Welcome to the Bay City Grapevine

Bay City's most avid Booster turns 100

From her enthusiasm for Bay City, you would expect that Adelheide "Ad" Montgomery had been a life-long resident of the town. But no, Ad and her husband, George, (most people call him "Monty") moved from Portland to Bay City about 1982.

Ad was born in Austin, Minnesota, on August 11, 1911. Her father had been the president of a small college, which closed shortly after WWI. Ad moved to St. Paul when she was just a young sprout. She attended the University of Minnesota on-campus high school "where they trained their teachers," she explains. Her father thought that would be a good idea.

Asked how she came to be called "Ad," she replied that she was christened Adelheide Meiners. Her baby sister "couldn't pronounce that mouthful, so she just called me 'Ad.' And it stuck."

Following her graduation from the University of Minnesota, Ad worked one summer at an upstate New York resort, and, later, hired on as Christmas help at the St. Paul Montgomery Ward store. For Ad, Montgomery Ward became a career lasting 25 years. But a strike at the St. Paul Ward's store precipitated a transfer to Portland, where she worked for several years, then transferred to Chicago for two years, and, finally, returned to Portland for good. There, she became supervisor of the mail order complaint department.

Ad Meiners met George Montgomery while working in Portland, and they married in 1950. Monty worked in outside sales, but took a job designing for those huge mainframe computers during the '50s. These were the old vacuum tube jobs that took up an entire room and then some. They got hot so quickly that they could run for only 30 minutes before they had to be shut down to cool off.

Ad recalls that Monty invited her to go along with him to IBM school in Portland. "I really didn't have a use for it, but I went anyway," she said. Monty's work entailed an occasional trip to Chicago, and he always took Ad along because she knew the town. "But," she confessed, "after all that schooling I took with George, after all those trips to Chicago to get checked out on this new device or that, I never used it. And now, I know nothing about computers. In fact, I never knew how to run a typewriter! I always had a secretary to do that."

Ad harbors some deeply held feelings about computers in the schools. While computers may be efficient, she opines, "they can also be a hindrance to young people these days." Ad prefers that the kids get their information from books and teachers, and learn proper English. Arithmetic would also be helpful, she added, "so they can add up something, and multiply and divide without using a calculator or a computer."

One of the reasons Ad accompanied Monty to Chicago was because she loved riding on the train. "I've been on every single route between here and Chicago, including both Canadian routes. I've traveled on all the lines which had passenger service," she said. Highlight of Ad's extensive train travels was a trip on Great Northern's "Empire Builder," when she occupied a compartment next to Gypsy Rose Lee and her little son. Gypsy was traveling with a troupe of girls to do a show in Portland. "They were all real nice," Ad recalled, "and well educated. They had all been to college."

Ad and Monty purchased a lot in Bay City in 1979, while they still lived in Portland. They put up a barn, and then got a log house kit and, together, they put it up. But it didn't get done overnight. Ad and Monty spent many a weekend camped out in a little trailer they had in their barn while they worked together assembling their log house. According to Ad, the shape of the split logs and the fir shakes sandwiched between them provided excellent insulation.

Why did they pick Bay City? Ad and Monty had friends who lived in Twin Rocks, where they spent a lot of time during the summers, starting in 1957. Eventually, they started looking for property where they could be on a hillside and have a great view. They could actually see the bay when they bought their Bay City property, but the local alders have gotten so tall since then that, now, Ad can see the bay only in winter.

Ad was an avid sports enthusiast most of her life. She played golf and tennis --- lots of tennis. But one day she "fell down and hurt me-self, so I can't do those things anymore."

Ad and Monty retired to their new home in Bay City about 1982. Retirement meant more time for fishing while they were completing their log house. "During that period I did a lot of fishing, you bet!" Ad said. "We had a little cabin over in Washington. I used to just sit on the bank, put a bell on the pole, and read a book while waiting for the bell to ring."

Ad is well known for her many civic interests following her move to Bay City. "In a small place like this," she says, "it's easy to get into different organizations. And, I haven't even joined all the things I could have joined."

It was not long before Ad became interested in the Friends of the Library. "They made me vice president. And, there was this doctor from Netarts who went to Nepal every year, and we used to gather up books and clothes and all kinds of things to send over there with him," Ad said.

It was through the Friends of the Library that Ad became acquainted with many people around the Tillamook area upon whom she could call to help with other organizations she would be working with.

