Three Days Ago

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 16, 2012

Today it's been raining like crazy and the warm(er) weather has blown in, so I thought I'd post a couple more photos from one of our snow days. It's always interesting to me to see the snow on a riverfront scene.

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Where Does the Time Go?

Astoria, Oregon ~ Summer 2011

Guest Photographer: J Schu

Hello, Everyone! The title of today's post could be a theme for this photo, and it's also a theme for me right now. Contrary to possible conclusions, I have not decided to give up on this blog, but I have (by default) taken a break from all of my blogs. I think about posting, I still take photos, and I really, really appreciate the interest all of you have shown. Rather than lack of interest, I can sum up my disappearance as "other things coming to the foreground," and everthing simply takes time.

We'll see what happens going forward, but for now I would like to thank J for sending in this charming photo of a view that was not available until very recently, and to pass along a question from the photographer: Can anyone tell us more about this old building? It was revealed recently along the River Walk when the weathered old white Darigold building was taken down.

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Darigold Art

Astoria, Oregon ~ May 17, 2011

I love finding art in unexpected places, and this time I found it on the side of the old Darigold building next to the train station. The building is slated for demolition at the end of May. Please see yesterday's post for further info and to learn what Ron Walker is looking for before the building disappears.

Here is another picture of the Darigold building that I took last May and posted in June. I know more about it now than I did a year ago. Let's hope we can get more and more stories so Ron Walker's project of preserving the history of this historic structure will be filled with fascinating stories and tidbits of Astoria's past. You can help by e-mailing Ron at riverwalker1946@charter.net or phoning him at (503) 440-3506.

It seems that Blogger may be having some trouble accepting comments. PLEASE copy your comment before you post it, and if it doesn't show up immediately, copy it to e-mail and send it to me at oregontapir@yahoo.com. Thank you! I have no idea what the problem is.

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Requesting Your Stories about the Darigold Building by the Old Astoria Train Station

Darigold Building, Astoria, Oregon ~ Photo Copyright Ron Walker

With all the celebration and events going on for the Astoria Bicentennial (1811 to 2011), you might think I'd focus on that this week, but I'm not. While celebrations are fun, I believe that history is a concern for every day. This old building next to the retired train station on the River Walk is slated for demolition at the end of May. I would love to see some way to restore it, but here is the point of the post:

RON WALKER REQUESTS YOUR STORIES, information, and anecdotes about the historic Darigold Building pictured above. You can help by e-mailing Ron at riverwalker1946@charter.net or phoning him at (503) 440-3506. Ron tells me he is also making a documentary about the building, and collecting interview footage for that purpose. He's interested in any and all stories you have. Please check out the blog comments below for more details. 

Ron says he's learning that the building had a fascinating history and has been used by Astorians in many interesting ways. One bit of info I learned from reading Elleda Wilson's "In One Ear" column in the Daily Astorian is that in the 1920s and 1930s, people could order from the Sears catalog and pick up their purchases in this building next to the train station. Those few words alone bring back memories for many of us whether we lived in Astoria or not (Mom ordering from the Sears catalog and waiting weeks for delivery!). What can you remember about Dairygold? The picture posted above is Ron's, but I took some myself the other day and will post more this week. VERY SOON THIS LANDMARK WILL BE GONE! I hate seeing old buildings that have character and stories disappear into nothing. It would take tons of money to restore it, but this is one of those times I wish I could somehow do it. 

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Sunburst Gables

Each older home in Astoria (and there are so many) has its own unique attributes. I always enjoy the sunburst gables on this nice Victorian on Jerome near 10th Street. (At least I think that's the location. I'll check it out unless someone catches me on it first. It's in that vicinity, anyway.)

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Astoria High School, About 1909

The photo above is another postcard loaned by Midnight Mike. The only date on it is the postmark, which is 1909. The picture shows the old Astoria High School at the corner of 8th Street and Grand Avenue. The photo was taken from 7th and Franklin.

Earlier on this blog, I posted the photo above, taken from almost the same location (7th and Exchange), but from a vantage point closer to the ground. In the next photo, taken the other day (March 23, 2010), I was standing at the opposite corner of the park, which is somewhere in front of the blue house in the background above.

You can see what a lopsided piece of ground it is. I wonder why they eventually tore down the building? The park is currently used as a baseball diamond, and at the left is a swing set. There's a picnic table with benches near the tree. Of course, that's the great Columbia River in the background; the hills on the other side are in Washington.

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