Stories from the SPA
Here we share interesting stories about our community. Please send us your submissions and we will review and if appropriate for the members we will post it for all your neighbors to view. Areas of interest is items that cover: 1. Our History 2. Items of interest like food classes for SPA. 3. Stories or articles about the wildlife and other members of SPA.
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Bob McEwan Early Days Before World War II Second Video
Aug 2, 2025 In this interview dated July 17, 2024, Bob McEwan shares his early life and education with Russ Taggard and Tom Smith, beginning with grade school in Seaside, Oregon, and secondary school at the original Gearhart School (now a private home near the Trails End Art Center). He later moved to Portland, attending Kenton School and then graduating in winter 1941 from Benson Polytechnic High School, known at the time as a strict and prestigious public technical school. He recalls summer travels on steamboats and trains between Astoria and Portland, describing the fare and travel schedules. Bob also discusses working summers in Seaside and Gearhart with his grandmother, and a…
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Bob McEwan First days in Gearhart
This oral history excerpt, recorded on July 17, features a conversation with Bob McEwan, joined by Russ Taggard and Tom Smith. Bob recounts moving to Gearhart, Oregon in 1929 at the age of seven with his grandmother, following his mother’s financial struggles during the Great Depression in Portland. His grandmother purchased the Brandenburg farm property in Gearhart, where they lived in a simple shack without plumbing or electricity. She found work at local hotels, continuing a career that had previously taken her along the Union Pacific Hotel Company line through Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and eventually Seaside, Oregon, where she ran a dining room at the end of the SP&S Railroadline. Bob vividly describes early Gearhart: tall old-growth timber, few houses, a wooden sidewalk, and a dirt road that later became the main street.…
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Another old time Surf Pines resident has passed away – Neva Campbell‘s Obituary
Neva Campbell was a long time resident of Surf Pines and was very active in the early 90’s on our BOD. She became an attorney at the age of 40 and broke through the glass ceiling by being the first woman then partner of her Portland law firm. She was instrumental in working with Richie Schroeder in assimilating the new Surf Pines Landing into our community in 1990-91.
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We have lost an old time Surf Pines resident: Kathy Schroeder.
Kathy Schroeder was Ritchie Schroeders wife. Her Grand Parents were long time Gearhart hoteliers Dietrich and Meta Schroeder, and parents in law were Dick and Laura Schroeder, who bought the first home in Surf Pines in 1951 and was where she, Ritchie and their daughters spent many days enjoying the beach.
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Stories of Gearhart’s Grand Hotels and James Beard.
This presentation, part of the Seaside Museum and Historical Society’s History & Hops series, explores the rich history of Gearhart, Oregon, through the memories and research of longtime resident Denny Holmes. Hosted by Tom Smith, the film delves into the legacy of four historic Gearhart hotels—each reflecting the town’s transformation from an exclusive coastal retreat to a vibrant community. From the grandeur of the Gearhart Park Hotel to the Prohibition-era intrigue of the Ocean House, these iconic establishments played a pivotal role in shaping the town’s character. Additionally, the documentary highlights the profound connection between Gearhart and James Beard, the legendary chef who spent his formative years along the Oregon coast. Featuring…
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Gearhart History: Pioneers, Hotels, and More
Tom Smith will be presenting this month’s History & Hops discussion with a video presentation on the storied past of Gearhart’s hotels and the town’s unique connection to culinary icon James Beard. Through rare photographs, historical documents, and firsthand accounts from local pioneers, we’ll explore the rise and fall of Gearhart’s most famous hotels—from the grand Gearhart Park Hotel of 1890 to the beloved Gearhart Hotel by the Sea. The presentation will also feature video clips and interviews with longtime residents, including Dick Fettig, Bob McEwan, and Denny Holmes, who share personal stories and insights into these iconic establishments. We’ll then transition into the fascinating story of James Beard, whose formative years in Gearhart…
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Clatsop County Heritage Society has a Tax Saving Donation Opportunity that helps our Scanning Center help the Community.
The Paul See Digital Scanning Initiative. Preserving History Through Digitization In 2018, the devastating Aberdeen, WA Armory fire destroyed an irreplaceable local historical museum, highlighting the urgency of preserving historical documents and photographs. Inspired by this loss, the Clatsop County Historical Society (CCHS) launched a digital scanning initiative to safeguard our shared heritage for future generations. Thanks to a generous donation from the Huisking Foundation, CCHS established a state-of-the-art digital scanning center, featuring professional high-speed scanners and access to the Internet Archive (IA)—the world’s largest online library with over 43 million books and documents. Over the past five years, more than $206,000 in donations has enabled the center to hire a digital…
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Great Coastal Gale of 2007
In the most recent Clatsop County Historical Society Cumtux Vol. 43 No. 4 they published an article based on an interview I had with Shirley See (wife of local historian Paul See) and her daughter Dana Weston. It really helps people understand how bad this winter storm was. After the article there is a gallery of pictures of the aftermath of this storm. Cumtux is a quarterly publication that CCHS sends out to members. Each edition includes 4 to 5 stories (40 to 50 PGS) of local historical interest by local authors. I have included this article so people can see what a bargain being a member of the Clatsop County Historical…
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It’s been 90 years.
It’s time to bring back The Swim Across The Columbia – 🌊 If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming the Columbia River near Astoria, you’re in good company. This iconic river has captured the hearts of adventurers worldwide. While it’s been nearly a century since an organized open water swim took place near the Megler Bridge, the lore that swimming the Columbia River is impossible is just that—a myth. For seasoned swimmers with proper support, it’s not only feasible but also exhilarating. 🏊♂️An open water swim, a beer garden, music, food trucks, and a closing ceremony 10am to 2pm on Sunday, August 11, 2024. https://www.astoriaregatta.com/swim-across-the-columbia 〰️Swim Across The Columbia〰️ Make no mistake, though—the Columbia River swim is no walk in…
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Changes to Sunset Beach over the last 70 years
There is a lot of confusion about how come the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation ODPR are using the static Standard Vegetation Line SVL to enforce signs on the beach along the Sunset Beach Recreation area, which is now 400-600 feet east of the current Vegetation Line. Although this static SVL was effective in 1967 the ODPR is just now starting to enforce this rule. Something we found was there is an OAR (Oregon Administrative rules) that require the ODPR to do periodic reviews of the SVL to adjust it if accretion affects the current Vegetation Line. The https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_736-023-0030 indicates who can request this and how it should be done. For…
