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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2018)
May 4, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A Perilous adventures on the road to Cannon Beach or those of us who live in Cannon Beach and the surrounding area, the trek to “the city” can seem exhausting. Highway 26 is a bumpy, winding, traffic-filled nightmare at the best of times, and in winter down right dangerous. We take for granted that this trip takes only a few hours when just over 100 years ago, the journey was a long one, indeed. In the early years of traveling to Cannon Beach the trek was a full- day journey that typically combined traveling by boat down the Colum- bia River from Portland, disembark- ing at Astoria and then taking anoth- er boat down the Skipanon River, horseback, or stage coach to Seaside – then onward to Cannon Beach. The first train to travel to Seaside arrived in May of 1898. This train was often referred to as the “Daddy Train.” This decreased travel time to Cannon Beach by several hours. Travelers would journey from Seaside by horse, stagecoach or by foot to Cannon Beach. Long-time resident and author of “Comin’ in Over the Rock,” Peter Lindsey com- F REFLECTIONS ELAINE TRUCKE pares the journey from Seaside to Cannon Beach as “the Bataan Death March.” The road, barely more than a trail, was a muddy mess for most of the year. At one point the road to Cannon Beach was purported to have a stomach-churning 111 turns. By 1920 a highway was con- structed along the Columbia River and decreased the travel to Cannon Beach to just over five hours. The road still consisted of a dizzying number of curves and was main- ly mud and gravel. Wolf Creek Highway from Manning to the Necanicum Junction was complet- ed in 1941, this is now known as Highway 26. This decreased travel time to less than three hours. New links to Portland were completed in 1948 and the road was dedicated at the Sunset Highway. It wasn’t until 1950 that a new road was construct- CANNON BEACH HISTORY CENTER AND MUSEUM This photo was taken in 1907 of ladies “hugging” the hand-holds at Hug Point. ed to Cannon Beach from Seaside that eliminated the 111 curves. If you wondering about traveling south from Cannon Beach, it wasn’t the leisurely journey that we enjoy today. Highway 101 did not exist prior to 1932. The journey south from Cannon Beach was either along the beach or by a mountain trail. Mary Gerritse was the local mail carrier from 1897 to 1902. Both trails had their own dangers; the mountain trail was narrow and had steep drop offs, while the beach road was only accessible at ex- treme low tides. To cross the point between Arcadia and Hug Point beaches, as they are now known, one had to “hug” the rock. In 1893, hand and footholds were dug out of the sandstone around the face of point, allowing a person to climb along the shallow ledge, hugging the rock. This was how Hug Point became known as Hug Point. Gerritse nearly drowned and lost her prized horse Prince attempting to cross this area at high tide. The way was treacherous and, at times, inaccessible. In 1910 Hug Point was blasted with dynamite to make a road that would be accessible for longer stretches of time between high and low tide. Once the road was completed stagecoaches were able to use it to bypass the cliffs off of the coast by hugging the edge of the cliff and escaping the waves of the Pacific Ocean. This route was called the Oregon Coast Highway and is now considered part of the Oregon Coast Trail. To learn more visit the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum and check out our new exhibit “The Long Road Home.” The museum is open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesday. ‘Unveiling’ art book sale offers treasures for the coffee table R eaders may note my photograph differs from that of Carla O’Reilly. She has decided it’s time someone else produce a monthly column about library activities, personalities, events, services, volunteers, fundraising, etc. I’m that someone, but I encourage other library members to share this task so “At the Library” contains more voices than mine. Consider volunteering as a columnist or library volunteer, become an active member of the Cannon Beach Library — a nonprofit organization central to Can- non Beach life. Carla deserves a big “thank you” for diligently providing Gazette readers with library news. Thank you, Carla. A new columnist wasn’t the only change last week. Did others notice fewer days of rain, softer showers, flowering trees, dry pavement, more AT THE LIBRARY JOSEPH BERNT smiles, more tourists? Spring arrived, matched by an increase in library activity. This weekend, May 6-8, the Can- non Beach arts community celebrates Spring Unveiling. Janet Bates, library board secretary and book pricing committee chairperson, mentions that committee members spent months accumulating donated art, gardening and coffee table books for the Spring Unveiling Art Book Sale, May 4-12. The book sale room remains open, freshly stocked with mysteries, fic- tion, history and biography. Janet also notes preparation for a Memorial Day Weekend Rare and Old Books Sale, May 26-28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for the July Fourth Book Sale, July 4 -7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “If you are spring cleaning and en- counter books you want to share with other book lovers, now is the time to consider donating them to the library,” she advises. “Our holiday sales will insure they find good homes.” Don’t miss local novelist Deborah Reed’s Northwest Authors presenta- tion, Saturday, May 12, at the library. Reed will discuss and read from “The Days When Birds Come Back,” her sixth novel published in seven years. She also will explain how the natural world informs and heals us, particularly those who live, like Reed, along the Pacific Northwest coast, the setting for her novel. Reed’s narrative explores the rela- tionship between two fragile charac- ters. June, who returned from Ireland without her husband, hires Jameson, a carpenter whose marriage imploded earlier, to restore a bungalow where June spent childhood years with grandparents. Reed has lived and presented writ- ing workshops throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her