Washington Coast Magazine, March 01, 2018

SPRING 2018 WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

20

SEA TREASURES found at Washaway Beach

David Berger’s book on RAZOR CLAMS

SCOTT’S HANDMADE BOOTS ON Grays Harbor

SPRING 2018

$3.99

A supplement to The Daily World

Furniture for Coastal Living!

Bassett Furniture • Bench Made • Live Edge

Come have a beautiful shopping experience!

Check out the options!

Classic Edge ~ “Beauty in Lines”

Live Edge ~ “Beauty in Curves”

Something New For You!

522 Simpson Ave. • Hoquiam • 360-532-2434

mchughsfurniture.com

THREE TIMES AND COUNTING!

2012

2017

2015

For the third time, Capital Medical’s Joint & Spine Center has been awarded the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for hip, knee and spine surgery.

Learn more about Award-Winning Knee, Hip and Spine Surgery capitalmedical.com

Capital Medical Center is partly owned by some of the physicians who serve our patients.

©2018 BCI

spring 2018

contents

FEATURES

28

SOPHISTICATED SUSTAINABILITY

36

HEART & SOLE

The Eugene D. Schermer Instructional Building at Grays Harbor College

Scott’s Handmade Boots

TOP The Eugene D. Schermer Instructional Building.

Photo by Juli Bonell BOTTOM Scott Bergen makes a custom pair of boots.

Photo by Stuart May COVER Just another day at Washaway Beach.

Photo by Marcy Merrill

4

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Our work is not about houses... ...it’s about people.

Multi-year winner!

Serving all of Grays Harbor County Residential - Commercial - Land

Windermere Real Estate

101 South Broadway • Aberdeen • 360-533-6464 837 Point Brown Ave NW • Ocean Shores • 360-289-3373 www.windermeregraysharbor.com

: EVENT & HOME N E GARD SHOW PG. 45

spring 2018

contents IN THIS ISSUE 12

BOOK

42

Razor Clams: Buried Treasure of the Pacific Northwest

16

Our Favorites

48

HISTORY

EVENTS WHO & WHY Denise Burke

Aberdeen Museum

22

THE BEACH

50

LAST SHOT

COVER

20 Things

12 16-month-old David Tucker places a razor clam caught by his father, Daniel, into their clam bag at Grayland Beach in 2013.

Photo by Aaron Lavinsky The Daily World

6

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 From the Editor 47 Advertisers Directory

LOVE WINS. The longest-lasting sedan in its class

Most Awarded Small SUV

Your Subaru Dealer for 33 Years

1-360-943-2120 2300 Carriage Loop SW • Olympia • Mon-Sat 8 to 7 ~ Sun 11 to 6 • www.HansonMotors.com

Get a N New ew wL Look ook ffor or

360-532-4000 | editor@washingtoncoastmagazine.com

Living Room Sets

starting at

599

$

Publisher

Stan Woody

Editor

Doug Barker

Associate Editor

Kat Bryant

Editorial Contributors

0 Down Financing o.a.c. / No Credit, No Problem

Selmer’s HOME FURNISHINGS

Local Delivery Mon-Sat 10-6 • Sun 12-5 Easy Financing 419 E. Wishkah Street • Aberdeen • 360-532-2260

Jewelry for all

Occasions

David Berger Kat Bryant Denise Burke David Haerle Marcy Merrill Callie White Gregory Zschomler

Photographers Juli Bonell Denise Burke Stuart May Marcy Merrill Editorial Assistant

Karen Barkstrom

Magazine Kristina Case, Simply Graphic Graphic Designer Ad Graphic Designers

Constance Ellis Emily Evans

Circulation

Kris Cearley

Subscriptions & Distribution

Leslie Bebich

Contact information Advertising inquiries, subscriptions & change of address: 360-532-4000. Back issues $8 plus shipping and handling.

Jewelry Store, Inc.

201 E. Wishkah St. Downtown Aberdeen 532-6280 Mon.-Fri. 10:00-5:30 Sat. 10:00-3:00

8

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Washington Coast Magazine is published by The Daily World, a division of Sound Publishing and may not be reproduced without express written permission, all rights reserved. No liability is assumed by Washington Coast Magazine, The Daily World or Sound Publishing regarding any content in this publication. A subscription to Washington Coast Magazine is $14 annually.

Single copies are available at select locations throughout À>Þà >ÀL À > ` *>V wV V Õ Ì ið À `iÌ> Ã] Û Ã Ì www.washingtoncoastmagazine.com

© 2018 by The Daily World 315 S. Michigan St. Aberdeen, WA 98520

Historic Billy’s Bar & Grill is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, & dinner.

• Full Service Menu • Large Appetizer List • Homemade Soups • Fresh Garden Salads • Famous Billy’s Brick Burgers on a Torta Bun • Prime Rib on Friday Nights

• Featuring Breakwater’s Hand-breaded Fish & Chips, Halibut, & Calamari • Large rotating selection of of Pacific Northwest draft beers beers on tap. Full service bar.

322 E. Heron St. • Aberdeen 360-533-7144 SAME OWNERS SINCE 1981

Locally Owned FRESH SEAFOOD MARKET! Our fresh seafood market includes a variety of fresh fish arriving daily. We also carry a variety of locally canned seafood products, T-shirts, and gift items.

CHOWDER HOUSE SELECTIONS • Hand-breaded Fish & Chips, Prawns & Halibut • Fresh Salads ~ Shrimp, Crab, & Seabreeze • Oven-broiled Salmon, Halibut, & Cod • Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwich • Homemade Clam m Chowder

Fast, Friendly Service!

We serve bottled beer, beer on tap and wine by the glass.

Riverside seating on our large outdoor deck Open 7 days a week

306 South F St. | Aberdeen | 360-532-5693

FROM THE EDITOR

A sea warehouse One of my favorite movies is “Local Hero,” set in a seaside village on the west coast of Scotland. The Atlantic Drift, an offshoot of the Gulf Stream, flows by and brings milder weather and odd treasures carried north from the Caribbean – a crate of oranges one day and something just as unexpected the next.

Doug Barker, Editor

In this edition, photographer Marcy Merrill shares some of the wondrous things that wash up in her neighborhood – North Cove, known by most locals as Washaway Beach. The spot, which is near the Grays Harbor / Pacific county line, yields incredible beachcombing finds – like a giant, ocean-stocked Amazon warehouse delivering something you didn’t order.

She has many hundreds of photos of beach finds. We asked her to pick 20.