Peggy Cox lived about a block from Ad and Monty, and it was through Peggy that they both became members of the old Kilchis Grange. It was through the Grange that Ad and Monty were introduced to the Bay City Boosters.

The Boosters Club got its start during the 1930s as an organization dedicated to preserving the quiet, rural, coastal character of Bay City. Upon joining the Boosters, Ad became acquainted with George and Mala Beck, who were committed to improving and beautifying the entrance to Bay City at 5^th Street. Ad can't recall whether she ever actually applied for membership in the Boosters. "I just started going," she said.

The Boosters Club was instrumental in starting a library in Bay City, which was housed in several local residences before finally finding a home in a wing of the city hall. But when a former mayor let it be known that he intended to close the library in order to get more space for the city offices, Ad swung into action. She and the Boosters showed up en masse at a City Council meeting. "We got it done! They didn't take the space away from the library," she exclaimed.

Mala Beck had been president of the Boosters for many years, and in 1994 she convinced Ad to stand for election to replace her. "Mala pushed me into it," she said. "I've enjoyed the Boosters Club. But, it's awfully hard to get anything done, because you have to deal with the government."

But Ad is the one who got ODOT, a veritable paradigm of bureaucratic intransigence, to reduce the speed on U.S. 101 through town to 45 mph. It had been 55 ever since ODOT moved the Coast Highway out of downtown Bay City, where it ran along 5^th Street.

As Boosters president, Ad strongly supported the Beautification Committee. The entrance at 5^th Street received red lava rock, and a new "Welcome to Bay City" sign was installed along the highway. The Beautification Committee, now under the guidance of Gail Reese, Mala Beck's daughter, purchased and installed window boxes, known locally as "hay racks," on all the town's businesses and keep them in bloom all year.

But all good things must come to an end. On February 24, 2006, Ad turned her gavel over to Ken Beebehiser after serving 12 years as president.

Ad and Monty also worked with the Patterson Creek Pals, a group dedicated to restoring fish runs and water quality in Patterson and Jacoby Creeks. She lamented her inability to get out and run up and down the streams like she used to. This relegated her to making phone calls and helping Pat Peterson, the Pals' secretary. "I did whatever didn't require any running around," she said.

Ad and Monty celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary in 2000. Sadly, they would not have the opportunity to celebrate their 60^th. Monty passed away about 2008, following a period of declining health.

And, what does Ad like the best in Bay City, and where does she feel she has accomplished the most? She likes the beautification project, with which she became involved upon joining the Boosters. She liked the school salmon-rearing project, where the kids hatched salmon eggs in a classroom tank and transferred them to Patterson Creek when they had lost their egg sacs. She especially liked the idea of a teacher presenting the hatchery program "hands on," without having to use a computer.

Asked about her worldview, she said, "The problem with the whole world is financial. Everyone wants cars, TVs, material goods — too many material goods, I think. When I got a coaster wagon (as a child), it had to last. And my father wouldn't give me a bicycle because they were too dangerous."

Ad yearns for a simpler time, when a handshake sealed a contract, when people accepted responsibility and didn't blame others for their own misfortunes.

Ad has already received birthday greetings via two telephone calls from friends on Pitcairn Island in the Pacific. Through the years, Ad has maintained a relationship with them through the mail, which often took weeks to arrive. But recently the Pitcairn Islanders have acquired a satellite phone, which speeds up communication just a bit.

The happiest of birthdays to you, Addie. And may you enjoy many, many more.

To honor Ad and help her celebrate her 100 years, her many friends have arranged for an open house at her home at 6035 Pennsylvania Ave., from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 11.

Parking at Ad's home is scant, and people coming to the open house are advised to park in the vacant lot next door, which can be reached via a driveway from 7^th Street.

It will be a simple affair. Cake and appetizers will be served. But, PLEASE, don't tell Ad. It is to be a surprise for her.

Surviving a Tsunami

BAY CITY, March 22, 2011 --- By now, everyone is familiar with the chilling images out of Japan, of the wall of water crashing through a coastal city, destroying everything in its path. Houses were lifted from their foundations and swept ahead of the flood, crashing into and destroying more buildings, the wave sweeping away everything in its path --- boats, automobiles, bridges, structures --- nothing survives. Wood buildings which survived the inland rush of water were then swept back out to sea, leaving behind them a scene of absolute, total devastation.

