Friday, February 21, 2020 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A5
Getting the Seaside experience — in stereoscope
DIRECTOR’S
CHAIR
JOSHUA
HEINEMAN
T
his is something of a detec-
tive story. To fully appre-
ciate it, you fi rst need to
understand the importance of train
connections and the impact of ste-
reographs at the turn of the 20th
century — and their place in Sea-
side’s history.
There was already a well-estab-
lished tradition of families spend-
ing summers in Seaside to beat
the heat of Portland and the val-
leys long before Highway 26 was
constructed. Seaside’s depot was
constructed in 1899 and, each Sat-
urday morning, you could fi nd
families gathered to meet working
fathers who arrived by train, spent
the night, and then returned to the
city again the following evening.
Hence, the “daddy train” notion
was born and that particular week-
end service was widely known by
its informal name. There are sev-
eral nods to this tradition around
town, including a remarkable
mural in front of the museum.
Around the same time — in
the late 1800s and early 1900s
— there was a popular form of
entertainment in which the public
would immerse themselves in col-
lections of 3D photographs using
stereoscopes. The source mate-
rial for these were called stereo-
graphs and consisted of two photo
pairs taken from slightly different
angles and placed side by side.
The stereoscope combined the
Buchtel and Stolte (Portland Or.) photographers
Travelers and friends wait outside the Seaside Station, circa 1915.
two into one scene for the viewer,
lending the illusion of depth.
Think of the magic feeling you got
when looking into a ViewMaster
as a child and you’ll have a good
idea of the experience.
Much of the surviving stereo-
graph collections in the world
consist of scenic views and
travel scenes. Back then, I imag-
ine people would marvel at feel-
ing transported somewhere else
momentarily.
Nowadays when looking into
a 100-year-old stereoscope, we’re
transported not only somewhere
else but to some other time, as
well, adding a new layer not avail-
able to the original audience.
You’ve got to count your blessings
where you fi nd them.
Seaside would have had ste-
reographs for viewing and for sale
along Broadway, which was still
known as Shell Road then.
As an already-popular beach
destination with rail connection
to Astoria and Portland, Seaside
would have also been well-repre-
sented in the stereograph archive.
However, that turns out not to be
the case exactly. Here’s where the
detective story begins.
Circa 2012, back in another
life, I collaborated with the New
York Public Library on a web app
called the Stereogranimator.
This tool allowed users to
transform historical stereographs
from the library’s collection into
shareable 3D web formats, either
animated gifs or 3D anaglyphs.
It proved wildly popular, earning
coverage in places like The New
York Times and going viral across
the internet. That’s a story for
another time. Suffi ce to say, this
was an engaging way to repurpose
historical photo archives in the
modern age.
So, naturally, I went looking
for original stereographs of Sea-
side when I arrived on the North
Coast to live and work in 2018.
Stereo view of the Seaside House; large two-story hotel with shutters
surrounded by a porch, circa 1875.
This quest was both fun and
frustrating.
While I highly recommend
thumbing through the amazing
photo archives at the Seaside His-
torical Society Museum, there
were no surviving stereographs of
Seaside to be found.
Undeterred, I contacted the
Clatsop County Historical Society
to inquire about their archives and
it turned out they had no Seaside
stereographs on hand either. Had
they all — each and every one —
been lost to history?
Luckily for us, the answer is
no. I had a contact at the Oregon
Historical Society and, after some
searching, it turned out they did
indeed have two original stereo-
graphs of Seaside tucked away in
storage out in Gresham. We were
able to get them digitized thanks
to Erin Brasell and Robert Warren
of OHS.
And — wouldn’t you know
it — the two scenes are about as
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
School district lowers asking
price for buildings
Norris & Stevens, Inc. and Popkin Real
Estate, LLC have been chosen to exclusively
market for sale the Seaside School District prop-
erties: Seaside High School, Broadway Middle
School and Gearhart Elementary School.
The Seaside School District expects to be
completely moved out of the properties by fall
of 2020 at which time the sites will be avail-
able for redevelopment. Understanding the
properties will most likely be redeveloped, and
the potential costs associated with demolishing
the buildings, the school district has decided to
lower the asking prices to spur activity from the
development community.
The new prices will be: $3.5 million for
the Seaside High School, $2.9 million for the
Broadway Middle School and $1.2 million for
the Gearhart Elementary School.
The school district is confi dent they will
identify the right buyer to create a successful
repurpose of the sites that will benefi t the com-
munity and help complete the school district’s
transition to the new school campus.
Norris & Stevens, Inc. is one of the largest
locally-owned, full-service commercial real
estate brokerage fi rms in Oregon and Southwest
Washington. A member of the TCN Worldwide
network, the fi rm was founded in 1966 and
currently employs around 75 professionals in
investment sales, leasing and property manage-
ment for offi ce, industrial, retail, land, and mul-
tifamily properties. The fi rm’s property man-
agement portfolio exceeds 5 million square feet
of commercial space and 9,000 apartment units.
Hanna Linstedt
Marketing Specialist,
Norris & Stevens
Portland
Time to reconsider bypass?