Some are puzzling and mysterious and some are everyday objects. Her skill as a photographer, and apparent willingness to lie on her stomach on wet sand, make all of them seem like wonders.

In the movie, someone asks old Ben Knox about the most amazing thing he’s ever found on his stretch of beach. “Oh, it’s impossible to say,” he says. “You see, there’s something amazing every two or three weeks.”

Sounds like Washaway Beach, which giveth, but also taketh away. We’ve featured it once before, in the Winter 2016 issue. That story was mostly about the people who live there and stay as long as they can before the powerful currents of the North Pacific erode a little more of the shoreline away, until the house or trailer or tent falls right into the surf.

This time it’s about what the ocean brings us, which is a lot.

Stay connected with us VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.WashingtonCoastMagazine.com Click it to read our past articles and learn about upcoming events.

10

We invite you to check us out >ViL ° /i ÕÃ >L ÕÌ Þ ÕÀ experiences at the coast and feel free to suggest stories about your favorite spots.

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

LOCAL, HELPFUL!

Alaska is calling you. HOW CAN EVERYDAY BANKING It’s time you

ANSWER!

Last minute cruise specials available NOW! Where Your Journey Begins

WE HELP YOU? ®

108 E. First Aberdeen

YOUR TASTE of the PACIFIC

Voted

MOBILE BANKING FLEXIBLE LOAN SOLUTIONS GROW YOUR BUSINESS

BEST BANK and…

BEST PLACE TO GET A LOAN.

NORTHWEST • Oysters • Shrimp • Salmon • Halibut

800.562.8761 • Clams • Tuna

• Crab • and More!

Call ahead for fresh fish selection!

1-800-572-3252 or 360-268-0077 www.bradysoysters.com w OPEN DAILY OPEN O 9am - 6pm

West of the Elk River Bridge HWY 105 WESTPORT

VisNitLIUNsE O

TOO!

HOQUIAM DOWNTOWN ABERDEEN SOUTH ABERDEEN OCEAN SHORES MONTESANO ELMA

gg BOOK

Sonny Ozeki of Renton, left, and 11-year-old Kaito Hirayama of Mill Creek reach into a freshly dug hole to catch a razor clam at Grayland beach in this 2013 photo.

Photo by Aaron Lavinsky | The Daily World

DIGGING DEEP: Author puts together a comprehensive guide to razor clams S T O R Y B Y K A T B R YA N T

David Berger says he decided to write a comprehensive guide to razor clams because no one else had.

“There’s certainly information on certain things on websites, but there’s certain topics they don’t look into at all,” he says. “So really, in some ways,

12

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

there’s not that much information out there.”

A scroll through Amazon’s offerings brings up mostly cookbooks and a few other assorted topics. But Berger’s “Razor Clams: Buried Treasure of the Pacific Northwest” appears to be, in fact, the only single tome that

Berger, David.

“Razor Clams: Buried /Ài>ÃÕÀi v Ì i *>V wV Northwest.” Copyright 2017. Excerpts and images reprinted with permission of the University of Washington Press.

covers everything from history to howtos. The 224-page book, published in 2017, includes chapters on ecology and anatomy, local lore, clamming techniques for shovels versus tubes, cooking tips and much more. “We’d always had a lot of questions — and, as my wife likes to say, we didn’t have little questions, we had big questions,� Berger says. “So finally coming to terms with that and wanting to answer some of those questions is what inspired me to write the book.�

The Seattle resident especially enjoyed researching the history of the term “clam gun,� which originally referred to the shovel — not the tube. But “that’ll get you into a fight faster than just about anything else on the beach,� he laughs. “It’s like living history, if you will, because you can still see the meaning of the word being forged in real time.�

Possibly the most gratifying result of his research was identifying the inventor of the razor-clamming tube: James E. Batstone of Shelton, who filed the patent in 1957. Berger had to do some serious digging to find that information, as described in his book. “One of my missions is to rescue that gentleman from obscurity, because the razor-clam tube did transform the activity,� he says.

It’s been a labor of love for Berger, who has been clamming for nearly 30 years.

He tries to go at least twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. “There’s something almost ritualistic about it,� he says.

He declines, however, to share his personal favorite spots. “I’ve dug at many of the beaches along the coast, and they’re all great.�

,>Ă˘ÂœĂ€Â‡ VÂ?>““ˆ˜} tube inventor

THE BOOK includes chapters on local lore, cooking tips and much more

Possibly the most gratifying result of the author’s research was identifying the inventor of the razor-clamming tube: James E. Batstone of Shelton, who filed the patent in 1957. This photo was provided to the author by Betsy Batstone-Cunningham and the Batstone family.

/ Ä?1/ ", "9- Ä? Ä?/ Ä?-/ /7 Ä? 9 Ä?,] 1/ - Ä?6", / -*"/- Ä?, Ä? - , /°

“I’ve dug at many of the beaches along the coast, and they’re all great.�

Here’s a taste of just a few of the myriad topics covered in his book: EATING THEM Âş/Â…i wĂ€ĂƒĂŒ ĂŒĂ€i>ĂŒ ÂˆĂƒ >Â?Ăœ>ĂžĂƒ ĂŒÂ…i >``Ă•VĂŒÂœĂ€ Â“Ă•ĂƒVÂ?i] ĂœÂ…ÂˆVÂ… ÂˆĂƒ L>ĂƒÂˆV>Â?Â?Ăž Â?ˆŽi > ĂƒV>Â?Â?ÂœÂŤ p Â?Ă•ĂƒĂŒ ĂƒÂ“>Â?Â?iĂ€ p >˜` iĂ›iÀÞ VÂ?>“ Â…>Ăƒ ĂŒĂœÂœÂ° o Ä?Â˜ÂœĂŒÂ…iĂ€ ĂŒĂ€i>ĂŒ ÂˆĂƒ ĂŒÂ…i ˜iVÂŽ] ĂœÂ…ÂˆVÂ… ÂŤiÂœÂŤÂ?i Â˜ÂœĂ€Â“>Â?Â?Ăž ĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜ÂŽ Âœv >Ăƒ ĂŒÂœĂ•}Â…] ĂŒÂœ Li }Ă€ÂœĂ•Â˜` Ă•ÂŤ vÂœĂ€ VÂ…ÂœĂœ`iĂ€] >˜ >vĂŒiĂ€ĂŒÂ…ÂœĂ•}Â…ĂŒ ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i vĂ€Âˆi` `ˆ}}iÀ° Ă•ĂŒ Ă€>Ăœ ÂˆĂŒ ÂˆĂƒ VĂ€Ă•Â˜VÂ…Ăž] Â?ˆŽi > LÂ?>˜VÂ…i` ĂƒÂ?ˆVi Âœv V>Ă€Ă€ÂœĂŒÂ° o /Â…i vÂœÂœĂŒ] ÂœĂ€ `ˆ}}iĂ€ p ĂŒÂ…i LĂ•Â?ÂŽ Âœv ĂŒÂ…i VÂ?>“ p ÂˆĂƒ ĂƒÂœvĂŒ >˜` VÂ…iĂœĂž >˜`] ˆ˜ Ăƒi>ĂƒÂœÂ˜] wÂ?Â?i` ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂƒÂŤ>ĂœÂ˜] ĂƒÂœÂ“iĂŒÂˆÂ“iĂƒ Ă€iviÀÀi` ĂŒÂœ >Ăƒ LĂ•ĂŒĂŒiÀ° ĂŒ V>˜ ĂŒ>ĂƒĂŒi “ˆ˜iĂ€>Â?‡Þ Â?ˆŽi ĂƒÂœÂ“i ÂœĂžĂƒĂŒiĂ€ĂƒÂ° /Â…iĂ€i ÂˆĂƒ > vÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŒÂ… ĂŒiĂ?ĂŒĂ•Ă€i >Ăƒ ĂœiÂ?Â?] ĂŒÂ…i yiĂƒÂ… Âœv ĂŒÂ…i “>Â˜ĂŒÂ?i] ĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜ >˜` VĂ€ÂˆĂƒÂŤÂ° So, three ounces of boneless protein provide a symphony of textures, each with a counterpoint of sweetness.â€?

