rum running, misused
dynamite, and even eccentric
British bachelors. Over the next
few articles, I was hoping to focus
on some of the true characters of
Cannon Beach, some of whom were
true remittance men.
Due to British primogeniture law,
daughters and second sons of the
British aristocracy were unable to
inherit. During the 1870s these sons
and daughters were often sent away,
sometimes with a small lump sum
of family heirlooms or funds. Some
even received annual or monthly
lump sums from their families.
The remittance men (or women)
weren’t just sent away due to lack
of inheritance, for some it was due
to an unapproved marriage or to
save the family from some kind of
embarrassment.
Some of these British bachelors
found themselves in Cannon Beach.
Names like Joe Walsh, Herbert
Logan, Marmaduke Maxwell, and
even Robert (Jack) Astbury pop up
in Cannon Beach’s historic records.
Early settlers like John Delbert
Griffin, whose parents were some
of the earliest settlers in Cannon
PUBLIC MEETINGS
TUESDAY, Feb. 6
Cannon Beach City Council, 7 p.m., City
Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
THURSDAY, Feb. 8
Cannon Beach Academy, 5:30 p.m. 3718
S. Hemlock St.
TUESDAY, Feb. 13
Cannon Beach City Council, 5:30 p.m., work
session, City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
THURSDAY, Feb. 15
Cannon Beach Parks and Community
Services Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163
E. Gower St.
Cannon Beach Design Review Board
Meeting, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
TUESDAY, Feb. 20
Cannon Beach Public Works Committee,
9 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Seaside School District Board of Directors,
6 p.m., 1801 S. Franklin, Seaside.
ELAINE TRUCKE
Beach wrote, “Reflection on Early
Cannon Beach.” In his book, Griffin
remembers local remittance man Joe
Walsh. It seems Walsh was partial
to using his remittance funds for
alcohol in Seaside and on one return
Griffin recalled, “I remember one
time the tide was well in and here
comes Joe on his horse dragging
through the soft sand and drift logs.
Just as he reached our place Joe fell
off his horse.”
Many remittance men had
never held a job and had little to
no skill to speak of. They were
often considered to be lazy drunken
scoundrels. While Joe Walsh might
have had some of these habits, the
other remittance men in Cannon
Beach were industrious to say the
least. Walsh also helped Herbert
Logan with his properties and was a
ranchman at Seaside. Herbert Logan
built the Elk Creek Hotel, the first
hotel in Seaside, and campaigned
the area as a sportsman’s paradise,
perfect for rest and respite. He also
purchased property in Seaside and
managed the Elk Creek Toll Road
– and so much more! Jack Astbury
was a popular fellow in the area. He
was an excellent dancer, very active
CANNON BEACH HISTORY CENTER
Robert (Jack) Astbury with the Astoria Football Club in 1894. The As-
toria Football Club was one of the sponsors of the first Astoria Regatta.
Astbury is seated, second from the left.
in the community, was mannerly,
and was an excellent county survey-
or. Or at least, so the stories go. In
1895, Astbury was made captain of
the Seaside cricket team.
As county surveyor, Astbury sur-
veyed parts of Astoria, Seaside, Elk
Creek Road and even the area south
of Tillamook Head known as Elk
Creek, now Cannon Beach. This
plat map is currently on display at
the museum in our exhibit, “The
Long Road Home.” He conducted
surveys during various years, but
it seems as if the first survey he
conducted was done in Seaside
in 1896. He continued surveying
the area until 1906, but by 1908,
Astbury had moved to Gold Hill,
Oregon and began growing apples.
He never married and passed away
peacefully in 1945.
Can you tell me what assault rifles are good for?
G
UNS!!!
OK, now I have everyone’s
attention. Whether you are a
left-wing pinko Commie sympathizer
that hates guns or a far right wing
NRA passionate gun lover, you can’t
take your eyes off of the page when
guns are mentioned.
Where do I stand? I am a gun
owner and I believe in the right to
keep and bear arms as provided in our
constitution. I am NOT a member of
the NRA as I believe that they have
consistently opposed logical and
reasonable controls over the sale and
possession of firearms.
Do we need controls over the sale
and possession of firearms? Yes, just
as you can’t yell “fire” in a crowded
theater, we as a country need to protect
ourselves from guns.
The argument will be made that
MAKING WAVES
JOHN HUISMANN
we already have a lot of regulations.
This is certainly true. However, the
regulations that are there are not being
observed or enforced in many instanc-
es. Just look at the Air Force’s failure
to properly report crimes that could
have prevented another recent shooter
from buying an assault rifle.
So, let’s talk assault rifles. What
are assault rifles good for? Simply put,
they allow the user to kill people with
extreme efficiency. They are appropri-
ate for the military but have no place
in a civilian population. Very frankly, if
you want to kill people, I would prefer
that you not be able to do it efficiently.
I want you to have to think about each
life that you plan to end in the process
of doing your dirty deed. I want to
make it difficult for you to do it quick-
ly. I don’t want you to be able to buy
an assault rifle at your local gun store.
I was a hunter for years. The state
in which I was raised has a large deer
hunt every year. There was also bird
and varmint hunting similar to Oregon.