Oregon Dept of Transportation has money
to spend on Highway 101 (Seaside Signal,
Jan. 31) in Seaside with the following goals:
“increase safety, reduce congestion, pro-
vide accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists,
among other priorities.”
The amounts quoted in recent articles total
$9,560,000. Rather than culverts and turning
lanes, let’s get a bypass around Seaside. Sev-
eral years ago ODOT had the funds for this.
Local businesses rejected the idea citing loss
of business. After witnessing many years of
spring and summer Seaside traffi c at a stand-
still, I believe business owners have gotten
smarter, and would support a bypass that would
allow travelers an effi cient, smooth ride north
or south around the two lanes of 101 in Sea-
side. Not everyone wants to stop in this town.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s get ODOT involved.
Seaside residents are not the only population
affected by dangerous, frustrating traffi c here.
Kathy Weigel
Seaside
Common Thread Photo Project
I own Lance Wagner Photography in Sea-
side. In an effort to build stronger community
ties I am offering free environmental portraits
for anyone that wishes to participate in my
Common Thread Portrait Project.
The goal of the project is to focus on one
singular subject to bring people of diverse
backgrounds together to share their love for
the city we live and work.
America is becoming increasingly polar-
ized with a lot of attention focused on our dif-
ferences. Religion, politics, gender, propa-
ganda and many other issues are dividing the
country. Most likely this election year will
intensify the polarization.
While I do not discount the importance of
these topics and more, I think it is also import-
ant to fi nd positive common threads to bond
a community. To fi nd one subject we can all
agree upon and share.
Common Thread Photo Project is about
focusing on one subject, your love of Seaside.
Tell me what you love about Seaside in a short
question are and I will produce your Seaside
portrait, for free.
The completed work will culminate in a
public show in Seaside, (location to be deter-
mined yet),in a hope to bring citizens of Sea-
side together, leaving all differences aside, and
share their portraits, and Seaside love stories.
Please contact me @ lwagnerphoto@
gmail.com for details if you wish to partici-
pate. Must be a Seaside resident or business.
Lance Wagner
Seaside
Vote for Vineeta Lower
I am writing this to encourage people to
vote for Vineeta Lower for HD 32 in our May
Primary also in our November election.
Having spent time with Vineeta speaking
to her as well as working on projects with her,
she is a hard worker and listens to concerns
regarding our communities. Her many assets
and work in areas of government support-
ing state, congressional and tribal liaison has
given her experience needed for our state rep-
resentative for District 32.
Vineeta’s support of #timberunity and the
fi ght against cap and trade, that will reap a
huge tax liability on all of us, is showing a
true desire to work with all voices of concern.
Do you really want Tiffi ny Mitchell in
there continuing to vote huge taxes with that
ridiculous “emergency clause” Our communi-
ties, all of them, are in danger.
Our loved ones on fi xed incomes are in
danger with these taxes too. I urge you to sup-
port Vineeta Lower for our District 32 by vot-
ing for her in May and again in November. We
need true change and transparency which new
bills in the house are hiding their transactions.
Read that new cap and trade senate bill.
You will be surprised, don’t be fooled by the
biased sides. Contact Vineeta, ask her the hard
questions, she will tell you direct answers.
Vote, and check your voter registration also.
Christal Kumpula
Astoria
iconic as you can get. One ste-
reograph shows children among
a crowd gathered for the famous
“daddy train” at the Seaside depot.
The other shows Ben Hol-
laday’s Seaside House, the
renowned resort that really started
it all back in the 1870s. Both
images will be turned into replica
stereographs and donated to the
museum.
We’ve also converted the
“daddy train” stereograph into
an animated gif à la my NYPL
project and posted it along with
an excerpt of this story at Sea-
sideOR.com in the Seaside His-
tory section.
Most importantly, I can sleep at
night knowing we have at least a
couple of these important histori-
cal items in our local collections.
Got a comment or question? I’d
love to hear from you. Write me at
jheineman@cityofseaside.us.
Providence
Seaside adds
cardiologist
Seaside Signal
Providence Seaside Hospital
announces the addition of cardiol-
ogist Gary Green-
berg, M.D. to the
hospital’s profes-
sional staff and
specifi cally
the
Providence Heart
Clinic North Coast
in Seaside and
Dr. Gary
Astoria.
Greenberg
is
Greenberg
board-certifi ed in
internal medicine, cardiology and
electrophysiology.
Electrophysiology is a cardiol-
ogy subspecialty that focuses on
helping people manager irregular
rhythms and cardiac devices such
as pacemakers and defi brillators.
Greenberg earned his medical
degree from the University of Wis-
consin in Madison and served his
internship and residency at Oregon
Health & Science University. He
then completed a fellowship in car-
diology at the University of Utah
Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
In his free time, Dr. Green-
berg enjoys listening to all forms
of music, playing guitar, outdoor
activities, cooking and traveling.
Dr. Greenberg joins the practice
of Providence Heart Clinic North
Coast with offi ces in Seaside and
Astoria. For more information or
to schedule an appointment, call
503-836-4600.
Community Calendar
Friday, Feb. 21
Wes Wahrmund
6-9 p.m., The Bistro, guitar, 263
N. Hemlock, Cannon Beach;
503-436-2661.
