November 11, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 5A
A look at life in Seaside in the 1920s and 1930s
L
ooking back again in histo-
ry, Seaside during the early
1920s seemed a sunny, happy
place, with a new editor of the
Seaside Signal. E.N. Hurd liked to
keep a mostly positive outlook in
the newspaper in spite of uncertain
fi nancial situations sweeping across
the nation. The previous editor of
the signal, Robert Watson, had a
personal vendetta against one of the
local saloon owners, B.J. Callahan,
and often used the paper to state
his opinions about Callahan and
other things he liked or didn’t like,
as loudly as possible. The new
editor changed this to everything he
reported being slightly sugar-coated,
even while small rural banks across
the United States were steadily fail-
ing at the rate of about 600 a year in
the 1920s leading up the great 1929
stock market crash. Seaside’s own
bank failed in 1927, coincidentally
at the same time as the Seaside Sig-
nal changed hands. However, from
the headlines in the Seaside Signal,
it seemed all was rosy in Seaside.
A few indicators that some things
were tight were mentioned in the
paper: gasoline shortages as gas for
cars ran out in the entire county, and
new expected shipments were not
up to meeting the demand.
The automobile was still fairly
new and car accidents were listed
BETWEEN
THE COVERS
ESTHER MOBERG
weekly, often with cars tipping over
on the beach or being stuck in mud
for hours at a time. Most accidents
resulted in bruising or cuts and
scrapes with only a few serious inju-
ries when cars collided. The mayor
apparently took some people out for
practice in avoiding the larger mud
holes but even so people seemed to
still get stuck.
In the 1920s, Seaside contracted
for water from the city of Warren-
ton, who used the Skipanon River as
their main water source. The water
fl ow to Seaside through clay pipes
was at times problematic, and in
1925 Seaside created a new water
system and watershed for Seaside.
At this time Gearhart signed up for
water from Seaside, however they
would eventually end up going back
to buying water from Warrenton.
In one incident between Seaside
and Gearhart, the water bill in one
month for the city exceeded their
total budget for the year because the
meter said millions of gallons went
to Gearhart, when in fact they only
received several hundred thousand
gallons due to faulty water pressure
and leaky pipes. Water resources in
the 1920s across the county were
often problematic due to pipes that
lacked the right pressure, how far
they were from the source, and an
inability to properly maintain the
pipes.
The Bungalow, the local dance
pavilion, burned down in the 1920s
and a New Bungalow was built that
held the local dances and included
new styles of music including a
saxophone player. As usual, most
summer businesses in the west part
of Seaside closed in September for
the fall and winter after the summer
visitors left.
In the 1920s the Women’s Club
was the main supporter of many
activities for the city including the
dahlia fair and the city library. Over
300 books had been received by the
library during the summer of 1920
as visitors came to Seaside and do-
nated reading material to the library.
Mrs. Hurd was president of the club
through 1920. The Woman’s Club
had several different groups includ-
ing ‘home economics’, ‘literary
department’, and a ‘music depart-
ment’ from which the club meetings
were entertained on various topics.
Both the Breakwater (men’s cham-
ber group) and the Women’s Club
worked together to put on fund-
One Signal
editor was
considered
“soft” on
hard news.
This is the
Signal the
week of the
1929 stock
market
crash.
FILE PHOTO
raisers that helped beautify the city
and purchase books for the library.
One joint fundraiser they did was
based on the 1849 pioneer and gold
rush days and included Wild West
themed dances (held at the New
Bungalow), games, sideshows, and
other curiosities. Some books that
were added to the library shelves in
1920 (that you may still read today)
included books by Zane Grey, Gene
Stratton Porter, Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twin, the Jungle Book
by Rudyard Kipling, and some of
the Tarzan books by Edgar Rice
Burroughs.