I hunted elk here too. Having done so,
I can tell you that an assault rifle is not
suitable for any hunting. That is unless
you are hunting human beings.
The one common denominator in
most of the mass shootings in the past
10 years has been the use of assault
rifles. Isn’t that enough to get us to
band together, say enough and ban
assault rifles except for use by the
military and police? If it were just
us citizens, the answer would be a
M U N I C I PA L M E M O
Is published monthly by the City of Cannon Beach
163 E. Gower Street • P.O. Box 368 • Cannon Beach, OR 97110
(503) 436-1581 • Fax: (503) 436-2050 • TTY (503) 436-8097
FEBRUARY 2018
MEETINGS
CITY HALL CLOSED
FEBRUARY 2018
6
13
15
20
21
22
City Council Regular Meeting
City Council Work Session
Design Review Board
City Council Work Session
City Council/Budget Committee
Planning Commission
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING,
January 2, 2018
• Adopted the FY 2016-17 Audit
Report;
• Cannon Beach Farmers Market Man-
ager, Philomena Lloyd presented
the CBFM 2017 annual report;
• Appointed Les
Wierson to the
EPREP Committee,
Barb Knop to the
Parks & Commu-
nity Services Com-
mittee and Jenee
Pearce-Mushen to
the Public Works
Committee. Re-
appointed Lisa
Kerr and Janet
Kilpatrick to the
Planning Commis-
sion
CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION,
January 9, 2018
• Haystack Rock
Awareness Pro-
gram Coordinator,
Melissa Keyser
presented the
HRAP 2017 annual report;
• Emergency Management Consul-
tant, Stacy Burr presented an update
on projects;
• Finance Director, Laurie Sawrey
presented and led a discussion
regarding a possible agreement
with AirBnB; consensus among
Council was to not proceed with the
agreement;
• Council consensus to direct staff to
proceed with writing transient room
tax ordinance changes and bring it
back to the Council for discussion.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL SETTING RE-
TREAT, January 13, 2018
Other notable characters include
Marmaduke Maxwell, Joe Walsh
and James Jacob Mahar, also known
as Jimmy the Tough.” Jimmy the
Tough homesteaded north of Silver
Point before 1894.
The remittance men practice con-
tinued until World War I. Just a few
years after World War I primogeniture
law was abolished in England, in
1925 to be exact. The remittance men
and women of Great Britain did not
just end up in America, many were
sent to New Zealand, Canada, Austra-
lia, and much farther. As one historian
surmised, this probably helped spread
the use of the English language.
These men definitely had an
impact on the character of Cannon
Beach. They contributed substantial-
ly to the character of our community
just by bringing a little bit of home
with them through their construc-
tion, entrepreneurism and ideals.
Cannon Beach has had a series of
wonderful characters that have add-
ed to the charm of our small town;
you’ll hear their stories over the
next few articles.
If you would like more infor-
mation, the museum is home to an
extensive oral history collection,
over 12,000 historic documents and
photos, and a great research library.
The Cannon Beach History Center
& Museum is open 11 a.m. until 4
p.m. Wednesday through Monday.
Located at 1387 South Spruce St.,
stop on by and see what we have!
REFLECTIONS
7:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Discussed topics and projects and
agreed on a schedule to review each
in detail at future work sessions.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SES-
SION, January 23, 2018
• The Arts Council of Clatsop County
gave a presentation
“Arts Means Busi-
ness”;
• Council and Tour-
ism and Arts Com-
mission members
met to discuss the
program and the
commission;
• Discussed possible
changes to the Event
Signage ordinance;
as agreed at the
retreat.
DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD – The De-
sign Review Board
did not meet in
January. They are
scheduled to meet
February 15th at
6:00pm.
PLANNING COMMISSION - The
Planning Commission met December
19, 2017, and discussed:
SR 17-04, Vanbeek et al, Request for
a Setback Reduction in Conjunction
with a Remodel at 179 W. Surfcrest.
Denied.
P 17-01, OTAK, Inc., Request for a
Partition for Two Lots Located on N.
Hemlock Street. Approved.
V 17-02, Mike Clark; Request for a
Variance to the Minimum Allowed
Off-Street Parking Spaces in Con-
junction with the Rebuilding of the
Sealark Apartments at 124 N. Larch.
Approved w/Conditions.
Monday, February 19th in observance of Presidents
Day
WEATHER IMPACT REPORT
Impact associated with the January 18, 2018 storm to
the overall community of Cannon Beach was minimal.
There was minor damage to the stairs leading to Hay-
stack, as well as, significant debris along our beaches,
beach access points and parks but no significant struc-
tural or infrastructure damage was reported.
BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS FORUMS
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm,
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 1:30 pm – 4:00pm, City
Hall Council Chambers
No business is immune to the effects of an emer-
gency situation and every business should have a plan
of action that is commensurate with their needs. This
forum will focus on the importance of preparing your
business, your employees, and protecting your assets in
the event of a disaster.
Instructor: Stacy M. Burr, Cannon Beach Emergency
Management Consultant. Please RSVP to: email@stacy-
burrconsulting.com
HAYSTACK ROCK AWARENESS PROGRAM
Why does HRAP need volunteers?
