Homepage Guestbook

Volume 3, Number 3

OCEAN CREST CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN MOCLIPS

One of the oldest and dearest North Beach icons celebrated its 50th anniversary in a weakling celebration in June.
The Ocean Crest Resort, long known for its high standards of fine dining and for its excellent view of the Pacific ocean, put on quite a nice list of events: A Quinault beach tour, a garden tour and luncheon, ocean Crest open house, Quinault blueback salmon bake, horseback riding and pianist Phil Westbrook entertained in the lounge.
Local newspapers included stories of the Ocean Crest’s history with interviews of Rob Curtright and his mother Barbara Topete.
The Museum of the North Beach salutes the Ocean Crest and sends best wishes for the next fifty years!

WHEN AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED… TRY AGAIN!

In our last issue of the Moclips Ocean Wave, we mentioned the winner of the raffle ticket for the North Beach photo enlargement (matted & framed). It was Jerry & Chris Calhoun of gig Harbor but they chose to donate the NP train photo back to the museum. The board discussed how best to handle this situation and it was decided to go ahead and draw another winning ticket. So, during our September 27th meeting, a new winner will be drawn. Our raffle had officially ended on June 7th and by law we cannot have several raffles during a 12 month period. If you bought a ticket, YOU still have a chance to win! The winner chooses between one of sever 20 x 16 vintage enlargements (one from each North Beach community). The matting and framing will be done by our resident artist and secretary, Lee Marriott. So hang in there and good luck (again)!

DOING TIME AS A MUSEUM VOLUNTEER

Our Museum docent program has increased in the number of volunteers since the grand opening in January. There are now 35 on the list. During the first 6 months of operation, a total of 342 volunteer hours have been recorded.

Over 20 docents in this group are from the North Beach guild. In a special program that started in May, these friendly women have made the Museum of the North Beach their second home. In exchange for their time MBTS insures they will receive funding for their scholarship program for students of the North beach High School. An anonymous benefactor has agreed to donate money to a special bank account earmarked specifically for the North Beach guild’s program.

This is a win-win-win situation. The museum acquires volunteers, the NB Guild receives its scholarships and the benefactor receives a tax write-off in addition to being involved in the North Beach Community.

WHAT’S NEW AT THE MUSEUM OF THE NORTH BEACH

A wonderful piece of vintage Moclips history has made it to the museum. It’s an old violin made in Moclips near the turn of the century. One of the local businesses located on Pacific Avenue at the time was the Forwood Brothers Jewelers, which sold jewelry, agates and souvenirs. One of the brothers, Harold, made violins that he displayed in the store window and it just so happens that this is one of his violins.

Dann Sears from the Aberdeen Museum of History found the violin and contacted us. He was kind enough to forward the artifact to the museum of the North Beach. We already have a heavy mantle clock that also has the Forwood Brothers mark on its face. Together, and with photos of the brothers and their store, we will be making a special displaying the museum in their dedication.

The Ocean Crest Resort donated several CD’s and tapes for us to sell, as well as the demonstration sound system to sample the music before you buy it. This nice soothing music has been a welcome addition for our guests and volunteers.

MBTS treasurer, Kathy Jaquet was kind enough to donate her Pepsi pop machine so we can sell soda to our museum guests. We have already gone through five cases this summer! Our next projects will include finishing the Northern Pacific caboose complete with railing and roof.

We are also working on obtaining more display cases from the Aberdeen museum. They will be used to house our logging artifacts, vintage trinkets from the North Beach communities (in a revolving display case) and for protecting more Quinault baskets yet to be displayed.

Hand-made shell toothpicks were made and donated by Jeri Hauser from Moclips as a fund-raiser. These can be used for appetizers. They sold out in one day!

Shari Barry from the Lady’s Aid Hall in Pacific Beach brought several postcards for the museum to sell.

If you’ve never been to the museum, come visit soon!

THE OLD MOCLIPS SCHOOL BELL

In April, Ocean shores resident, Jaen Henry came to us seeking information about the school bell currently used during football games at the North Beach High School in Oyehut. His search for information has turned into a one-man quest. Was this the bell that was in the schoolhouse that fell into the ocean at Moclips in 1913? We showed him a photo of the second school with a belfry where the bell could have been placed. This school was later turned into apartments and destroyed by fire in the 1950’s. Jaen gets closer to solving this riddle but the answer is always just out of reach.

GEMS AND GEMSTONES

Your membership dollars go into a general fund that pays for printing our newsletter, other printings and postage. We rely on donations to help with museum costs and acquisitions. You may specify where your donations go. Marian Vidonis, Jackie Davis, Charles & Enid Dempster, Linda Scott & Richard Rheinschmidt and Harold & Mary Schmidtke renewed their membership and sent along additio9nal donations. Betty & Norm Ross of Ocean shores gave a cash donation in memory of Mr. Merkley

THANK YOU ALL!

Countdown to Moclips Centennial – It is now less than two years until we celebrate the Moclips Centennial. If you have ideas or would like to join a committee, please contact a board member.

CAN YOU TELL US?

Long time Moclips resident, Patti Coutright found something on the beach back in the 1960’s. She believed it to be pat of a horse collar. The object is metal and measures 8" by 2". Patti loaned the item to the museum to have it identified. Some guesses from our museum guests include a handle for a cane, the butt end of a pistol or musket and part of a horse collar or saddle What do you think? Sorry photo not included in this reprint.