Those living in the path of the tsunami had scant moments to prepare themselves and evacuate; thousands met their deaths before it was all through. The magnitude 9 quake which produced the tsunami was the high point of a seismic event which is not over yet. The major quake was preceded by a series of precursor quakes ranging in size up to about magnitude 7.2. Following the main event, there have been hundreds of aftershocks.

On the Oregon Coast, we had about eight hours warning that a tsunami was due. Those who have NOAA radios heard three warnings, the first about midnight setting a tsunami watch, then two more, the final one setting a tsunami warning.

Those who stayed up watching television saw the waves arrive at the Hawaiian Islands. About four hours later, they arrived on the West Coast of the United States. As our Fire Chief, Don Reynolds, put it, "it was a far-off event, giving us the advantage of time." The Fire Department, Reynolds said, showed up in force and were eager to get to work.

But, Reynolds explained, "I didn't want my people out in the field before the sirens rang," which they did for the first time about 6 a.m. The sirens rang two more times after that, the last one about 20 minutes before the expected arrival of the tsunami wave.

The Fire Department was out in force after the first siren sounded, knocking on doors in the Goose Point area. People were getting ready to leave, Reynolds said, but he noted that, except for knowing where they were going to go, they were not particularly well prepared. They were taking with them a goodly supply of comfort foods, Reynolds said. But, he added, "they were ready to roll when we came to the door."

It was Bay City's good fortune that tsunami's arrival coincided with an extraordinarily low tide. The configuration of the land also helped protect residents of the Tillamook Bay area. Other areas farther to the south did not fare as well; Brookings Harbor and Crescent City were especially hard hit.

And another noteworthy point. The first wave was expected to hit about 7:20 a.m. My daughter, who has a place on Siletz Bay, went to high ground early in the morning and returned home about 9 a.m. She reported that Siletz Bay was filling and emptying every 15 minutes. It did this about eight times, she said. The lesson to be learned is that the tsunami may continue for several hours after the first wave hits, and it is unsafe to go anywhere near the water until local authorities have determined that it is really over.

The major area of concern in Bay City, Reynolds said, is Goose point. But there are other areas of serious concern as well, including the low-lying businesses along U.S. 101 and downtown Bay City.

The recent event was spawned by a far-off quake, Reynolds said. While the City had a full eight hours to prepare for this tsunami, the occurrence of a quake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone is quite another matter. In that case, the people living in Goose Point and the low-lying areas of Bay City will have a scant 20 minutes to get to high ground, if even that.

There is every possibility that there will be no siren, and the only warning the people will have is the prolonged violent shaking of the ground. As soon as the shaking stops, people need to make for the nearest high ground, preferably on foot, since the roads in many places will be impassible. The Bayocean Spit four miles away and the railroad dike in Bay City may afford some small protection from the tsunami, but it probably won't be much if the images from Japan are any indication.

Moreover, when the "big one" comes, Fire Department responders won't be in the field until they have seen to the safety of their own families. The firefighters will perform much more ably in the field if they're not worrying about the safety of their loved ones.

Throughout Bay City, the roads are marked at the 80-foot level, though some of the markings are getting faint and hard to see. Every family should survey its own situation and determine where to go when the "big one" hits.

The City of Bay City is fortunate to have had a preview of things to come. There is no question of whether we will suffer a major subduction quake. The question is when it will occur, and, sadly, there is no known means today to make that prediction. We know only that such a quake has occurred about every 300 to 500 years, and the last one occurred on the evening of January 26, 1700. That is known from Japanese records of their so-called "orphan tsunami."

So what do we do? Reynolds proposes to address this question at informal meetings with the residents of Bay City's neighborhoods. The first will be for the residents of Goose Point, Reynolds said. He proposes to go door-to-door and hand out flyers advising the residents of the time and place of the meeting for their neighborhood.

It is also recommended that Bay City residents read the op-ed piece by Edward Wolf, Jay Raskin and Yumei Wang in the Monday, March 21, Oregonian, discussing five lessons Oregonians should learn from the tragedy in Japan. Copies of The Oregonian may be found in any Tillamook County library.

Most importantly, there will be chaos immediately following a major seismic and tsunami event, and people must prepare for their individual survival. That will consist of preparing a family survival kit and developing a family survival plan. Individual survival will be discussed in greater detail in an upcoming article in the Grapevine. Until then, it is strongly recommended that you attend the meeting scheduled for your neighborhood.

Residents' ideas will be most welcome at these meetings. Residents may get more information about the meetings, or individual survival preparations, by calling the Fire Department at (503) 377-0233.