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

13

gg BOOK THE CASE OF THE MISSING CLAM SCULPTURE LOCAL LORE (Regarding the famous — and anatomically incorrect — razor clam sculpture in Ocean Shores) º" i `>À } Ì

iVi LiÀ £ Ç£] "Vi> - Àiý >Ãà Ûi À>â À V > ÃVÕ «ÌÕÀi ` Ã>««i>Ài`° č inebriated city crew used heavy equipment to nab Ì i ÃVÕ «ÌÕÀi > ` LÕÀÞ Ì i>ÀLÞ] À Ã Ì i i>` } ëiVÕ >Ì } ið o / i V> iÜë>«iÀ i` Ì >Ì > vÕÌÕÀi >ÀV i } ÃÌ } Ì Õ V ÛiÀ Ì i V > > `

Ü `iÀ v Ì i V> «i « i Ü Àà ««i` À>â À V > Ã] >`` } Ì >Ì Ì i ëiVÕ >Ì ¼Ü Õ ` ½Ì Li v>À vv°½ ÛiÀÞL `Þ iÝ«iVÌi` Ì i ÃVÕ «ÌÕÀi Ì Li ÀiÌÕÀ i` µÕ V Þ] LÕÌ Ì iÛiÀ Ü>ð čà >Ìi >à Óää ] v ÀÌÞ Þi>Àà ] > V ÌÞ V Õ V > iÝ«ÀiÃÃi` «i Ì >Ì Ì Ü Õ ` V i L>V Ã Ì V Õ ` Li « >Vi` >Ì Ì i Vi ÌiÀ v > Ã Ì Li LÕ Ì À Õ `>L ÕÌ° ÕÌ Ì >Ã Ì Ài>««i>Ài`° No one has ever V viÃÃi`° / i Ü `Õ Ì Ài > Ã Õ Ã Ûi`°»

Local model Teri Lee McDougal poses next to Ocean Shores’ razor clam sculpture (which disappeared in 1971) in this iconic photo from the late 1960s provided to the author by the Aberdeen Museum of History.

THE EFFECTS OF NIX

inside the clam Mo L St

(NIX, short for Nuclear Inclusion Unknown, is an infectious bacterium ium that causes razor clams’ gill cells to swell and rupture. Discovered in 1983, it forever changed the clamming mming industry.) º iv Ài > ` >vÌiÀ 8 p Ì iÃi >Ài >Ài ÌÜ ` ÃÌ VÌ iÀ>à v À À>â À V > } } 7>à }Ì ° iv Ài 8] Ì iÀi½` Lii ` Lii } Ãi>à Ã] LÕÀ}i } Õ LiÀà v iÀà v ` }}iÀÃ] > ` «i « i >` v À i>Ì } } Ì i ° čvÌiÀ 8] Ì iÀi ÜiÀi v>À viÜiÀ viÜiÀ V > Ã] Ãi>à à ÜiÀi à ÀÌi i`] > ` > ` ` }}iÀ ÌÀ «Ã ÜiÀi Ài`ÕVi` LÞ > v À v À ÌÜ Ì À`Ã] vÀ xää]äää Ì Çxä]äää äää > Õ> Þ Ì i iÞ`>Þ Þi>Àà Liv Ài Ài £ nÎ Ì >À Õ ` Óxä]äää Ì i Þi>Àà >vÌiÀ° >ÀÛiÃÌ Ì Ì> à ÜiÀi iÜ Ãi }Ài>Ì Þ Ài`ÕVi`] vÀ È Ì £Î V > Ã Ì Ó Ì Î > Õ> Þ°»

14

He Pr Ap Es

Is

Ga

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

I

C

Anatomical drawing from a 1925 report on razor clam growth and maturity, provided to the author by the Bureau of Fisheries, Government Printing Office.

f f BOOK

SHOVELS VS. TUBES

“Despite the predominance of tubes on the Li>V Ì `>Þ] Ì iÀi >Ài > à ÃÌ « i ÌÞ v à Ûi ð v Þ Õ Ü> Ì Ì V >Ãi V > Ã Ì i ÃÕÀv À ÜÀiÃÌ i Ü Ì Ì i > > > ] Ì i à Ûi Ã Ì i Ü>Þ Ì } ° / i à Ûi à ë ÀÌ } > ` >à >V >««i> ° *i « i V ViÀ i` Ü Ì Ã«ii` > ` µÕ> Ì ÌÞ] i V iÀV > ` }}iÀÃ] > à ÕÃi à Ûi ð č ` v À > Þ «i « i Õà } > à Ûi à i>à iÀ Ì > Õà } > ÌÕLi] Ü Ãi ÃÌ } Ì >à > Ì i « i>ÃÕÀi v vÌ } > ÃÌÕ «° / i > v - Ûi iÀà Ài > à ÃÌÀ }°»

Despite the predominance of tubes on the beach today, there are also still plenty of shovels. If you want to chase clams in the surf or wrestle with them mano a mano, the shovel is the way to go.

