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CLATSOP COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY CU MTU 31 V Vol. 18, No. Fall 1998 CCHS #4368-400D The plush interiors of the Hotel Astoria, a view to the west, about 1930. Story on page 2. A Introduction laska is our frontier. The northern region with its mysteries and unknown opportunities has lured residents from our area in the same way that the Oregon Country beckoned the pioneer. When gold fields were discovered in Alaska and the Yukon, our people rushed northward to take part in the search and to profit in the new markets that were created. While our resources, fishing, logging, and shipping, began to decline, those in the North were in a period of growth. Many of our county’s businessmen and workers migrated northward, returning periodically. As a result, our ties with Alaska are many. H. B. Ferguson and F. G. Schwatka, are two of our county’s former residents who were drawn to the North. They both found hardships that we can barely imagine. Their stories are in this issue. Here are also stories of others who pushed themselves beyond the usual limits. CLATSOP COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Inc. Heritage Museum 16th and Exchange Astoria, Oregon 97103 325-2203 CLATSOP COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Flavel House QUARTERLY Vol. 18, No. 4-Fall 1998 8th and Duane Copyright © 1998 Clatsop County Historical Society (ISSN 1083-9216) Uppertown Firefighters Museum 30th and Marine Drive Contents: BOARD of DIRECTORS Introduction Blair Henningsgaard, Astoria President Tracey Gunderson, Astoria 2 THE OSBURNS OF CLATSOP Vice-President COUNTY: Hotel owners Robin Risley, Cannon Beach By Rahles Blissett Goodell Secretary Ruth Shaner, Astoria Treasurer 11 I REMEMBER WHEN - A Trip in a 1924 Hupmobile John Delf, Ilwaco, WA By Robert Earl McGhee Rae Goforth, Astoria Jewel Hobbs, Astoria Floyd Holcom. Astoria 13 L COMPANY ON BIAK: Part 2 Annabell Miller, Astoria World War II Memoirs Fred Van Horn, Gearhart By Truman E. Slotte Molly Ziessler, Gearhart 21 MacARTHUR’S BLUNDER ON BIAK STAFF By F. Warren Lovell Michelle A. Schmitter Executive Director 24 CENTERFOLD: Hotel at Gearhart Newsletter Editor Mark Tolonen 26 ASTORIANS AT THE GOLD RUSH IN Curator of Collections ALASKA AND THE YUKON Martha Dahl By Liisa Penner Bookkeeper/Office Manager 35 F. SCHWATKA: Our Alaskan Explorer Chuck Bean Museums Maintenance 36 HOPE BELT FERGUSON’S Liisa Penner INCREDIBLE JOURNEY: A Search Cumtux Editor for Gold By H. Joseph Ferguson Charlotte Hallaux & Jackie Thackery FH Volunteer Coordinators 49 EDITOR’S NOTES Dr. Robert Neikes Cover: Austin Osbum, in 1938. Volunteer Archives Clerk Printer: Anchor Graphics Thomas E. Edison Astoria, Oregon Volunteer Photo Archivist Alma Jackson CUMTUX: Chinook jargon : Volunteer Membership/ Memorials Clerk "To know...acknowledge...to inform” Courtesy of Rahles Blissett Goodell Austin and Nan Osburn i Owners and managers of hotels in Astoria and Gearhart The Osburns of Clatsop County By Baliles llisself Gccdell T he story of the Clatsop and Benton of Regents of Oregon Agricultural Col¬ County Osburns begins with John lege. He donated his Corvallis ranch to Moreland Osbum and his wife the college. Phoebe Jones of Meadville, Pennsylva¬ Of the four Osbum children nia. Devastation and disillusionment of (Kleber, James L., David Andre, and the Civil War no doubt played a part in Mary L.), two remained in Benton Osbum’s decision to move his family to County and are buried there: James, a Oregon. During the 1863 Battle of Get¬ dentist, married Anna M. Sticker, and tysburg, Pennsylvania, John M. Osbum, Mary married Jesse J. Houck. The two a stockman, had a large herd of cattle a other children eventually came to few miles behind the Union forces. Un¬ Clatsop County. able to get his stock out, he awaited the David Andre Osbum, “Dave,” conclusion of that battle. The safety of graduated from O.A.C. around 1877 and his was herd dependent upon the victory served as sheriff of Benton County. of the Union army, for had General Lee