Depending on which issue of the Western World you read 100 years ago, in 1924, either Bandon had a number of good hotels ... or accommodations were needed.
In January of 1924, an article was titled "Good Hotels in City of Bandon."
"Bandon has first class hotels to accommodate the tourists and others who come to the city but with the increase of auto travelers who visit the locality more accommodations will be needed.
"The Westland (first picture) is a new hotel conducted by the Pearce-Laird Hotel company with George Laird as manager. It is modern with twenty-four rooms, most of them with private bath, and the whole building steam heated. There is a dining room in connection.
"The Gallier Hotel (second photo) is conducted by Steve and Ed Gallier who are pioneer hotel men of southwestern Oregon, and who have been prominent in the business affairs of the city.
"The Pacific Rooming House is owned by J. Ira Sidwell. It was recently remodeled and can take care of quite a number of roomers.
"The Bandon Hotel (third photo) has been operated for a number of years and some improvements were made on the building during the past year. There is a restaurant in connection.
"Besides the hotel there are several restaurants in the city."
By September of the same year, the need had become dire for more accommodations.
"Bandon as a tourist town can only develop to the extent of its hotel accommodations. It seems a waste of effort and money to advertise for more visitors without adequate means of taking care of those already coming. Barely a day passed this summer that it did not bring disappointment to some visitors who wanted rooms.
"There has been much talk of a new hotel and at least one effort at financing such an undertaking has been attempted. It did not meet with sufficient response locally to make the project possible.
"The hotel issue is one that affects every business and every individual with interest in the community. Nearly everything in a small community centralizes around its hotels, particularly a community situated as Bandon is, on one of the finest beaches along the Pacific coastline. The tourist business has unlimited possibilities for expansion here, because Bandon beach is one of the few objectives of the many travelers. Each year should find it increasing providing we are capable of caring for the traffic. Eventually it should become our greatest asset.
"In order to get a new hotel here it will be necessary for the citizens of the community to display their faith in such an undertaking by putting up some of the money to help build it. Unless this support is forthcoming to an appreciable extent it will be next to impossible to interest sufficient outside capital to put the project over."
(This editorial was written by my grandfather, the late L.D. Felsheim, who owned and operated the Western World for 50 years before he died on the ninth green at Westmost Golf Course in 1962, leaving my uncle Lou Felsheim and me to run the paper).
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I don't know the details, but I have learned that Bandon attorney Robin Miller, representing Lee Tony Coombes of Tehachapi, Calif., prevailed in a conditional use hearing before the Coos County Planning Commission recently to allow for an RV park to be built at the old Rogge Mill property, on the Coquille River east of Bullard Bridge. The property is just over 25 acres in size.
The mill closed many years ago, and the buildings torn down. People have been wondering for quite some time what the future might hold for that property, and it now appears that it will be a park for recreational vehicles. I will write more once I learn the details, but I do know that there will be spaces for more than 100 vehicles, which should be a boon to local area businesses.
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I was shocked to learn that Mark Silberstein had died recently at the age of 70, according to his long-time partner Linda Schlothan. Mark was such a personable guy, and was best known for his business Cell-O-Phone, which was the sale of used cell phones. I believe he may have had an office in the Port building. His death apparently came as a result of complications from congestive heart failure.
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Although I do not know family information, I do know that three Bandon High School girls, Danica Smith, Cayleigh Holman and Camden Kappa, will represent Bandon as the 2024 Bandon Cranberry Court.
They were introduced at the Chamber dinner recently.
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"When Bandon became 'Bandon;' New Evidence From the Archives" is the title of a program to be presented at the Bandon History Museum by Attorney Robin Miller, Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m. Admission is free.
"We know Bandon shares a name with a town in Ireland, and that 'Lord' Bennett had something to do with it," said museum volunteer Jim Proehl. "But exactly when and how did that happen? Miller has tracked down the evidence and is ready to present his case."
Robin Miller is a Bandon attorney whose family has deep roots in Bandon's history. He is a member of the board of the Oregon Historical Society.
Bandon's museum is located at the corner of 101 and Fillmore Avenue, and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and every day during the summer. For more information call 541-347-2164.
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Bandon Playhouse has announced auditions for their summer play production "Crimes of the Heart," written by Beth Henley and directed by Sandra Heinzmann. Auditions will be at the Sprague theater at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 5. Roles are available for performers age 18 and older, and first-time theater participants are welcome.
Those auditioning for roles are invited to prepare a brief reading or monologue from any source, approximately one minutes, and read from the play, which is scheduled for June 21-23 and 28-30.
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Although the filing period for city council does not open until June, it appears that there will be at least two candidates for mayor. I plan to run again, and will face off with Angela Cardas of Cardas Audio.
I find it interesting that someone who has attended few, if any, council meetings in the last 10 years, has never applied for a commission, a committee or the budget committee now seeks to be mayor.
I can understand why this hardworking young woman has apparently taken no interest in city government because, according to her Facebook posts, she is often out of the state on company business, and apparently has not had the time to be involved in city government.
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The local VFW Frank C. High Medal of Honor Post 3440 sponsors several contests, including Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen, and also provides a number of services for veterans in need.
The theme for the 2024-25 Voice of Democracy contest is "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?" The contest is open to students in grades 9-12, with a deadline of Oct. 31. Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, state and national level, with the grand prize being a $35,000 award.
"Record your original 3-5 minute audio essay on a flash drive, or other electronic device. You will submit the recording, typed essay and the completed entry form to your school/group competition or the VFW Post for judging" said a Post spokesman.
The theme for the Patriot's Pen written essay competition is "My Voice in America's Democracy." Deadline is Oct. 31 and top award is $5,000.
For more information on either contest, contact Donnie Wise (512-923-9178) or Preston Wayte (530-949-0749) at the local Post.
This is a great opportunity for young people to express themselves, and compete for prizes and scholarships.
The local Post also urges veterans in need to contact them at 541-347-9277, or email them at cmd@vfw3440.org, gm@vfw3440.org or vfw3440@gmail.com. "We will work with you to get the help you need," said Wayte.
The local VFW Post deserves tremendous praise for their efforts in reaching out to veterans, and others, in need.
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Although I don't know the details since the Oregon State Police do not send out press releases unless there is a fatal accident, I have heard that a large semi-truck overturned just north of Bandon on Highway 101 recently, tearing out a large section of guard rail. I understand the driver was not injured.
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For those of you wondering what is happening at the Sprague Community Theater, you may want to attend this week's Meet and Greet (Tuesday, April 30), with seating opening at 11:30 and the program beginning at noon at Bandon Fisheries Warehouse. The new Sprague manager Stephanie Jones will present, with assistance from Geneva Miller, who kept the theater going for the many months before Stephanie was hired, and who deserves a huge vote of thanks from the City.
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As the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort celebrates its 25th anniversary, I need to let the public know that Jeff Simonds has been promoted to General Manager, and Ken Nice has been hired as the Managing Director.
"The Resort will be in great hands with their undeniable experience and resort expertise," said Don Crowe, outgoing General Manager, who has been promoted to a position with Mike Keiser in Chicago.
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Don't forget that Monday, May 6, jet boats, who are in Curry County to participate in the World Jet Boat Championships, will be racing from Bandon to Coquille, with races on the Coquille River to start at 10 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. Each team will bring two boats, and the back-up boats will be across the street from the Bandon Fisheries Warehouse, while the others are racing. This is an opportunity for Bandon people to see a caliber of racing boat that they don't often see.
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