DETERMINING THE HARVEST (Describing the role of Dan Ayres, the biologist who leads the coastal shellfish unit of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife) º7 Ì Ã Ü iÞ] ` « >Ì V > iÀ] >Ì v Ü Ìi > À] > ` Li ÕÃi` à i] > čÞÀià > ià > Õ i Þ iÀ p À Û > p v À>â À V > }] LÕÌ i½Ã Lii v ÀVi` Ì L Ì À ià >Ã Ì i iÞ w}ÕÀi ÛiÀÃii } 7>à }Ì ½Ã À>â À V > >ÀÛiÃÌ Ã Vi >À Õ ` Óäää° o > Ü>Þ] čÞÀià à i Ì i >ÃÌiÀ Õ Þ] ` } ÕÌ > w Ìi Õ LiÀ v >ÃÌiÀ i}}à iÛiÀÞ Þi>À] iÛiÀ Ü } Ü > Þ i}}à i } Ì >Ûi À Ü i Ì iÞ } Ì ÃÕ``i Þ ` Ã>««i>À] Ü i > }À Õ« v i>}iÀ V `Ài ] Ü> Ì } v À Ì i à } > Ì Li} ] > Ý ÕÃ Ì }iÌ ÃÌ>ÀÌi`] vi>À } Ì i Ü ÀÃÌ p >ÃÌiÀ i}} Õ Ìt

> Vi i` `Õi Ì >V v >ÃÌiÀ i}}Ãt č ` Ì i «>Ài ÌÃ] >° °>° V >ÃÌ> LÕà iÃÃiÃ] >Ài ÃÌ> ` } Li ` Ì i `Ã Ü Ì ÕÀ`iÀ Ì i À iÞið»

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Seattle resident David Berger has worked in many facets of the communications industry, ranging from Seattle Times art critic to communications officer for a World Heritage site in China.

Cynthia Hall created this map showing razor clamming management areas of Washington and Oregon.

He is a recipient of the Metcalf Fellowship for Marine and Environmental Reporting. In addition to writing and razor clamming, he enjoys painting, sculpting and drawing.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

15

gg HISTORY

Snacks are always a necessity when enjoying a beer.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: ,i >Ì Ûi iÜV iÀ i `Ã i iÀ}Þ] Ü Ì > ` Ü Ã` to Aberdeen museum S T O R Y BY K A T B R Y A N T P HO T OS B Y M A R C Y M E R R I L L

16

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Dave Morris is not what you’d iÝ«iVÌ > ÕÃiÕ VÕÀ>Ì À° “Yeah, I’m a little on the crazy side,” he chuckled during an informal tour of the Aberdeen Museum of History.

As proof, he pointed out a mounted caribou head that still sported the red nose he had placed on it for Christmas. (This was in early February.)

And why is a caribou – not native to Grays Harbor – on display? Simple, said Morris: That particular beastie once adorned a wall at the Liberty Tavern, a South Aberdeen landmark for 87 years. It closed shortly after the 2004 death of second-generation owner/ operator John “Bronco” Tesia, a respected local historian.

HISTORY f f FACING PAGE: The view from the loft.

LEFT: An old phone booth, saw blades, and the wheelhouse of the S.S. John Cudahy, a river barge that ran aground long ago.

It’s one of many quirky conversation pieces in this small, jam-packed institution at the historic Armory building, which is owned by the city.

Morris moved to Grays Harbor just four years ago from Southern California, but he has fully embraced his new home as director and curator of the museum.

“I’m still learning,” he said. “This job is a daily lesson in something or another.”

Luckily, his predecessor is right there to guide him. Former director Dann Sears now serves as archivist and photo curator of the museum’s Digital Darkroom, a related operation in the lower level of the building. Sears now spends his time restoring, digitizing and archiving old photos from postcards, glass negatives and other media.

“That’s something he’d wanted to do some years ago, but it got left by the wayside because he couldn’t be two places at the same time,” said Morris.

The transition was far from traditional.

Morris started volunteering at the museum about three years ago, helping Sears with a few odd jobs. Before long,

they were “spitballing” with each other about bigger projects, and Sears started talking about hiring Morris full time.

And then the museum received an unexpected endowment for operations – over $320,000. This opened the door for Morris to come on board.

But Morris said the offer came with one caveat. “Dann told me: ‘If I hire you, you have to promise to take over when I step down in two, three years.’ Yeah, right. Six months later, at a board meeting: ‘We move that Dave take over as director, starting tomorrow.’ I was like, ‘Excuse me, what?’”

The endowment had also allowed Sears to acquire the equipment he needed to get his Digital Darkroom project off the ground – and he was ready to focus on that full time.

ON DISPLAY

The museum’s exhibits reflect every aspect of Aberdeen life, from logs to ships to music (and not just Kurt Cobain).

So now, “I get all the fun up here, he gets all the fun down there,” laughed Morris.

“Yeah, he stepped right into it – right up to his hips. So far, he’s done a pretty good job,” smirked Sears, adding: “I don’t want him to get a big head.”

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

17

gg HISTORY

The building’s history čLiÀ`ii ½Ã ÌÜ ÃÌ ÀÞ čÀ ÀÞ Ü>à V « iÌi` £ ÓÓ >Ì > V ÃÌ v f ä]äää] >VV À` } Ì ÃÌ ÀÞ ° À}° / i >ÀV ÌiVÌà ÜiÀi °č° >Þ ià v čLiÀ`ii > ` Õ Ã -Û>Àâ v -i>ÌÌ i° / i LÕ ` } Ü>à VVÕ« i` LÞ Ì i >Ì > Õ>À` Õ Ì £ Çn° ÕÀ } 7 À ` 7>À ] Ì > à ÕÃi` Ì i V> V Û `ivi Ãi À}> â>Ì ° "ÛiÀ Ì i Þi>ÀÃ] Ì i -«> à > ÃÌÞ i LÕ ` } > à ÃÌi` «ÕL V iÛi ÌÃ Ì i >À}i `À ë>Vi Ì i > y À] V Õ` } L>à iÌL> }> iÃ] V>À à Üà > ` `> Við ­/ >Ì Ã«>Vi Ã Ü iÀi Ì i ÕÃiÕ «iÀ>ÌiÃ Ì `>Þ°® / i -Ü> à LÀ Ì iÀà q >À > `

