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A Homestead Piano
There are times when the task at hand can seem impossible to accomplish, but not so with a bit of help. It was many years ago when news of a ship from San Francisco had arrived in Acme (now known as Cushman) with a piano for the E. B, Miller...
Remembering June Lockhart
We pause to acknowledge the recent passing of actress June Lockhart. Many may recall her visits to Florence as the Grand Marshal of the 1985 and 1986 Rhododendron Parades. A portion of one episode from the Lassie show had been filmed in Florence,...
Witness to 1964 Tsunami
During an era when tug boats on the Siuslaw River operated at all hours of the night, the bridge tender (Tiny Marsh) would initiate a siren prior to lifting the draw bridge for boats to pass. The night of March 27, 1964 began like any other, but...
From Telephone to Telegraph in Florence
The Family Behind the Phone Company “We’ve come a long way” may be an old saying, yet it sums up the evolution of long-distance communication from the days of telegraph messages to telephone. As more folks began to settle in the Siuslaw area, it...
The Motel Ragan
A look back at Florence in 1938, would reveal only two buildings on HWY 101 - a two-pump service station and the Motel Ragan. Also known as the Hotel Ragan, and Ragan Hotel, it was sold in 1976 and renamed the Lighthouse Inn. It remains an...
The Rhododendron Festival Court
The process of selecting the Rhododendron Royal Court has varied throughout the years, yet continues to remain a significant highlight of the festivities even today. Early on, contestants acquired votes by selling baskets of home cooked goods...
A STEAM DONKEY IN THE WOODS
(Part 2 of 2), (View Part 1)From early on, John Barnes developed a connection with the forest, cultural heritage and history. One could say it was in his DNA – passed down from a grandfather who homesteaded, and a father who was a brush picker and...
Brush Picking for a Living
(Part 1 of 2) (View Part 2) Though Brush Picking may be an unfamiliar occupation to some, it has maintained a history throughout the Pacific Northwest. Folks may not get rich by it, yet it continues to be a source of income from the forest. Chances...
SAVE OUR WALL
MUSEUM LAUNCHES WALL RECONSTRUCTION CAMPAIGN PRESERVING OUR PAST The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum is launching a campaign to save its west wall. Time has taken its toll on our beloved Museum and we are now facing a critical challenge: the west wall has...
TAHKENITCH TRAIN DERAILMENT
What they hoped to find lay at the bottom of Tahkenitch Lake for 37 years. Local folks may recall that June day in 1987, when a Southern Pacific (“SP”) Railroad train derailed on its daily route between Coos Bay and Eugene. As the 102-car train...