Astoria's royal thrones

The weather has been doing nothing but raining incessantly for at least 24 hours, so I dug these photos out of the archives from August 18, 2009. Perched over one of Astoria's sunken lots (my back was to the restrooms when I took this photo), and right next door to this plaque, is one of the most suprising public restrooms I've ever seen. I don't know who thought up the jumbo-sized moulded gold letters, but I thank them every time I pass by. I like the look. The style appears to me to be nouveau Art Deco, although the building has a sort of Classical look with the attached columns.

The restrooms are usually clean, unlocked, and in no-waiting mode. I assume they were built here because Sunday Market takes place half a block away during the summer, but many of us have thanked the donors and builders during the rest of the year as well. In an effort to give credit where it's due, I've included below the plaque from the center of the building.

Oh yes, note the truck. There is usually someone parked here.Happy Ruby Tuesday!

Waterfront funk with red

What are the chances of finding a waterfront scene like this one with one isolated punched-out red board? (There were no others.) I don't know, but it caught my attention. I wonder if it has anything to do with the narrow truck bay out of sight on the left? Something like, "Whoah! Do not drive into the water." In any event, I love the old windows and the aging white-on-white of the building. I see a lot of things being painted this year. Of course, that preserves them, but I miss the weather-beaten art of the "before." I'm sure that's one reason God made cameras. I'd like to get over there again and get a close-up before this building gets cleaned up. There's one obstacle: cyclone fencing. But it's not far away - it's just along the River Walk, like so many of my favorite places.

. Ruby Tuesday

Oregon Electric Railway Co., 1903-1945

There are treasures everywhere you look, and this one sits by the side of Marine Drive, unattached to a museum or institution of any kind. It's one of the hardest things I've photographed so far for the Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo blog, only because you can't get to some of the angles, and because of the rotting bamboo fence around it. I would like to have shown the wheels, and I would like to have shown the lettering on the side more clearly. It says, "Oregon Electric Railway Co." and "1903 - 1945." It's been preserved with a brand new coat of paint. This was the best single photo I could come up with.

This caboose may have nothing to do with Astoria's history, but may have been acquired by local railroading enthusiasts.

. Ruby Tuesday

. My World Tuesday

A festive sight on any day

The Riverfront Trolley runs along the River Walk almost from one end of town to the other all summer long and on nice days during spring and fall. The conductors are all volunteers who point out sights and describe Astoria's rather amazing history. You can ride as long as you want. The tickets are $1.00 for a single ride of any length, or pay $2.00 and get on and off all day long. Trolley Car 300 has quite a history, which you can read about on this site. My friend "Dangerous Dave" is one of the conductors. He points out our store as he rides the rails with his passengers, and tells them they *HAVE TO* come check out our unique collection of realistic stuffed and plastic animals. Many of them do, too! They're usually surprised to find such a place in this small town, and especially surprised to find out that we're actually a nonprofit for the conservation of tapirs! (Thanks, Dave!) Well, Astoria, Oregon, can be a surprising place. We'll just keep on bloggin' and keep on having fun :)

. Happy Ruby Tuesday!

More like peppermint ice cream

Most of the numerous Victorian houses in Astoria are painted in subdued earth tones, grays, blue-grays, blues, shade of white, pale yellow, greenish, and similar colors. There are a few notable exceptions, and this is one of them. This original Italianate Victorian was brighter at one time (the base is also pink) and the owners got much abuse from locals, including having their home dubbed "The Kaopectate House." Astoria's houses are a lot of fun for viewers, and often for the owners, although I've heard stories from potenial buyers and from real estate people here that there is almost not a house in town without notable quirks.

A few of these architectural details (or anomalies) show on the outside as unique cupolas, intentionally non-vertical walls (not on this one, it's the camera lens), and one-of-a-kind trim. But to those in the know, the stories are endless. I lived in a renovated apartment in a very old building one time, and you couldn't put anything round on the floor or it would quickly roll against one of the walls - but I gather that was tame. Astoria is built on such hills, the houses are so old, and much earth settling has taken place. I'm sure there will be entertaining things to show and relate as time goes on. And maybe we'll get some good comments. This house is a little more than halfway up the 15th-Street Hill, almost to Irving. The hill starts climbing at Duane, and the streets are alphabetical, going as far as Niagara.

Happy Ruby Tuesday, everyone! As I said in the title, this may be more like peppermint ice cream than like rubies, but for sure it's in the right part of the spectrum!

The Light Ship Columbia

The Light Ship Columbia is permanently docked at the Maritime Museum in Astoria, and is part of their exhibit. You can take a tour inside the ship when the museum is open. I think the buoy is at least as interesting to look at as the ship, and I love its colors, faded and worn as they are. I come here often, because it's only about a block from home, and of course it's on the River Walk. I haven't been inside the museum itself for quite some time, but the unique building and some of its contents will appear here eventually. You might want to check out The Columbia River: A Photographic Journey for more photos and lots of information on the Light Ship Columbia. The hill in the distance is Tongue Point, and white building in front of it is the J.O. Hanthorn Cannery I posted the other day.

Lee commented, "Interesting story about this. It used to be moored just outside the mouth and helped ships find the entrance to the Columbia. We've come along way. The crew was so bored they salmon fished all summer."

Happy Ruby Tuesday, everyone!

Red spring and evolution in a small town

I took this photo in front of the Bank of Astoria on April 10, 2009. The bank (at 11th and Duane) was recently bought by Columbia National Bank and changed its name (the statements still say B of A and so does the building), and it will take most of us years to think of it as anything other than the Bank of Astoria. The old names and features become so ingrained that when I first moved here in 2001, people were constantly giving me directions based on things that were no longer around, and may have been gone for 20 years! I had no idea what they were talking about. The right side of the photo is now a parking lot, but anyone who has been here for a few years (including me) will tell you. "It's by the old Safeway." The white building in the middle of the photo is a charming building that has been the Columbia River Day Spa for maybe six or seven years, but it, too, is a former bank. A lot of the old buildings keep the signage for historical or aesthetic reasons, and that would be a fun topic to explore sometime. Anyway, as Spring comes to Astoria with its rejuvenating ways, we give more than a slight nod to the old and comfortable, too. We love Spring here - it brings a few patches of blue in the sky and some rays of much-wanted sun.

Today is Ruby Tuesday. Click on the link to enjoy other photos featuring red!

If you're interested, you can see more pix of Astoria today on my other blog.

Ruby Tuesday: Red, white, and gray

I love bright foregrounds against a dark sky. I took this photo in our Safeway parking lot the other morning. The dumpster is usually not parked here where a path leads from the lot to the River Walk, but this morning someone had left it here, and the bright red was perfect, caught in a brief beam of sunlight. It's surprising how fast the clouds move, changing the atmosphere and changing it again. Beyond the parking lot is the new Comfort Suites Columbia River, where you can be kept awake all night listening to sea lions barking. I haven't needed to stay there and it looks nice. I'd probably like hearing sea lions all night.

Ruby Tuesday gave me an excuse to use this cool dumpster photo. Maybe tomorrow I'll post the boats!