Much of his life was spent, however, in won the battle, his stock would have Cannon Beach, Oregon, with his wife been confiscated. (D.D. Fagan, History Emma and daughter Edna. The Osburns of Benton County, p. 523) John’s owned the Cannon Beach Hotel which brother, Alfred, had moved earlier to stood on the site of the Cannon Beach Peoria, Oregon, taught school and made Conference Center. The large log cabin his fortune by establishing a meat pack¬ lodge had a dining room and rooms to ing plant. Urged by Alfred to come west, rent upstairs; tents were also available John brought his four children to Cor¬ with no cooking facilities. Nasturtiums vallis in 1864, by way of the Panama and hops grew in the front. Edna Osbum Canal, and on arrival, purchased a 1004 married D. George Frisbie and lived in acre farm three miles west of Corvallis, Cannon Beach. to continue in the stock business. (Fagan) Kleber, fondly known as “Pops,” Brother Alfred died in 1868, but John was in the first graduating class of phar¬ and Phoebe lived in Corvallis until they macy at O.A.C. He was an apothecary in died in 1916 and 1900 respectively. John San Francisco “until doctors began pre¬ Osbum was Mayor of Corvallis in 1877 scribing” when he met and married Miss and 1885. He represented Benton County Clara Bayreuther. Two sons, Austin and in the State Legislature in the 1880s and Burr, were born in 1878 and 1882 in served a term as a member of the Board California before the family moved to 3 Astoria, Oregon, in 1892. They lived at like the games, kept asking, “But Mrs. 930 Irving Avenue. From 1892-1895, Osbum, when are we going to have the Kleber was auditor and police judge of party?” Later Nan asked the little boy if Astoria. From 1910-1920 he operated the he would like another piece of cake, and Femdale Creamery, at that time the prin¬ his answer was, “No, but I'd like some cipal creamery in the district, comprising more of the frosting!” Clatsop, Wahkiakum, and Pacific The Osbums had relatives and a counties.from 1920 until his death in little farm in Hood River. Each June, 1935, he was engaged in the insurance Nan and the children went to Hood River business. Clara was a pianist and gave by train and stayed in their stone cottage. music lessons. The Osbums were mem¬ Elise remembered riding to church on bers of the Grace Episcopal Church in Sundays in the buggy with her mother Astoria. driving “Sleepy Bill.” It was in Hood Judge and Mrs. Osburn’s second River that Nan bought a raffle ticket in son. Burr Osbum, died a tragic death at John’s name and he won an automobile! age 21. Burr, a valued employee of the Nan designed a beach cottage in the First National Bank, had a recurrence of sand, and it was built for her in Cannon tuberculosis. Depressed and worried that Beach, now 123 Laurel Street, behind the he might become a burden to his family, roller skating rink (now the Coaster he shot himself in his own room in the Theater). Often stating that “No one family home. He left a note: “Dear Folks, should go to the beach before the 4th of don’t worry about my going; it’s God’s July,” Nan and the children spent July at will and His will be done.” the Nano Cottage surrounded by aunts, Eldest son Austin Osbum married uncles, cousins and friends. Uncle A1 Marie Helene “Nan” Rahles, daughter of Rahles, Auntie Belle, and daughter Bridgett McGraw and Albert Rahles, the Nancy spent the month of August at the ship purser who went down with the ship cottage with them. As a teenager, John, Alaskan off Cape Blanco in 1899, and in partnership with Brady Dirker and niece of Elise Rahles and John A. with Elise as his helper, ran a riding Devlin, pioneer salmon packer on the academy across from the roller rink, Columbia River. The wedding at St. which soon became a gathering place for Mary’s Catholic Church in Astoria in many of the young people in the area. 1906 was described in the local paper as Austin joined the family on weekends. “one of the most brilliant and fashionable Austin was associated with the First weddings ever witnessed in this city.” National Bank for twenty-one