LETTERS
OBITUARIES
Michael Evenson Allen
Fred ‘Bob’ David Thoman
Nov. 21, 1951 — Oct. 19, 2016
Dec. 5, 1928 — Oct. 11, 2016
Michael Allen
Michael Evenson Allen
died at his Gearhart home
on a rainy Wednesday eve-
ning, Oct. 19, 2016. He was
surrounded by his children,
to whom he was an excel-
lent father, and who love
him more than anyone;
his sister, whom he loved,
and whose loving support
during his fi nal days was
invaluable to him and his
family; and two of his old-
est friends, whom he loved
and who have made a life-
time of memories with Mi-
chael, even if many of those
are from a lifetime ago.
Michael was born on
Nov. 21, 1951, to two
wonderful parents, Devere
Franklin Allen (July 4,
1927 — Dec. 17, 1997) and
Margaret Carol Evenson,
born March 21, 1929, and
still with us today. He grew
up in Clatskanie, the el-
dest of four siblings, and is
survived by Debby Brown
of Hillsboro, Steve Al-
len of Portland and Kathy
Ormseth of Saratoga, Cal-
ifornia. During his forma-
tive years in Clatskanie,
he met many of the people
he still counted as close
friends decades later, and
he always had a place in his
heart for the small town.
In his early adulthood,
Michael worked for the
family business for a time,
buying and selling lum-
ber and supervising a mill
in North Plains. He also
studied music theory at
Portland State Universi-
ty in order to gain a richer
understanding of the music
he so loved to listen to and
perform. When many of
his best friends remember
Michael, it is with a gui-
tar in his arms or seated at
a piano. While at Portland
State, Michael also studied
counseling, and for a time
in the late 1980s, Michael
did volunteer work with
kids living on the streets of
Portland. I remember how
much it meant to him to be
able to help those who real-
ly needed it.
Michael married Gay-
le Kerkhoven in 1984,
and from their union came
Kathryn Nicole Allen
(born in 1985) and Dono-
van Franklin Allen (born
in 1989). Michael put ev-
erything he had in to be-
ing a parent. He taught
his children his version of
the golden rule, and to “do
what you say you will do,”
and generally just to try to
be the best person you can
be.
His children have him to
thank every day for some of
the core elements of their
personalities, his years of
caring investment in them
and their futures, and for
holiday meetings and late
night phone calls to talk
about anything or nothing,
for years after they left the
nest. Michael’s children
love him, and will never
forget him.
In 1995, Michael and
Gayle split ways, and
Michael moved his kids
from Portland to Gearhart,
where he eventually would
purchase the family beach
home, a nearly 100-year-
old cedar shingled house
that screamed “classic
Gearhart.” Michael made
the home his own over the
years, without sacrifi cing
its beachy heart. The home
he now leaves to his chil-
dren is unique in a sea of
rental houses, fi lled with art
and music, with something
unexpected around every
corner. Michael truly loved
this house, and truly loved
Gearhart.
Everyone who knew and
loved Michael is so happy
he was able to make it back
home to say his fi nal good-
byes. He wanted to hear the
ocean one more time, to
feel the sea air on his face
one more time. He wanted
to be in the presence of the
people who meant the most
to him, in a place that was
his.
Michael lived a good
life, and we wish he could
still be here. We will keep
him alive in memory and
spirit, and fi ll his house
with friends, family and
good times. Michael pre-
ferred not to have a fu-
neral, as funerals can be
dull, creepy affairs, but for
those of you who knew and
loved him, something is in
the works to celebrate Mi-
chael’s life, and we will
let those of you who were
close to him know the de-
tails soon.
Dad, we love you so
much, you Old Crab.
Fred
“Bob”
David
Thoman, 87, a lifelong resi-
dent of Oregon, died Oct. 11,
2016, in Tualatin. He was born
Dec. 5, 1928, in Portland, Or-
egon, and was the only child
of Fred David Thoman Sr. and
Antonette Molinari Thoman.