Thousands of people visit Cannon Beach every
summer, and many are drawn to our local monolith,
Haystack Rock. With a small seasonal staff team and lim-
ited funds, HRAP depends on volunteers to accomplish
its goals. Volunteers play a crucial role in educating
the public and visiting school groups while promoting
stewardship of our natural treasure.
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers do all sorts of things. Most visible are
the beach interpreters who educate visitors about the
amazing marine and bird life at Haystack Rock. Some
on the beach duties include: setting up the trailer dis-
play, manning bird scopes, guiding tidepool tours, and
reminding people about the rules of the rock. Volun-
teers also help organize potlucks, update educational
materials and many other activities.
Why volunteer?
HRAP volunteers are part of an exciting outdoor edu-
cation program! Our staff and volunteers have diverse
backgrounds and talents making our team dynamic and
interesting. Volunteering is a great way to meet people
from all over and to learn more about this special part
of the world. Our program began with volunteers in
1985 and will only persist in the future with the help of
volunteers.
I know nothing about tidepool life or birds. Can I
still help?
Of course! The only requirements are interest and
enthusiasm! Staff is always present on the beach to
help answer questions. Many of our volunteers start
with little knowledge, but gain a lot quickly by simply
volunteering. HRAP also hosts three trainings each year
to help both volunteers and staff gain the knowledge
needed to be a successful interpreter.
Until the next training, check out our links page to
find websites that provide basic marine biology, fun
tidepool tidbits, photos and seabird information. Also
check out our HRAP resource links below.
resounding yes. The problem is, it’s
not just us.
The NRA is one of the strongest
special interests. It is funded by both
the gun industry and all of those pas-
sionate gun lovers out there. They have
demonstrated that they are willing to
fight each and every effort to get some
common sense into our gun laws.
They literally own enough of our legis-
lators to prevent any national action to
curb the availability of any weapons.
Some states have made strides in that
direction. But, without national action,
state laws can be avoided by simply
going to a neighboring state.
So, do you really need an assault
rifle in your life? Do you have a need
to kill fellow human beings with great
speed and efficiency? Unless your
answer to the second question is yes,
you don’t need an assault rifle.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
MAYOR: Sam Steidel
COUNCILORS: Mike Benefield,
Nancy McCarthy, Brandon
Ogilvie and George Vetter
CITY MANAGER: Bruce St. Denis
I’m not sure about being on the beach. How else can
I help?
We can use you! Serving on a committee, donating
equipment and services, assisting with mailing --again,
interest and enthusiasm are the only requirements.
Okay, you convinced me. How do I sign up?
Simply contact HRAP’s volunteer coordinator at (503)
436-8064 or Habecker@ci.cannon-beach.or.us.
NOTICE OF VACANCIES
CITY COMMISSIONS, BOARDS
& COMMITTEES
The City of Cannon Beach is seeking applications for
the following vacancies:
BUDGET COMMITTEE: ONE (1) vacancy to fill a
three-year term beginning January 2018. The primary
responsibility of the Budget Committee is to review and
recommend the proposed annual budget for the City.
The Budget Committee meets on several occasions
between April and the end of June. Meeting times vary.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (EPREP) COMMIT-
TEE: TWO (2) vacancies to fill four-year terms. The
EPREP Committee meets regularly for the purpose of
providing evacuation planning and public education
regarding emergency preparedness. The Emergency
Preparedness Committee normally holds its regular
meetings on the last Friday of each month at 9:00 a.m.
and may schedule work sessions as needed.
TOURISM & ARTS COMMISSION: ONE (1) vacancy
to fill a four-year term beginning in January 2018. The
seven-member Tourism and Arts Commission devel-
ops grant guidelines and procedures, and distributes
and accounts for the monies in the “Tourism and Arts
Fund” which are to be used by local non-profit groups
to promote tourism and the arts in Cannon Beach. Each
member shall have experience in one or more of the
following areas: public relations, marketing, advertis-
ing, tourism, lodging, promotions, events promotion,
art and/or publicity. The Tourism and Arts Commission
holds its meetings as needed.
Note: Tourism and Arts Commission applicants are not
required to reside in Cannon Beach and are eligible if
he or she has worked, at least part-time, within the City
of Cannon Beach for at least one year, immediately
preceding appointment.
To be eligible to serve on a City committee, ap-
plicants must have resided within the city or its urban
growth boundary during the one year immediately
preceding appointment; or at the time of appointment,
shall have owned real property located within the city
or its urban growth boundary for at least one year
immediately preceding appointment. (See ‘Note’ re:
TAC). Applications with questionnaires are available at
City Hall, 163 E. Gower Street, Cannon Beach, by email
addressed to riggs@ci.cannon-beach.or.us, or on-line
at www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us. For consideration at the
February 6, 2018 City Council meeting, applications
and questionnaires must be returned to Colleen Riggs,
Assistant City Manager, Cannon Beach City Hall, at P.O.
Box 368, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 by Friday, January
26th. Late applications will not be accepted. For more
information, please contact Colleen Riggs by email or
phone at (503) 436-8052.