>À iÃ] i LiÀÃ v Ì i v> Þ Ì >Ì «iÀ>Ìi` Ì i V> ÃÕ«iÀ >À iÌ V > q «ÕÀV >Ãi` Ì i LÕ ` } £ ÇÈ] Ã ÀÌ Þ Liv Ài Ì i V> >Ì > Õ>À` Ài V>Ìi` Ì ÌiÃ> °

18

{ARMORY • PUBLIC EVENT SPACE • SCHOOL}

º/ i -Ü> à à « > i` Ì ÕÃi Ì >à > v ` ÃÌ À>}i Ü>Ài ÕÃi] LÕÌ Ì i V ÌÞ `i i` Ì i Vi Ãi `Õi Ì â }]» Ã> ` , Þ 6>Ì> >] Ì i ÕÃiÕ ½Ã v Õ ` } ` ÀiVÌ À] Ü >ÌiÀ ÃiÀÛi` v À > Þ Þi>Àà >à > L >À` i LiÀ° º/ i LÕ ` } ÕÃi` > À ÃÌ > ÃV ] and then the Swansons offered it to the city of Aberdeen as a museum/ Ãi À Vi ÌiÀ°» /Ü Þi>Àà >vÌiÀ Ì >Ì] -i«Ì° Îä] £ nÎ] Ì i ÕÃiÕ i ` Ìà }> > «i } Vi iLÀ>Ì ° “The Hume Street Preservation Jazz > ` {äx « >Þi` >Ì Ì i «i }]» 6>Ì> > ÀiV> i`° º Ý i > ` Õà V > V VÀiÌi Ü> i` À `iÛ ` v > Þ LÕvviÀ } >ÌiÀ > à « iÀV } Þ Ã À ° swear the echo continued for another Üii °» - Vi Ì i ] Ì i ÕÃiÕ >à w i` > L Ì°

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

“At some point I went to Victoria ­ À Ì Ã Õ L >® > ` Û Ã Ìi` Ì i

*À Û V > ÕÃiÕ Ü Ì Ü> Ì À Õ} ` À> >Ã]» Ã> ` 6>Ì> >° º `ÀiÜ Õ« > y À « > v À à >À ÃÌÀÕVÌÕÀiÃ Ì i čÀ ÀÞ° / >Ì Ã Ü i Ì i V> carpenters union was contacted for Û Õ ÌiiÀð º" i v Ì Ãi Ü>Ã Þ > i iÀ] Ü LÕ Ì Ì i ÃÌÀÕVÌÕÀià >À}i Þ Ã } i > `i` > ` LiV> i > Û> Õ>L i i LiÀ v Ì i ÕÃiÕ ° i i `i` Õ« Li } Ì i `i v>VÌ ` ÀiVÌ À Õ Ì > ­-i>Àî >ÀÀ Ûi`°» Today, the Armory building is home not only to the museum, but also to the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society, the Aberdeen Senior Community Center and the Grays Harbor Community Action Project.

HISTORY f f As the museum’s only paid employees, they oversee six or seven regular volunteers. Some have been there since Day One. Emily Airhart, who’s in her 90s, is among them.

“Emily has been here since the museum opened,” said Morris. “She still comes in four days a week … just a wealth of knowledge, and she makes the best cinnamon rolls!”

On display The museum’s exhibits reflect every aspect of Aberdeen life, from logs to ships to music (and not just Kurt Cobain).

The three massive wall murals were painted by Bob McCausland when he was in his late 80s and 90s. He worked as an editorial cartoonist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for about 30 years, then The Daily World in Aberdeen for 20 more before retiring.

The logging industry display includes (among other things) some impressive photos of workers with stacks of logs.

The individual logs are so enormous, it takes a moment to actually notice the tiny men sitting on them. The juxtaposition is quite startling.

“People say, ‘There’s still a lumber industry. I see the trucks going by with trees all the time,’” said Morris. “Yeah, you see trucks carrying sticks.”

Elsewhere, visitors will find several canoes that were built in the early 20th century by Old Town Canoes on the East Coast – with spruce wood from Grays Harbor – and then transported back here to be used by the Red Cross at Camp Bishop. Sears recalls paddling the blue one during his younger years.

In the General Store area, visitors can peruse what Morris calls “the snake-oil case.” It’s full of primitive pharmaceuticals ranging from “Atomic Balm” to “Prophylactic Tooth Powder” – not to mention the ironically named “Asthmador Cigars.”

The city’s earliest pieces of firefighting equipment take center stage on the main floor. The first, called “Old Tiger,” was built in 1855 and had to be pulled by about a dozen men; the second, commissioned near the turn of the century, was pulled by a three-horse team. Both were used to fight the big fire that decimated downtown Aberdeen in 1903, Morris noted.

Upstairs Being a small (and city-owned) operation, this institution doesn’t accept just any old thing for display. “It has to have Aberdeen provenance,” said Morris.

That wasn’t always the case, according to Roy Vataja, who calls himself the museum’s “first curator/director/janitor.”

VISIT THE MUSEUM Admission Free; donations graciously accepted Hours Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.

Monday: Closed

Contact www.aberdeen-museum.org 360-533-1976 £££ ° / À` -Ì°] ƂLiÀ`ii ­ À iÀ v / À` > ` ÃÌÀiiÌî Membership Annual and lifetime memberships are available.

Visit the museum or its website to learn more.

FACING PAGE: A stained-glass window from the First Congregational Church of Aberdeen. ABOVE: A barber shop diorama, complete with an anti-suffrage poster created by a local minister; and the Armory building exterior.

LEFT: Director and curator Dave Morris talks about Old Tiger, Aberdeen’s first piece of major fire equipment, which had to be pulled by a dozen men.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

19

gg HISTORY CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Aberdeen’s second piece of firefighting equipment, commissioned near the turn of the 20th century, was used along with Old Tiger to fight the 1903 fire that decimated downtown Aberdeen; the museum’s hot-rod garage diorama includes a pair of soapbox derby cars that were raced in the 1960s by Harbor native Ed Gegen; and the general store diorama displays an antique cash register and many sundries that were sold in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Lynn Daneker, the local carpenter who built many of the walk-through dioramas, became director after him.

“One thing about Lynn was that he accepted everything people donated,” said Vataja. “There was a lot of sorting (later on) … but it was better to dig through junk and find a treasure than have no treasure at all.”

And that sorting continues as Morris finds the time.

“We have a lot of stuff that we have no idea where it came from, how long it’s been here or anything,” he said.

A lot of those items are in the museum’s loft area, above the main floor. Morris

20

loves exploring up there.

“I walk around and I find stuff. I’ve found the good, the bad and the weird,” he said, adding: “The weird makes it very fun.”