Bob married Donna Dar-
lene Pearson on Aug. 23,
1950 in Portland. Their love
for one another was so strong
and enduring, and in 2016
they celebrated their 66th year
of marriage.
Bob was a child entertain-
er who sang and played banjo
with his double cousin, Tom-
my Thoman. He and Tom-
my were like brothers, and
entertained at many venues
in the Northwest for years,
including events for disabled
veterans. Their entertainment
opportunities included an ap-
pearance on one of Portland’s
fi rst live television broadcasts.
Bob graduated from Jeffer-
son High School in 1946. He
attended Oregon State Uni-
versity, and served in the U.S.
Air Force.
As a young man, Bob
went to work for Northwest
Marine Iron Works, where
he advanced to the role of
CEO and president. He cher-
ished his working relationship
with company owner George
Grebe, and worked very hard
to serve the company well in
his trusted role as president.
Bob was a loving and de-
voted husband and father, and
enjoyed spending time with
his family more than anything.
Members of the Resurrection
Lutheran Church, Bob served
as a church council member
and congregational president
for a number of years.
Bob was an avid sports fan
who loved playing, coaching
and watching baseball. He en-
joyed playing golf, and was a
big fan of the OSU Beavers.
He also loved traveling to
Disneyland and to the family
cabin on Mount Hood with
his wife and children. In later
years he enjoyed taking annu-
al trips to Kauai with his wife,
family and friends.
After retiring, Bob and
Donna moved to their condo
in Gearhart, Oregon, in 1985.
Shortly after, Bob was asked
to temporarily take over as
acting manager of the Gear-
hart By the Sea Hotel for six
months. He later retired, for
the second time, in 1994, after
managing the hotel for eight
years.
While living at the coast,
Bob and Donna were faithful
members of Our Saviour’s
Fred “Bob” Thoman
Lutheran Church in Seaside,
where Bob served on the
church council. Community
service was an important part
of Bob’s life in many ways.
He served on Providence Sea-
side Hospital’s board of di-
rectors for over a decade. He
enjoyed delivering meals for
Seaside’s Meals on Wheels
program, and volunteered in
other service programs, as
well.
Bob’s life was character-
ized by his faith in God, love
of his family and friends,
service to the church and
community as well as loyal-
ty to his employer. Bob was
known as a family man. He
had a very active role in his
children’s lives as they grew
up, and continued that role his
entire life. He was their best
friend and hero.
In later years, Bob was
just as active and vital in his
grandchildren’s lives, nev-
er missing a ball game, band
concert or dance recital. He
was a proud father and grand-
father, and a devoted husband
who cherished every moment
spent with his family.
Bob is survived by his
wife, Donna; son Eric (Mary)
Thoman of San Rafael, Cal-
ifornia; daughter Jeanette
(Rick) Davis of Warrenton,
Oregon; grandchildren Chad
(Karri) Davis of Bend, Ore-
gon, Heidi Terese of Vancou-
ver, Washington, Todd Davis
of Maricopa, Arizona, Mat-
thew (Hannah) Davis of War-
renton, Oregon, and Emily
Thoman of San Rafael, Cal-
ifornia; great-grandchildren
Connor and Carson Davis
of Bend, Oregon, and Gavin
Davis of Warrenton, Oregon;
and a brother-in-law, David
Pearson.
A private burial was held
at Skyline Memorial Gardens
in Portland.
In lieu of fl owers, the fam-
ily requests that donations be
made in Bob’s name to the
National Multiple Sclerosis
Society.
Obituary Policy
The Seaside Signal publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can include a small photo
and, for veterans, a fl ag symbol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m.
the business day prior.
Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style. Death notices
and upcoming services will be published at no charge. Notices must be submitted by 9
a.m. the day of publication.
Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at www.dailyastorian.com/forms/
obits, by email at ewilson@dailyastorian.com, placed via the funeral home or in person
at The Daily Astorian offi ce, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria. For more information, cal 503-
325-3211, ext. 257.