family has ties to the South; but Reed grew up in Michigan and Florida, attended 11 elementary schools, and lived as an adult in Ger- many, Los Angeles, several places in Oregon including Portland and finally Manzanita. She calls Manzanita, clearly recognizable in her latest novel, home. Other connections to Oregon include graduating from Oregon State University and completing her master of fine arts degree in creative writing at Pacific University. LETTERS Letters from Page 4A knows they deserve to be paid well for the incredible work they do. John also under- stands that past commitments need to be kept. As a representative for all the citizens of the North Coast, John has boldly spo- ken out about the negative impacts of the unfunded mandate of PERS. Our local school districts, and county governments are struggling to meet their PERS require- ments. As a PERS recipient I respect John’s stand that the current state budget deficit of $1.6 billion should not be solved on the backs of school employees. Orr’s solution to balanc- ing the Oregon budget is to increase corporate taxes be- cause their share of the tax burden has decreased signifi- cantly. In the 1970s corpora- tions paid 18% of the income taxes in Oregon and today they pay only 6%. The burden for making up the difference has fallen on the working middle class. As a lifetime member of OEA I am voting for John Orr who is not afraid to take on the most difficult funding problems facing our state. Orr has the intelligence, the ex- perience and the courage to makes changes in Salem. Cheryl Johnson Astoria Cannon Beach Food Pantry thank you The mission of the Can- non Beach Food Pantry is to provide food and essentials to the hungry in our community in a loving and compassionate manner. We volunteers are humbled and delighted that so many people turned out in the driving wind and rain to support us in our recent fund- raiser “Soup for the Soul of Cannon Beach.” A special thanks to the 22 people who brought in soup for our efforts, and to the many merchants and in- dividuals who gave so gen- erously. With grateful hearts and a plumper bank account, our food pantry will contin- ue to support our most needy neighbors. Thank you everyone. Judy Wood Nancy Littell Co-chairs Cannon Beach Food Pantry Fix our infrastructure now The North Coast is grow- ing and with it, the need to maintain, repair and improve our bridges, roads, highways, and municipal water systems. These efforts require large amounts of capital. Our state is now rated near America’s bottom among the 50 states for infrastructure. This is bad for business. Due to tax cut- ting initiatives, the ability of state and local governments to meet demand for these capital investments has fallen behind. Our roads will need to accom- modate greater numbers of travelers and keep commer- cial haulers moving efficient- ly in and out of our commu- nities. The cost of delay will only increase. We must act before disaster or tragedy strikes. It’s time to invest in our future. As a candidate for the Or- egon House in this district, I have been listening to your concerns. Dale McDowell, Seaside Public Works Di- rector, recently told me of Seaside’s most pressing in- frastructure concern: The Av- enue U Bridge. Upgrade work is shovel ready but lacking $6 million funding. The upgrade is necessary to avoid likely destruction in an earthquake. Even were the funding avail- able, the Oregon Department of Transportation lacks the funding to hire necessary project managers. Another example: bicyclists, pedestri- ans and public safety would be well served by a pedestrian overpass in Gearhart across highway 101. Yet such a proj- ect lacks funding despite ob- vious need and benefit. The State must be more respon- sive to local infrastructure needs on the North Coast. If I am elected, I will do my best to see that it is. John F. Orr Astoria LEWIS & CLARK TIMBERLANDS Recreational Access Permit Public Notice All recreational activities on Lewis & Clark Timberlands Oregon will require a no fee recreational permit effective June 1, 2018 To acquire a permit (available 5/21/18): Go online to greenwoodresources.com and click on Recreation Access, or Scan the QR code using your smartphone at one of our access gate signs. Call 503.755.6655 for recorded information. Our goal is to provide a quality recreational experience while improving communications with our timberland visitors. Your New Home is Waiting For You! Join us for a free Christian Science Talk on Harmony and Healing Discover how you can experience them in your life “The law of Assisted Living Apartments NOW AVAILABLE! Come and see why we say your life is our commitment. 101 Forest Drive, Seaside, Oregon harmony and Christian Science healing” by Josh Astoria Public Library Flag Room 450 10th Steet, Astoria Sponsored by the Christian Science Churches: Gearhart | 503-738-0200 Astoria | 503-325-5719 Call Heather to schedule a tour today! 503-738-0307 www.suzanneelise.com Cannon Beach’s Best Selection of Oregon and Washington Wine! Niles, CSB, a Christian Science Teacher and Healer Saturday, May 12 th at 2 pm Besides “The Days When Birds Come Back,” Reed has published three other literary novels: “Carry Yourself Back to Me,” “Things We Set on Fire,” and “Olivay.” Two thrill- ers, “A Small Fortune” and “Fortune’s Deadly Decent,” were published under a pseudonym, Audrey Braun. Cannon Beach Bookstore will offer copies of “The Days When Birds Come Back” for purchase and signing at her talk, from 2 to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 12, at the library, 131 N. Hemlock St. The Cannon Beach Reads group will discuss Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” and sample coffee and cookies at the library, Wednesday, May 16, from 7 to 8 p.m. Lynne Murray will lead this group discussion to which all are invited. UPCOMING TASTINGS Shack Hours Sunday - Thursday 11am to 5pm Friday & Saturday 11am to 5:30pm Tasting Room Hours Daily • 1 to 5pm May 5 • Puffin & Friends! May 11 • Fundraiser - Leonetti Wine Tasting May 12 • Wines For Mother’s Day! May 19 • Wine Tasting - Blind Tasting, Guess the Grape! May 26 • Wine Tasting - Lujon Cellars “Best Wine Shop” - 2016 & 2018 Reader’s Choice Award 124 N. Hemlock, Cannon Beach - 503.436.1100 - www.thewineshack.wine