Just a tiny sampling of what’s up there: • A wall full of typewriters.

• An extremely uncomfortable-looking wooden ob/gyn exam table.

• A “stupidly heavy” life-sized wooden statue of former Aberdeen Mayor Walt Failor, with a shotgun in one hand and a goose in the other (artist unknown).

• Racks and drawers full of clothing,

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

from formal gowns to men’s woolen swimsuits.

• Thick branches cut from a holly tree at the homestead of Aberdeen founder Sam Benn. “We have several pieces of that floating around,” said Morris.

“We’ve used them for awards and other things.”

And then there’s row after row of shelves stacked with file boxes. One randomly chosen box simply marked “Military” yielded various maps, a canteen – and Maj. Ben Weatherwax’s Bronze Star.

“If there’s one cool part of the job, it’s being able to be hands-on with all this stuff,” said Morris.

HISTORY f f Other elements The museum’s gift shop offers more than miscellaneous memorabilia and books on local history. You can also find decades’ worth of Weatherwax High School’s “Quinault” yearbooks for sale, going all the way back to 1912.

One edition has a plywood cover with “Quinault 1931” carved into it.

“What’s really interesting is looking at the ones from World War II,” said Morris. “You get to 1941, ’42, and you start seeing people talk about ‘those who are missed’ and ‘this alumnus is gone.’”

Another museum feature is the “Walking Tour of Kurt Cobain’s Aberdeen,” which is somewhat of a misnomer.

“We offer a map. We’re too understaffed to actually take people out on tours,” said Morris.

“But there’s a gentleman named Phil from Grays Harbor College who does some walking tours out of the museum, especially in the summer,” he added. “The group will meet here, and he’ll show them a couple of pieces that he really likes. Then he takes them out on the tour.”

Morris himself conducts activities on-site for visiting groups of schoolchildren, including a scavenger hunt with at least one trick question.

(No spoilers here.)

“I gotta make ’em think,” he grinned.

If there’s one cool part of the job, it’s being able to be hands-on with all this stuff.” q >Ûi ÀÀ Ã] ÕÃiÕ ÕÀ>Ì À

ABOVE: The one-room schoolhouse diorama features lists of punishments for student transgressions (by number of lashes), as well as strict rules of conduct for teachers.

Harbor Place 313 West Wishkah Street Aberdeen Washington 98520

360 532-6140

FINE JEWELERS SINCE

1947

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

21

gg THE BEACH

20 THINGS: The sea shares myriad treasures at Washaway Beach TEX T AND PHOTOS BY MARCY MERRILL

I’ve spent countless hours combing a special stretch of beach in Washington state.

Generally, I head down there to walk a dog or two; I don’t plan to find anything. But something bizarre and/or beautiful always seems to pop up.

Sometimes it’s an unusual bit of sea life. I learn something from researching those, trying to figure out what they are: sea snakes, pyrosomes, salps, stuff like that. Before I found them on the beach, I didn’t know they existed.

1

Most often, though, it’s something completely out of left field: a concrete foot, a plastic toy from the 1960s, a wooden net-mending tool, a massive tire covered with gooseneck barnacles.

2

This is North Cove, otherwise known as Washaway Beach. It’s an area of strong tides and constantly changing coastline, where the ocean is slowly devouring earth, homes and roads – and, in return, depositing a fantastically diverse array of debris on the beach.

As the marquee of the North Cove Minit Market said for way too long, complete with the (probably intentional) misspelling: “It’s not the end of the world, butt you can see it from here.”

4 22

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

3

THE BEACH f f

6 5

7

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

23

gg THE BEACH

Generally, I head down there to walk a dog or two; I don’t plan to find anything. But something bizarre and/or beautiful always seems to pop up.

8

9

6

10

11 24

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

THE BEACH f f

12

14

13

15 16 WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

25

gg THE BEACH

17 18 26

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

THE BEACH f f

19 About Marcy č V }> ÌÀ> ë > Ì] ÀÌ

Ûi « Ì }À>« iÀ >ÀVÞ iÀÀ V> vÌi Li v Õ ` V L } Ì i Li>V iÃ Ü Ì iÀ ÕÃL> `] L] > ` iÀ ÌÀÕÃÌÞ ` }] >Ü iÞi° LiÌÜii Ã Ì } V iÀV > « Ì Ã > ` Üi`` }Ã] à i > Ì> Ã Ì Àii ÜiLà ÌiÃ\ iÀÀ « Ì ° V ] Õ ÃÌ ÀiV> iÀ>ðV > ` « Ì `ðV ° - i >à «ÕL à i` Ì Àii « Ì V iVÌ Ã v iÀ Li>V w `Ã\ ºÓää / }Ã]» ºč Ì iÀ Óää / }û > ` º9iÌ č Ì iÀ Óää / }ð»

20

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

27

SOPHISTICATED SUSTAINABILITY STO R Y B Y CALLIE WHITE

The Eugene D. Schermer Instructional Building is a beautiful blend of design and efficient engineering.

28

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

| PHO TO S BY JU LI BO NE LL

T

he view across the Chehalis River from Aberdeen used to be one of tree-covered hills and misty fog, but three years ago it got a new addition – a large, sparkly building of glass and concrete anchored onto the top of a narrow rise. It announces the presence of Grays Harbor College, which is otherwise set out of sight in the grottoes of the hills in low-slung buildings.

The Eugene D. Schermer Instructional Building is a standout in other ways, though. Named for one of Grays Harbor College’s most influential teachers and biggest supporters, the $41.5 million, 70,000-square-foot building is a marvelous marriage of aesthetics and engineering that make it a part of the natural world it looks out on – and quite literally so, as the building, which was the college’s second to be certified LEED Gold, uses natural light, rainwater and geothermal heating from the ground it sits on to keep it going.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

29

“Bringing the outdoors in” has been an architectural trope since the first panes of glass were cooling, but there’s a reason people never grow tired of it: It’s beautiful and relaxing. And in Grays Harbor, the wildness and the richness of the outdoors are considered essential to the area’s history, the economy, and future, so it only makes sense to try to do the surroundings justice.

Most strikingly, the patterns of the natural world are seen in “Clearing,” the skylight sculpture in the entryway by Jill Anholt.

Ethereal, abstract branches and leaves refract and filter the light over polished concrete floors, with metal insets that spiral out like tree rings. The textured concrete coaxes a natural feel out of the most industrial of materials. And the long, crookedly placed overhead lights are meant to reflect logs floating down a stream, and the frosted glass panels – which let sunbeams pass through classrooms to the hallway, but maintain privacy – are reminiscent of foggy Harbor days.

