Franciscovich Building: Under A Blue Sky

Astoria, Oregon ~ February 15, 2012

Guest Photographer: Jessika Robinson

One of the many cool things about Astoria is the named buildings in our downtown area. Located on Marine Drive at 16th Street, this one is just outside the nucleus of the congregation of commercial buildings that line Commercial Street, Duane, and part of Marine Drive. It housed Hauer's Cyclery & Locksmith for many years, and now it's the home of the Bach 'n Rock music store. I have to admit I didn't recognize the upper facade of the Franciscovich Building when my guest photographer showed it to me. The building was constructed, as most of downtown Astoria was, after the Great Fire of 1922. The Franciscovich dates from 1925.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Early Spring

Astoria, Oregon ~ February 15, 2012

Guest Photographer: Jessika Robinson

Today our guest photographer, Jessika, walked up 16th Street from the River Walk to Clatsop Community College. Along the way she found this gorgeous pink rhododendron that decided to open although it's only the middle of February.

Thanks, Jessika, for the lovely photo. Stay tuned for more!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

The Castle on James Street

Astoria, Oregon ~ March 12, 2011

It's easy to think of this stone building as a mini castle, but it actually plays some part in the water system of Astoria. There is a reservoir to the right and behind it, and a larger reservoir up James Street to the left of the photo. I've taken the picture standing on 16th Street, which changes names and becomes Williamsport Road as it heads around the jog and down the hill where the headlights are coming from. You pass the Western Oregon Waste facility and come out on Young's Bay.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Shallon Winery

The Shallon Winery at 16th Street and Duane sits only one block and a few paces from the riverbank, but you can get an idea of how high it is above the level of the water from the slope of 16th Street. This intersection is where I took the photo of light glinting off of spiderweb-like repairs in the street. In fact, if you follow the link, you'll see what the winery is or is not sitting on. I'll bet this makes for an interesting basement.

Meet the building (Mediterranean), the winemaker (Paul), the wines, and dreams of lighter-than-air craft on Shallon's own web site. It's a fun and interesting read. Choclolate wine? Check it out. You'll also learn the unusual source of the winery's name.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Street Damage Made Beautiful

There is no image reflected here for Weekend Reflections, only the light of the sun reflecting off of the patches at the intersection of 16th Street and Duane. I thought the patterns were not only interesting, but rather pretty. If you wonder why there are so many cracks in the street at this intersection, scroll down.

As with a number of Astoria's streets, at this point 16th Street doesn't have the support of solid ground. The intersection in the first photo is just to the left out of the picture. It's hard to see the concrete wall a few feet behind the pillars, but it's there - and it's impossible to see beyond the concrete wall to know what the structure would look like under the intersection.

For those not familiar with Astoria, Oregon, Marine Drive is at the right of the photo, with the River Walk and the Columbia River just a few paces away. The mountains are in Washington, four miles across the river. The purple building in the middel is Custard King, and on the left is Shallon Winery, which I have not shown yet. To reach downtown Astoria, travel left on Marine Drive or enter the one-way grid in the top photo.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Motorcycle mailbox

B SQUARED always finds the creative, funky mailboxes, so I guess this photo is to show that we have at least one in Astoria. I'm sure there must be a few more. I'll keep my eyes open and my camera handy. If I remember, this one is on 16th Street around Franklin Avenue.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A handsome sign for the Heritage Museum

The Heritage Museum of the Clatsop County Historical Society may not be sporting a new sign, but the sign seems to be sporting new colors. It's funny how you sometimes don't notice the changes, or once you see the new paint, you can't remember what the old paint looked like. I think the red is new. One of these days, I'll find an older photo and include it for comparison.

Inside this majestic and sturdily-built Neoclassical edifice, you'll find lots and lots of photos and artifacts from earlier years, and a friendly staff to help you enjoy them. You can enter the building from either Exchange Avenue or 16th Street.

This building began life as Astoria's City Hall about 1905, with construction having started in 1904. Sometime later, the city's administration moved into the centralized downtown area, to this building. The Heritage Museum still retains a few jail cells in the basement, including one for solitary confinement. The librarian told me that when the Historical Society moved into the building, the entire basement was filled with cells. I'll have to get a tour sometime.