years, and The couple lived in the Boelling House during this time, he and W.P. O’Brien and later purchased a home at 447 14th built the Osburn-O’Brien Building on Street. They raised two children, Elise 14th Street in Astoria. The building and John. burned in the fire, was rebuilt, and then Nan gave wonderful birthday par¬ they lost it during the Depression. ties for Elise and John. Lenora “Oney” On December 8, 1922, the tragic Kelly Camberg, a childhood friend, Astoria Fire began in the Bee Hive De¬ remembered the birthday parties, and, partment Store and burned the town. many years later at Elise’s 80th birthday Elise was fourteen years old. A neighbor celebration, asked, “Where is the Pin the called and told the Osbums to look out Tail on the Donkey game?” At one party, the window, “There’s a fire downtown.” Dr. Kinney’s son, who apparently didn’t Out the bedroom window, Elise saw just 4 Courtesy of Rahles Blissett Goodell Edna (Osburn) Frisbee Daughter of David Osburn of Cannon Beach 5 Courtesy of Rahles Blissett Goodell Austin & Burr Osburn in 1888 one fire; then another sprang up one brass railings overlooking the lobby. In block east and another one block west. 1926, the hotel was the scene of a formal Austin took his car to the bank [located ball, a coming-out party for daughter at 10th and Bond] and removed enough Elise Osbum. The Society Editor of the equipment that the bank was able to do local newspaper wrote, “The attractive business the next day on 14th Street in dining room of the hotel, hung with holly the Lovell Auto building, where local wreaths, formed a charming background businesses set up temporarily in little for the beautiful frocks of the girls of the cubicles. The bank’s safe dropped down younger set who appeared like vari-col- into the basement of the building and ored flowers revolving on the floor. The wasn’t opened until it cooled a month delightful music was furnished by later. Cobban’s orchestra....Miss Zella Aston, During the fire, Austin and twelve- garbed in a lavender dancing costume, year-old son John were on the roof of the gave an exhibition of the Charleston.” Osbum-O’Brien building with hoses For several years, the hotel enjoyed while Nan shouted hysterically at them prosperity, but financial problems devel¬ to come down, “You can’t do anything oped. Astoria was no longer along the up there!” The day after the fire Elise main route from Portland to the Oregon and friend Coila “Sissy” Noonan Coast after the Sunset Highway was con¬ (Morfitt) continued undaunted their plans structed. In addition, motels became for Christmas shopping. They walked to popular and the Great Depression had set Uniontown and bought handkerchiefs, in. The hotel with its 150 guestrooms and socks, and sundries in the dry goods mezzanine apartments was determined store. to be too big for the town, and the corpo¬ Just one month before the fire, in ration sold out. According to Elise, the 1922, work had begun on an elegant hotel was “unpopular” at that time be¬ five-story hotel by the Columbia Hotel cause so many local people had invested Company, made up of local stockholders in it and lost their money. In 1929, Aus¬ with president W.A. Tyler, a local bank¬ tin Osbum purchased the Hotel Astoria er. After the fire, the architect’s plans which he managed until he died in 1948. were revised to eight stories due to the Austin was a promoter par excel¬ devastating housing shortage. The grand lence. When the circus was in town, he opening occurred in 1924. Somewhat invited the elephant into the lobby and later, Austin Osbum became involved in greeted it at the front desk, advertising the management of the hotel. “Check in at the Astoria Hotel where The hotel was the hub of Astoria’s everyone smiles—Bring your trunk!” civic and social activities. Local service Osbum had a big German Shepherd dog clubs, including Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, named Duke who loved people. On one and Optimist Clubs, met there regularly. occasion, however, Duke picked up and The beautiful mezzanine dining room shook a small dog whose mistress imme¬ with its frescoed ceilings and hand carv¬ diately filed charges. Osbum took out an ed and painted fruit and flowers, the ad in the local paper inviting all Duke’s work of an Astoria artist, was used for friends to come to Court. The courtroom luncheons, wedding receptions, birthday was filled with crying toddlers and chil¬ parties, balls, and other galas. Children dren, all afraid their friend Duke would spilled out of the main rooms onto the be handed a death sentence. I was one of balcony, peering through the intricate them. Charges were quickly dropped. 