IT’S BEEN 30 YEARS JOHN WAYNE

Can you believe it thirty years ago John Wayne, Eddie Albert and Diana Muldaur came to the North Beach to film the ending of “McQ”. While the majority of the movie was filmed in Seattle, the BEST part was recorded in Pacific Beach, Moclips and Pt. Grenville. A “ classic” car chase was filmed from Analyde gap to Pt. Grenville. A house in Pacific Beach now owned by MBTS member Maggie Alexander was also used in the filming. A scene during the car chase shows a car hitting one of the pilings on the beach in front of what was the Moclips Beach Hotel. That particular piece was a dummy. The original pilings were not damaged or destroyed. The museum featured the last 20 minutes of this movie on a continuos VHS tape.

DOROTHY ANDERSON’S CABIN

A piece of Ocean City history is on the move. The cabin built by Dorothy Anderson from wood found on the beach must be removed form the property where it now resides. The cabin has insect problems, which need to be corrected. The North Beach Historical Society who owns the cabin is looking for an appropriate spot to place the building. It is currently being used by the society as their museum and meeting place. Perhaps Grays Harbor County should donate land in Ocean City like they did for the new Lycan Park in Moclips. We hope something can be done to save this North beach historical icon. Let us know if you can help.

NEXT GENERAL MEETING – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

At our next general meeting we will be concentrating on forming our committees and begin working on the centennial project. First and foremost, we much decide on a week in either June or July, 2005 for the celebration. Several events are planned and need to be ironed out. A major publicity campaign will be undertaken beginning next year. We want this to be a big event that will get statewide if not national attention. We invite your ideas and hope you can attend this very important meeting. Some ideas include a Quinault canoe landing at the mouth of the Moclips River, vintage bathing suit contest, basket weaving demonstrations and vintage 1910’s automobiles. What’s your idea?

NEWLY DONATED ITEMS – THANK YOU!

The family of Martha & Dick MacMorran, Marsha and Alexander, donated eleven 1950’s 8X10 photos of the Minard Ranch before the development of Ocean shores.

An original watercolor scene from the Ocean Crest Resort done by former Moclips artist Uldine Burgon was donated by the Doris Eklund family

Dolores’ antiques in ocean shores donated a great 48-star U.S. flag.

A very nice Grays Harbor sounding chart was donated by Kit Andal from Ocean shores in the name of Steven Dinuson.

Lois Johnson of Moclips donated two older matchbooks of the Polynesian Resort in ocean Shore.

During the Ocean Crest’s 50th Anniversary week artist Uldine Burgon came to the museum and donated a box of her note cards. She also loaned an original painting, which is on display.

A vintage wheelchair, doctor’s bag and first aid kit were donated by Bruce & Darlene Graddon of Black Diamond.

Hunter & Haley Roy of Bonney Lake donated two small glass floats found at Moclips this year.

Cheryl Brown of the ocean shores community Club donated two older O.S. coffee mugs.

Robert Hause of Port Angeles (a former Moclipsian) donated several Moclips School class photos and lots of cannery labels.

Linda Baxter of PB donated a 1979 promotional newspaper of ocean Shores.

Dave & Joan Empfield dropped off a 1948 NP train schedule and a depot “no spitting” sign photocopy.

Marian Vidonis of Moclips donated two vintage lanterns used for digging razor clams. One sits it its stand high above the sand.

Larry & Ramona Corvari from Moclips donated a nicely framed, 8x10 vintage Moclips beach scene.

Jean Kyle from Ocean Shores donated an old canteen and turkey call.

Gordon’s Antiques of O.S. donated a Ginny Simms record album recorded in ocean Shores in 1962 for the Seattle world’s Fair.

O.S. Antiques donated a December 1976 issue of the North Beach Beacon. This issue has ads for the Trade winds Lodge in Moclips and for the North beach Drive In Theater.

Mary Gardner of Ocean Shores donated 3 Copalis/Ocean City Lions club pins and two postcards.

Synchronicity of Ocean Shores donated a Moclips spoon. It was originally bid on eBay by member Mary Hill. She graciously stepped aside and let the museum have it. Thanks!

Member Mary Hill sent us several railroad related items from her Uncle Norm Doerr’s collection.

Very Bangs of Copalis Beach donated a railroad lantern used for checking boxcars at night.

Don Bishop from University Place donated a 1927 “Key to Western Washington” booklet which includes a section on PB.

Shirley Hell of O.S. donated a shipwreck map of the harbor and a “Twin Harbors” book.

Charles Plumb from Louisvile, KY brought us a photocopy of the 1927 Moclips school class.

The Copalis Beach/Ocean City Lions cub donated a 1979 letter in braille.

Rosemary (Stilson) Channel of Poulsbo donated a wonderful collection of early Moclips photos and other goodies. Her sister, Jeanne (Betty) Bosney donated 8th grade (1944) photos of 5 classmates and yearbooks from 1943-44.

Marjorie Johnson donated two Quinault fiction books by Naomi Stokes.

The Wacky Warehouse donated an old razor steam operated gauge and an old electric meter.

Donated artifacts will be on permanent display.

Copyright © 2005 All rights Reserved
Moclips-By-The-Sea Historical Society and Museum
E-Mail Contact