Richard T. and Friends
6:30-9:30 p.m., New Orleans
gumbo of soul, blues and R&B;
Sweet Basil, 271 N. Hemlock.
Rising Star
7 p.m., “Rising Star” classical pia-
nist Baron Fenwick will perform
Haydn, Rachmaninov, Chopin,
and Prokovief, at Cannon Beach
Community Church, 132 E.
Washington St.; Cannon Beach.
Seussical the Musical
7 p.m., presented by Seaside High
School Drama Department, Sea-
side High School Cafetorium; tick-
ets sold at the door, $10 for adults;
$8 for seniors and students 12
and above; $6 for students 12 and
under.
ference room, Bob Chisholm
Community Center, 1225 Ave-
nue A; sunsetempire.com.
Discovering Prehistoric
Whale Bones
1 p.m., adult event, with Dr.
David Taylor, Seaside Public Li-
brary.
Wes Wahrmund
6-9 p.m., classical guitar, clas-
sical guitar, jazz and original
tunes, The Bistro, 271 N. Hem-
lock, Cannon Beach.
Richard T. and Friends
Learn to Play Ukulele
9:45 a.m., for beginners, con-
Jam Session
7 p.m., presented by Seaside High
School Drama Department, Sea-
side High School Cafetorium; tick-
ets sold at the door, $10 for adults;
$8 for seniors and students 12
and above; $6 for students 12 and
under.
6:30-8:30 p.m., featuring lo-
cal musicians, Cannon Beach
American Legion, 1216 N.
Hemlock.
Sunday, Feb. 23
Buff et Breakfast
8:30-11 a.m., waffl es, omelets
and more; American Legion,
1315 Broadway, Seaside.
Bingo
Richard T. and Friends
7-9 p.m., Northwest Americana
with a Southern accent, Public
Coast Brewing Co., 264 E. Third
St, Cannon Beach; 503-436-0285.
8-9 a.m., accessible way to
build core strength; Bob
Chisholm Community Center,
1225 Avenue A; sunsetempire.
com.
TOPS
Free Sunday Supper
Doors open 3 p.m.; dinner at 4,
all welcome; Our Lady of Vic-
tory Church, 120 Oceanway,
Seaside.
6:30 p.m., families welcome
ages 6 and up. Catholic Church
Hall, First Avenue and Colum-
bia, Seaside.
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Pilates
6:30-9:30 p.m., New Orleans
gumbo of soul, blues and R&B;
Sweet Basil, 271 N. Hemlock.
Matthew Lindley
Saturday, Feb. 22
Seussical the Musical
5-8:30 p.m., New Orleans gum-
bo of soul, blues and R&B; The
Bistro, 263 N. Hemlock.
Monday, Feb. 24
Pinochle
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Commu-
nity Center, 1225 Avenue A;
sunsetempire.com.
9:15 a.m., Take Off Pounds Sen-
sibly focuses on healthy life-
style changes for weight loss,
meets weekly. North Coast
Family Fellowship, 2245 N
Wahanna Road, Seaside; ncff -
church.org or 503-738-7453.
Teen Tuesday
3:30 p.m., Blind taste test, Sea-
side Library, 1131 Broadway.
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Good Morning Seaside
8 a.m., Weekly coff ee and net-
working; Seaside Chamber of
Commerce; contact for details,
www.seasidechamber.com.
tured speakers; Shilo Ballroom,
30 N. Prom.
Preschool storytime
Seaside Kiwanis Club
10 a.m., “Rocks are not Boring,”
Seaside Library, 1131 Broadway.
Noon, lunch meeting, Pig ‘N Pan-
cake, 323 Broadway, Seaside.
Making a Succulent Wreath
Sugar Thistles
10 a.m., featuring Stephanie
Stevenson; Sou’Wester Garden
Club, Bob Chisholm Commu-
nity Center, 1225 Avenue A,
Seaside.
5:30-7:30 p.m., blend of voices
and original tunes, The Bis-
tro, 263 N. Hemlock, Cannon
Beach.
History and Hops
Awana Youth Group
6-8 p.m., age 3 to sixth-graders,
North Coast Family Fellowship,
2245 N. Wahanna, Seaside;
503-738-7453.
Thursday, Feb. 27
SDDA Breakfast
8:30 a.m., Pig ’N Pancake,
weekly speakers, discussions
and a no-host breakfast; 323
Broadway, Seaside, 503-717-
1914, www.seasidedowntown.
com.
Rotary of Seaside
Noon, lunch meeting with fea-
6 p.m., Jerry and Laurie Bow-
man, Northwest Carriage Mu-
seum, presented by Seaside
Museum and History Center;
Seaside Brewing, 851 Broad-
way.
‘Epic Fail’ Story Slam
6-8 p.m., hosted by Pacifi c Sto-
ry Slam; Maggie’s On The Prom,
580 S. Beach Drive.
Celebrate Recovery
6-8 p.m., Faith-based 12 step
recovery from hurts, habits and
hang-ups, North Coast Family
Fellowship, 503-738-7453.