As Reynolds says, "When it quits rockin', you should be walkin'."

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
by John R. Sollman

Though the Lewis and Clark expedition is highly touted in many history books as the first crossing of the North American continent by white men, they were certainly not the first. The Hudson's Bay Company was well-entrenched in Canada, and the Northwest was a favorite source of furs and pelts for the French trappers of that era.

It is even rumored that Sir Francis Drake might have visited the Pacific Northwest in the Golden Hind two centuries earlier, and that Tillamook Bay was actually the Drake's Bay of legend. The tall, straight firs of the Pacific Northwest were highly prized as masts for English men of war. All said, the Indians of western Oregon and Washington were well-acquainted with white men long before Lewis and Clark.

Joseph L. Meek had been raised in Virginia and was well educated. But the lust for adventure, to be part of something new, drove him to St. Louis, Missouri, in the fall of 1828, at the tender age of 18 years. He applied to trader William Sublette for a job as a trapper with his trading company. After some soul searching, Sublette took the lad on, and in March 1829 Joe Meek became one of 54 trappers en route to the Rocky Mountains.

The rest of the story

Dr. William C. Hawk and The Tillamook Bay Hospital
by John R. Sollman

Dr. William Calvin Hawk received his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Illinois and married Emma McLain about 1870. The couple traveled around the country, first in the South, and then westward. In each location, he would hang out his shingle, and she would open up a millinery shop. She also taught the local ladies how to make their own stunning bonnets. According to a piece in "Tillamook, Lest We Forget" by the Hawks' grandson, Herbert "Hub" Miller, Dr. Hawk was in Tombstone the day of the famed Gunfight at the OK Corral. Dr. Hawk and his family finally settled in Jefferson, near Salem, and opened a practice there.

But the Westward urge was strong in him, and in 1905 he traveled to Tillamook County to see whether there would be any prospect for him to establish his practice there. He soon acquired property in Bay City and returned to Jefferson to close out his practice and move his extended family to Bay City.

The rest of the story

Law and Order and Public Services in Old Bay City
by John R. Sollman

Herbert "Hub" Miller, in his book, "Adventures of an Oregon Country Boy," describes a society where murders were rare, most thefts were petty, and domestic spats always got more coverage in the "Headlight-Herald." Most of the action was in white-collar crime --- people getting swindled out of their money through blue-sky investment scams.

Bay City once had a town marshal named Longcore, who threw people in the town jail for fighting, or being drunk and disorderly. After sobering up following a night in the city jail, the now-chastened inebriate would be released after paying a hefty fine of about $2 and promising to lay off the sauce. But rarely were those promises kept for long --- sometimes no longer than 10 or 12 hours. That hefty $2 fine may seem trivial today, but it was a day's wages then.

The rest of the story

The Rise and Fall of the "San Francisco of the North"
by John R. Sollman

When the City of Bay City was preparing to incorporate for the second time in 1910, the region was well along in its transition from the pioneer days to the modernity of the 20^th century. Greed was truly alive in well in those days of blue-sky speculation on everything from dairy animals to logging to real estate development to railroad building.

The area which was to become Bay City had the advantage of a large, reasonably deep bay protected from ocean storms by a sand spit some four miles west across the bay. When Captain Gray first transited the bar in the sloop, Lady Washington, to enter the bay in the late 1700s, he had 36 feet beneath the ship's keel at low tide. (There continues to be speculation whether Tillamook Bay was actually the Drake's Bay described in the ship's logs of Sir Francis Drake some 200 years earlier.)

A mill and shipyard had been established south of Bay City's Goose Point area where the "Morning Star" and several other vessels were constructed. The channels, in those days, were sufficiently deep to permit ocean-going vessels to transit the bay without danger of grounding. The Bay City area provided good docking and moorage potential, and a pier was constructed to facilitate movement by sea of Tillamook products, such as cheese, butter and timber, to consumers in Portland and the Willamette Valley.

The rest of the story

The Bay City United Methodist Church
by John R. Sollman

Bay City's defining feature is the Bay City United Methodist Church, situated at the corner of 5^th and D Streets. The church's origins go all the way back to the 1860s.

Lucy E. Doughty writes in her history of the Bay, or Kilchis, Church that when her family "arrived in Idaville or Bay District" in September 1870, they found that there was already an established church. It was called the "Bay Preaching Place," and met in the Kilchis River School House near the bay shore. (The Idaville area was once known as Jawbone.)

