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The Coquille River flows past downtown Coquille which
enhances
the beauty of the area while offering year round boating and fishing
opportunities to catch fall Chinook Salmon, winter Steelhead Trout, Large
Mouth Bass, Striped Bass and White Sturgeon. The river is also home to the
Brown Bullhead Catfish, Starry Flounder and Cabazon Sculpin, if you know
where to look. A detailed pocket map and recreational river chart of
Coquille's navigable waters is sold at the Chamber of Commerce office, 119
N. Birch, showing popular fishing spots, boat ramps and restrooms as well
as interesting data not found on other maps, including the effects of wind
on water and land.
In 1894, a covered bridge was constructed across the Coquille River
ten miles east of Myrtle Point. Because it was a landmark, the tiny
community which grew around it was called Bridge. A new span was built in
1928 and was removed in 1969 following the collapse of the roof from the
weight of a heavy snowfall. A modern concrete highway span now crosses the
river at the site.
Seven miles further east, a covered bridge was built in 1921 at Sandy
Creek, near the town of Remote. This bridge carried traffic on Oregon
Highway 42 until it was bypassed in 1949. In 1984, a park was dedicated at
the bridge as a picnic site and rest area, due to the efforts of the
Myrtle Point Lions Club which adopted the bridge as a major project. It
now includes a tourist information center and is located a stone's throw
north of the concrete bridge on Highway 42 which replaced it.
Coos County Logging Museum
On the corner of Seventh & Maple in Myrtle Point, just nine miles east of
Coquille on Highway 42, you will find a pioneer replica of the famous Salt
Lake City Tabernacle, erected in 1910 and now on the National Register of
Historic Places. It was abandoned as a place of worship long ago, due to
the dreadful acoustics which produce bizarre sounds, making it a wonderful
place for a museum and a delight to children. When you visit, ask to
be directed to the spot marked on the floor where the strange echos are at
their peak. Beautiful carved doors of Port Orford white cedar grace the
entrance. Designed by Myrtle Point artist Tom Johnson, the carving was done
by himself and Ken Means in memory of longtime museum organizer and
curator Curt Beckham.
Inside the building, well-worn crosscut saws sit alongside a collection of
1940's gas-powered chainsaws. Selected tableaus take you on a visual
journey back in time to the days in Oregon when logging was king. A
special area of the museum is dedicated to those who died in timber
industry accidents, one of the most dangerous professions in the world.
Rare photographs show more than a century of the hardy men and woman who
worked in logging camps, harvesting timber and processing it at the mills.
There is also a collection of nine large Myrtlewood
panels hand carved by the late Portland artist, Alexander Benjamin Warnock,
depicting the glory days of logging in bas-relief. A gift of the
Roundhouse Trust, these carvings bring to the exhibit a major art
collection of national reputation.
The museum is a non-profit educational institution supported by local
fundraising events and individual and corporate bequests. Now open year
round, summer hours are 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday; 1-4 pm on
Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You can arrange year-round
personal tours by calling 541-572-2352 or 541-572-5266.
Sawdust Theatre
About the Sawdusters:
From the early 1800's until the 1920's, a kind of theater evolved that had
never been seen before. It did not fit the classic definitions of either
drama or comedy, and some enterprising critic coined the word "melodrama"
as a description of this new kind of theatre. A perfect blend of music
(melody) and drama.
On any given Saturday night (and most Fridays) in Coquille between
Memorial Day and Labor Day, you can experience a trip down memory lane by
attending the Sawdust Theatre. The performers refer to themselves as
Sawdusters.
Sawdusters, all volunteers, come from many walks of life; teachers,
lawyers, homemakers, merchants, and many others comprise the casts and
crews. The pleasure of working together and performing for an audience is
payment enough for their time and effort.
Ticket Reservations may be made after march 15th. Call 541-396-4563.
Current play brochures are available at the Chamber Office. |