The large windows have both spectacular views of the Harbor from the classroom sides (however, students face away from the windows toward the smartboards on the interior walls), and up close into the canopy of the forest behind the building on the side where the instructors have their offices.

“Clearing” sits directly beneath the secondstory outdoor garden, where rain is collected in a 14,000-gallon tank and pumped into the bathrooms. The result is a brackish toilet bowl, said Jane Goldberg, the college’s public relations director, but it saves many gallons of freshwater each year.

Besides using a lot of passive heating and cooling technologies, the building also relies on radiant heat from geothermal pumps, which use the stable temperature of deep underground to exchange heat in a process

that is all science but manages to sound like magic. The building also has a green roof – which has had mixed success. Large parts of the upper stories are clad in wood that was reclaimed from the building it was meant to replace, not only hearkening to eco-consciousness with the reuse, but the economic history of the area and history with lumber of a quality most builders can’t find anymore.

All the relevant stats of the energy efficiency – from electricity used, to gallons saved – are presented on a large flatscreen television just off the lobby. It’s a convenient (but not too imposing) feature for anyone attending an event at the instructional building.

As Avant Garde as the building looks, so are its social and instructional spaces.

Goldberg said that when the designs were drawn up for the Schermer building, the staff and faculty applied a few lessons learned from their experiences with the other prominent, new building on campus – the Manspeaker building.

While the Manspeaker has large rooms for presentations, they aren’t effective for community gatherings or events, Goldberg said. In the Schermer building, an instructional room by the entrance has walls that open like garage doors, for easier community events and parties. The dedication of the building, for example, was made simpler with this space, but a gathering of 40 Japanese nursing students doing a cultural and knowledge exchange was also easily accommodated – both when they were in class and when they were having a buffet lunch.

New social issues had arisen in the years since the Manspeaker building went up, too.

The ground floor bathrooms are also allgender and fragrance-free.

The use of rainwater, radiant heat from geothermal pumps and reclaimed beams are just some of the ways the building stays eco-conscious.

30

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

31

“We are here for our students, whatever their needs are,” Goldberg said. “And we’re part of society, so everything you see affecting the larger world, it’s here, too. Lots of people have chemical sensitivities. And we have students who feel more comfortable with these bathrooms.”

When a student had a life-threatening latex allergy, the entire campus went latex-free, from the dining hall to the health center.

Staff and faculty don’t necessarily know who they’re protecting, but if it’s part of the cost of being accessible and friendly to everyone

“A pleasing environment means students are going to do better. The design is meant to focus on learning, and I think that’s important.”

-JULIE NELSON, CHEMISTRY INSTRUCTOR

32

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

(the college has a 100 percent acceptance rate), it’s part of the cost of doing business, Goldberg added.

The Schermer building also is host to the arts program, and the studios have special lighting for artists. In fact, most of the staff and faculty who moved into the building got to help pick out their equipment, which was perfect for Amanda Gunn, biology instructor and head of the fish lab, programs that were undergoing revision and expansion.

But the key curriculum the Schermer building addresses is the college’s popular and competitive nursing program. With classrooms set up to look exactly like hospital rooms, and with elaborate mannequin patients that students can monitor, poke with needles and administer CPR and medications to, students get as close as possible to working in the real world. And with an anatomy lab chock-full of life-size models of every part of the body, they can get a deep sense of how the body is put together.

Chemistry instructor Julie Nelson, who knows something about mixing catalysts, said the building’s combination of beauty and the history fosters a sense of pride in the students.

“A pleasing environment means students are going to do better,” she said. “The design is meant to focus on learning, and I think that’s important.”

Most of the staff and faculty who moved into the building got to help pick out their equipment.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

33

Eugene Schermer was raised in Spokane LÞ «>Ài ÌÃ Ü ÜiÀi `iÛ Ìi` Ì > } ÃÕÀi Ì i À V `Ài } Ì Ì i ` v i`ÕV>Ì Ì iÞ iÛiÀ >` > V > Vi >Ì >V iÛ }° / iÞ ÜiÀi Ãi v >`i i>À iÀà > ` Û À>V Õà Ài>`iÀð Schermer came by his sense of curiosity Ì À Õ} >ÌÕÀi > ` ÕÀÌÕÀi] > ` >vÌiÀ }iÌÌ } à >ÃÌiÀ½Ã `i}Àii Ì i i>À Þ £ ÈäÃ] V> i Ì Ìi>V V i ÃÌÀÞ >Ì À>Þà >ÀL À i}i°

THE NAMESAKE Eugene Schermer

-V iÀ iÀ > >}i` Ì i ÌÀ V v Li } « «Õ >À Ü Ì L Ì ÃÌÕ`i Ìà > ` ÃÌ>vv] > ` Üi Ì Ì serve as dean of instruction and vice president v Ì i V i}i Liv Ài ÀiÌ À } £ n ° i > ` Ã Ü vi] ii ] >Ûi «ÕÌ ` Ü `ii« V Õ ÌÞ À Ìà >Ã Û Õ ÌiiÀÃ] Ü Ì i i ÃiÀÛ } Ì i L >À`à v Ì i 9 č > ` -> Û>Ì čÀ Þ] > ` Li } > i LiÀ v Ì i čLiÀ`ii ð i½Ã Ü Ì Þ v À Li } i Ì i>` «À iVÌÃ] LÕÌ v À }iÌÌ } ` Ü > ` ` } Ì i Ü À Ì > i Ì i ÃÕVViÃÃvÕ ° i½Ã > à >VÌ Ûi à V ÕÀV ] č >â } À>Vi ÕÌ iÀ> ° Because the building was going to be geared toward the same STEM material Schermer taught, it was generally agreed almost from the plan’s inception that Schermer would be the natural name for the new building.

34

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

recreational & medicinal cannabis

Experience the Difference 100 Old Hill Road - Aberdeen

(Located on the corner of Hwy 12 & Hill Road)

Mon.-Sat. 10AM-10PM Sun. 10AM-8PM

360-537-WEED (9333)

www.sweetleaf.us

Disclaimer: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can imapir concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consuption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

•• •• •• •• •• Personal Service Providers has earned the 2017 Provider of Choice Award

“Personal Service Providers makes it possible for me to continue living independently in my own home where I feel secure and comfortable.”