In those days, the bay shore was not where it is now. In fact, the mill where the Morning Star and other boats were built is located on the present-day Pioneer Museum property south of Bay City's Goose Point area, nowhere near today's bay shore. But that is another story.

Doughty writes as follows in "Tillamook History":

"There were only eight white families on the whole bay shore: the Vaughns and Aldermans on the little 'prairie' or open land reaching back from Idaville, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman on the tideland nearby, the Davidsons at the mouth of the Wilson River, the Hiram Smith and Hiram Terwilliger homes at the present site of Bay City, the Elmers across the bay on what is now the Beals place, and the Bayleys at Garibaldi; besides these, Webley Hauxhurst lived on the Sandspit that is now Bay Ocean."

More . . .

City Councilors come and go while the sparks fly
By John Sollman

BAY CITY March 20, 2010 --- The revolving door to the Bay City Council chambers is working well.

On March 9, Attorney Lois Albright administered the oath to newly-appointed Councilor Robert Pollock, whom the Bay City Council appointed to replace Ron Tewalt.

At the end of the March 9 Council meeting, Councilor Amy Fullan resigned from the Council because she is moving out of town. Fullan's seat will be filled through another appointment.

The Council, on a three/two vote, appointed John Gettman president of the City Council, replacing Ron Tewalt in that position. The president presides over Council meetings in the absence of the mayor, and has authority to sign checks, also in the absence of the mayor. But that appointment would be short lived.

More . . .

New Bookmobile on its way --- also salmon eggs
By John Sollman

BAY CITY March 20, 2010 --- Friends of the Library held their long-overdue semiannual meeting today at the Bay City Community hall. The Friends last met March 21, 2009, one year ago. The Friends would have met last September in Garibaldi, but for the death of Friends of the Library president Pat Peterson last August. Pat Vining wielded the gavel as president pro tempore.

But things have come together quite nicely during the hiatus, thanks to a fund-raising spaghetti dinner last August which yielded about $500. But we did learn a lesson at that fund-raiser, said Assistant Librarian Leo Schreiner. "We learned to have some 'to go' plates on hand." Apparently some of the diners preferred to have their pasta in the park.

Schreiner also announced that the new Bookmobile would be departing soon for its final destination, its reserved parking slot at the Tillamook County Library. "It's due April 14," Schreiner noted, to which a member shot back, "Tell 'em to drive carefully!"

But the major announcement of the meeting was made by County Librarian Sara Charlton: The library board has approved a salmon propagation project at the Bay City branch library as a science education feature.

Diane Griffin, who had introduced salmon propagation as a science class project for her fourth and fifth graders at Garibaldi Grade School, was disappointed that the project was not continued following her retirement.

Each January, about 250 Chinook eggs were placed in her classroom fish tank. The children watched the eggs hatch into tiny fish; saw how the fish got their nourishment from the egg sacs clinging to their bellies; and observed how the sacs disappeared and slits in the fish's bellies closed up. Then it was off to Patterson Creek to launch the little guys on their journey to the sea. The children learned firsthand now Nature works if given the chance, and how that chance depends upon having clean water and a clean environment.

Griffin still has her license to rear baby salmon, and the Trask Fish Hatchery is providing some of the equipment needed. Local children will once again be able to benefit from Griffin's resourceful and innovative environmental science project.

Vining brought the Friends up to date on Bay City's planned Centennial Celebration on Labor Day weekend, and displayed one of the tee shirts sporting a picture of old Bay City, which will soon go on sale to raise funds for the Centennial.

Charlton also announced that the library's photos of old Bay City could be made available to the Arts Center for display during the Centennial.

The Bay City and Garibaldi branch libraries each received $5 thousand to make needed improvements during the summer, including new carpeting, paint and some furniture. Also, Charlton advised, the libraries will now have copies of the Oregonian for patrons to read.

Since there had been no meeting for a whole year, it was assumed that all members owed some dues. Several members suggested tiered memberships, depending on amounts contributed. Joe Wrabeck recommended an Adopt a Book program and suggested, tongue-in-cheek, the following membership tiers:

Paperback Membership: $10. You get into any County library for free.

Volume Membership: $25. Any member of your family gets in for free.

Encyclopedia Membership: $100. You can get into other libraries for free; and, you get the tee shirt and a discount on extra tee shirts purchased.

World Wide Web Membership: $500. You get nothing, but you're virtually satisfied.