Letters from Page 4A
either owned or (as realtors)
sold vacation rentals, and
they were hot to get as many
on the market as possible.
They did. They fought
those of us who were trying
to preserve the integrity of
residential zoning tooth and
nail. They won.
So, anyone who cannot
fi nd rental housing in Sea-
side can thank those fellows
for eliminating the 200-plus
or so rentals that used to be
here. Every neighborhood
is now a motel zone, and
there are no strictly-resi-
dential zones in Seaside any
more. Greed dictated and
drove the movement; the
City Council and Planning
Commission got exactly
what they wanted, at a very
high cost to the community
and its residents.
Very sorry to have been
right.
Sandy Rea
Seaside
A local solution for
workforce housing
“Business leaders call
for housing solutions” head-
lines the Seaside Signal.
The CEDR leader speaking
to the Seaside City Council
“calls for new affordable
and workforce housing.”
There is no doubt that com-
munities have a responsi-
bility for homeless housing,
especially for veterans. But
before we rush out to create
additional programs and
levy additional taxes, the
business community has its
own homework to perform.
Certainly local employ-
ment has been shifting to
lower wage jobs in the
hospitality industry in
Seaside and Cannon Beach
and retail jobs in Warrenton.
Wages in the area have not
kept up with housing costs
and statewide wage growth.
One way to solve local
workforce housing prob-
lems is to pay workers bet-
ter. How does one do that
and remain competitive?
You make your business
effi cient.
The local lodging
industry is a prime can-
didate for this approach.
Lodging managers complain
about workforce turnover,
a tremendous cost to this
industry. The area abounds
with older adults who need
supplemental income and
who already have housing.
They are great workers for
a number of positions in
the hospitality industry, yet
management in this industry
remains unaware of how to
use this resource to solve
their seasonal problems.
CEDR instead of running
around crying, “the sky
is falling, you need to do
something” should do some-
thing themselves and help
educate Clatsop businesses
to better solve their own
problems. CEDR should
get a copy of “The Aging
Workforce: Four Steps to
Maximize Older Workers in
Your Organization.” It’s free
on the Internet.
John Dunzer
Seaside
Give a gift for children
around the world
During National Col-
lection Week, Nov. 14-21,
Seaside residents are in-
vited to donate shoeboxes
fi lled with school supplies,
hygiene items, notes of en-
couragement and fun toys,
such as a doll or soccer ball
for Operation Christmas
Child.
The shoeboxes are for
delivery to children in need
around the world. This year,
Seaside and surrounding cit-
ies residents hope to contrib-
ute more than 29,000 shoe-
box gifts toward the 2016
global goal of reaching 12
million children.
Donations
may
be
dropped off at Seaside North
Coast Family Fellowship,
2245 N. Wahanna, from 6
to 9 p.m. Monday through
Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat-
urday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun-
day; and 8 to 10 a.m. Mon-
day, Nov. 21.
For more information
visit Samaritanspurse.org.
Show a little ‘Laundry Love’
The annual Laundry Love
event takes place from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov.
12, at Seaside Laundromat
located at 1223 S. Roosevelt
Drive.
Laundry Love helps fam-
ilies in Clatsop County by
paying for two loads of laun-
dry per family, no strings at-
tached.
Winter clothing donations
are needed for children up to
adult sizes. In keeping within
the spirit of Laundry Love,
free winter clothing will be
handed out to people in need
during the Nov. 12 Laundry
Love event. Families with
children are welcome. Re-
freshments and drinks are
provided.
Drop-off places for donat-
ed clothing are: State Farm
(815 S. Holladay Drive); Sea-
side Chamber of Commerce
(7 N. Roosevelt Drive); Sea-
side Coffee House (5 N. Hol-
laday Drive); and The Cove
(240 S. Roosevelt Drive).
Laundry Love is spon-
sored by At the Water’s Gate.
For more information, call
541-580-6734.