7 Promoting the Salmon Derby, the lived in Gearhart. coffee shop was renamed the Salmon The hotel was sold in the late Derby Grotto and was encircled by a 1950s. After that, management was poor, mural of ocean fish. The hotel also the Fur Trader became rowdy, the hotel housed barber and beauty shops, the bus fell into disrepair, and the building was station, and a tailor shop. Singing lessons condemned. After standing vacant for ten were given by a lady who lived on the years, the building was sold for back mezzanine and scales in soprano voices taxes and placed on the National Register frequently filled the air. of Historic Places. Since then, attempts Elise attended St. Mary’s Academy, have been made at restoration and feder¬ Astoria High School, Oregon State Col¬ ally subsidized apartments created on the lege, and graduated from the University upper floors. of Oregon. She was a member of Gamma Meantime in the 1920s, son John Phi Beta. She taught English and home Burr Osbum attended Oregon State Col¬ economics at Lewis & Clark Junior High lege, where he was a member of Sigma and Astoria High School during the Nu fraternity and helped organize and Depression, when teachers were paid in participated on the Oregon State Polo warrants as there was no money avail¬ team. He returned to Astoria and was able. active in the management of the Hotel In 1934 Elise married Guyon L. Astoria with his father. In 1940, John Blissett, a civil engineer from Georgia married Elane Goodell of Portland. The who had played football for Georgia couple purchased the Gearhart Hotel and Tech and had come to Astoria with Upte- Ocean House in partnership with Mar¬ grove Lumber Company. The elegant shall Leathers of Astoria, moved to Gear¬ wedding in St. Mary’s Catholic Church hart two years later, and raised five chil¬ was clouded somewhat by a kidnaping dren. John was active in the Oregon threat, which resulted in a clandestine Restaurant Association and established money-drop and bodyguards escorting a convention center at the Gearhart Ho¬ the family to the church. The couple tel. As young people, John and Elane initially lived at Astoria, then bought and participated in horse shows and horse operated the Independence Hotel and the judging. They continued to be active Neah-Kah-Nie Lodge. They had five equestrians and promoted many events children. Upon Austin’s death in 1948, in the Gearhart area: horse shows. New Guyon became manager of the Hotel Year’s Day paper chases, and rodeos. In Astoria, which was then under the joint 1972, the property was leased, the hotel ownership of the Blissetts and the John tom down, and the Gearhart House con¬ Osbums of Gearhart. In an unsuccessful dominiums were built. The Osbums were attempt to restore its former vigor, known for their hospitality and generos¬ Guyon had the hotel painted pink, chang¬ ity, and at John’s funeral in 1994, it was ed the name to the John Jacob Astor, and jokingly said that he was cremated be¬ built the Fur Trader Lounge. The Fur cause he had given away all of his ceme¬ Trader was managed by Mac and Pearl tery plots. Elane was given a full burial McNally and served the best steaks in at sea in 1982, as was her wish, with a town. Guyon was known for his witty fully vested priest and four fishing boats poetry, scathing Letters to the Editor of flying flags at half mast. the Astoria Budget, and his interest in Guyon Blissett passed away in young people and athletics. The family 1975 and Elise in 1995 after living 16 8