The Friends agreed to meet September 11 at the Garibaldi branch library and elect officers at that time. They will hold a second fundraiser at the Bay City Community Hall September 18.

Game's afoot to resurface the outdoor tennis court
By John Sollman

BAY CITY Feb. 24, 2010 --- Mayor Shaena Peterson, appearing before the Bay City Boosters Club February 19, announced that a grant request to Tillamook P.U.D. was nearing completion to help fund Phase One of the project to resurface the Bay City outdoor tennis court.

Phase One will remove the existing asphalt covering of the court and replace it with a two-inch lift, a prerequisite of the U.S. Tennis Association for installation of a regulation playing surface. Phase One will include engineering, grading and improving drainage, preparing and compacting the sub-base, leveling and applying the two-inch asphalt lift.

More . . .

Surviving the Big One
By John Sollman

BAY CITY Jan. 15, 2010 —Mayor Shaena Peterson held a Town Hall meeting last December to urge Bay City residents to make preparations to survive a disaster. We've seen many major storms that produce landslides in the mountains and cut the Coast off from the Valley for from several days to several weeks. The December 2007 storm was such a disaster --- some of us would liken it to a major disaster --- but it pales in comparison to a major subduction quake offshore followed by a tsunami: the so-called "Big One."

More . . .

Rails to nowhere
By John Sollman

BAY CITY Nov. 23, 2009 --- 1911 was a big year for Tillamook County. That was the year modern rail transportation arrived. The Pacific Railroad and Navigation Company, incorporated in October 1905, punched a rail line through the Coast Range and down the Salmonberry Canyon, ultimately meeting up with the other end of the line under construction from Tillamook northward through Bay City, Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach and Wheeler. The completed line initially offered Portlanders a scenic eight-hour trip to luxuriate on Oregon's magnificent beaches, a welcome alternative to suffering mal de mer aboard the Elmore or the Argo and braving the hazards of bar crossings at Astoria and Garibaldi.

More . . .

Fireplace and chimney inspections urged
By Don Reynolds, Bay City Fire Chief

BAY CITY OCt. 13, 2009-- On Friday, October 8, the Fire Department responded to a chimney fire in Bay City. The circumstances of this fire pointed out several lessons that everyone must be aware of. The occupants had been painting and had not reinstalled the smoke alarms after finishing the paint job.

Lesson number one: Smoke alarms don't work unless they are properly installed and have good batteries in them.

Lesson number two: Inspect the fireplace or wood stove to be sure it has good internal integrity before starting a fire. If you're not sure, have a qualified inspector look at the unit.

The fire in the fireplace was burning down when the occupants noticed the smell of smoke and noted smoke in the upstairs portion of the house.

Lesson number three: Call 911 as soon as you are aware of a problem in the house.

All went well as far as lesson three was concerned, and the fire department was on scene 8 minutes from the time the residents called.

The fireplace had cracks in it that allowed fire to migrate outside the chimney and created a fire in the wall of the house. The firefighters had to open the wall to get at the fire, causing some damage to the wall that will have to be repaired. Fortunately, no one was injured; only a small amount of damage was done to the house, so repair costs should not be too high.

These folks were lucky. Everyone should take a minute to review their own house for the lessons learned. November 1 is our return to Standard Time, and this makes it a good time for you to check your smoke alarms and make sure your house is fire safe. If you would like a fire audit of you home for your own benefit, please contact the fire station at 503-377-0233 and leave a message if no one is there. We will get back to you.

But, do not call that number if you have a fire or medical emergency. For those kinds of issues, CALL 911.

The Bay City/Tillamook newspaper wars of 1891-‘93
By Peter B. Smith

BAY CITY Oct. 10, 2009 — On June 8, 1888, with word of a town being platted to the North at Obet Thomas’ Landing by timber cruiser Winfield Scott Cone, Tillamook businessmen started a staunchly Republican propaganda organ called the Tillamook Headlight.

Cone dubbed his town Bay City after his home town in Michigan. Backed by Salem businessmen, Bay City was deemed a threat to Tillamook politicians and real estate speculators, whose fortunes depended on Tillamook’s remaining the center of county commerce.
That year, Cone and C.E. Wilson purchased 52 acres of land from Washington and Martha Jacoby, which the Jacobys had purchased from Martha’s uncle, John Monroe. He, in turn, had inherited it from an earlier settler, Obet S. Thomas, in 1882. More. . .