Personal Service Providers offers: • Quality Compassionate Care • Screened & Certified Caregivers • Personal Care & Home Management • Post Hospital Care & Support • Respite Care •• •• •• •• ••

Now Hiring CAREgivers Starting Wage $12.50 CNAs $13.50+ DOQ

205 7th St. | Hoquiam

Personal Service Providers

360-538-1540

Apply online at www.psproviders.org WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

35

36

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

heart & sole go into new venture S T OR Y B Y GR EG Z S C HOMLER P H OT OS B Y S T UA R T M AY

Scott Bergen and his wife, Debbie, have been a part of the Grays Harbor community nearly all their lives and are starting a different kind of adventure with Scott’s Handmade Boots.

Scott Bergen in his boot shop.

G

rays Harbor County, known as the Gateway to the Olympics and Washington’s Pacific Coast, is a great place to play and relax, but it’s also a great place to live and work. Once a thriving logging and fishing community, today’s industry has turned to tourism, manufacturing and distribution. Several heterogeneous small business ventures are sprouting up along the Harbor’s shores these days.

One such business is Scott’s Handmade Boots, owned by Scott Bergen and his wife, Debbie. The new venture recently opened in a suite at the Shoppes at Riverside in Aberdeen and offers cobbler services: footwear construction and repair.

Debbie has always called the Harbor home, and Scott moved there in 1973 with his family from the Seattle area. They not only like the area’s temperate weather and warm people, its proximity to the mountains and the coast, but also the oldfashioned hometown feel. Through the years, they’ve enjoyed such local activities as hiking, hunting, clamming, wind surfing, soccer, square dancing, bike riding and water and snow skiing.

“It’s a small town,” says Debbie, “(where) you get to know people, their likes and dislikes, build rapport. …”

The couple, whose children are grown now, have been involved in the community all their lives. They spent 23 years volunteering with Harbor Youth Soccer and, now that they’re settling into the new business, they’re looking for a new way to contribute to the community. They attend Central Park United Methodist Church,

38

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

LABOR DIVISION Scott is the craftsman — fashioning footwear and running the dayto-day operations; Debbie works behind the scenes as the organizer, bookkeeper and “taskmaster.”

and Debbie is on the 7th Street Theatre Board.

Scott ran printing presses on the Harbor for 33 years before turning to cobbling. His interest in the leatherworking handcraft led him to buy George’s Handmade Boots, located for 50 years in Prineville, Oregon. He says that about half a dozen folks were interested in buying the business, but he was the first to come up with financing.

the materials

Part of the turnkey deal was an intense, ninemonth apprenticeship in Prineville, in the Northwest’s high desert, where cowboy and ranch boots were a natural. But quality work boots have also long been in style on Grays Harbor for loggers, millworkers, farmers and woodsmen. The shop also makes custom Romeo-style slip-ons for casual wear, the after-work choice for generations of forest workers around Grays Harbor.

Grays Harbor is also a place to play, and one of the first things Scott was asked after opening was if he could build proper pirate footwear, fitting for folks who dress up as pirates for a couple of local celebrations. He says it’s all just a matter of seeing the design desired, but “working with leather can be difficult without pre-planning or having a drawn pattern because, unlike cloth, once a needle hole is in the leather, you can’t take it back. It will always be there.”

Scott is the craftsman — fashioning footwear and running the day-to-day operations; Debbie works behind the scenes as the organizer, bookkeeper and “taskmaster,” says Scott. “She cracks the whip,” he says with a smile, knowing she’s really his cheerleader. Debbie believes in her husband, providing support, inspiration and a constant positive attitude — something he needed in the beginning as he applied his burgeoning skills.

“Scott’s quite capable,” says Debbie. “He’s got a mechanical mind.” She notes that he’s not only an artisan, but can cognitively break a task down into parts. Scott has grown confident in his new skills over the past year, and he’s confident in the viability of the business, too.

“People aren’t going to quit wearing boots,” he says. “Most people have a pair for mucking around the yard.” People walking by the shop are attracted inside to the smell of leather. He’s surprised at how many people find it appealing, adding that a person can buy off-the-shelf footwear or invest in a quality handmade product designed to last.

Lace grommets, colored leather and soles all go into making a pair of quality boots.

According to his mentor, George Ziermann, the industry wear standard for a retail boot made in China is about three months, whereas a custom, handmade wear is three years and then LEFT:boot’s The Kestner Homestead some. The uppers and structure last well beyond in early morning mist. that; only the sole needs to be replaced at a fraction of the cost of a new pair.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

39

And there’s nothing like the feel and comfort of a custom and broken–in pair of quality boots.

Right now Scott says that, “95 percent of the work I do is [footwear] repair.� To him, that’s all well and good, but he says he’d like to build more boots. Since the process isn’t automated, and Scott is working on several orders at a time, it can take six to eight weeks to construct a pair of boots.

About 10 actual ‘man hours’ go into each pair and Scott says the wait is worth it. But it’s not only construction time that contributes to the time it takes. “It’s like making a recipe,� says Debbie, “you (first) get the ingredients together, then you let the dough rise.�

Part of the process is soaking the leather to make it pliable for working. Then, of course, there is the building part of the job (cutting, gluing, sewing, grinding, buffing, etc.), followed by the drying process, which takes two days longer here on the wetter coast than it does east of the mountains.

Debbie says custom boot buying is “not a rubber stamp — here’s a boot,� kind of thing. Clients begin by choosing the type of sole the boot will have, then choose a style based on the purpose of the boots, select leather colors and, of course, they are measured for fit.

There are two types of tailored products that can be made: Custom or Made to Measure. Custom products are handcrafted using standard foot measures. For a custom product the “shoe size� and width are taken from the client’s foot and matched to a stock “last� (foot mold) on which the product is built. For a Made to Measure product, the foot is carefully measured, a plantar drawing is made and the footwear is customized while on a last to fit the client’s foot. Width, length, shape, arch height and other individual characteristics are all taken into account to make a perfect fit.

And the Bergens and their business are perfectly fit to the Harbor, too.

making a boot LEATHER

(facts + ďŹ gures)

BLACK OR BROWN?

1.5 Square Yards: It takes

7 Colors: There are seven

>˜ >Ă›iĂ€>}i Âœv >LÂœĂ•ĂŒ œ˜i >˜` > Â…>Â?v Ăž>Ă€`Ăƒ Âœv Ă›>Ă€ÂˆÂœĂ•Ăƒ Â?i>ĂŒÂ…iĂ€Ăƒ ĂŒÂœ “>ÂŽi > LÂœÂœĂŒÂ°

VÂœÂ?ÂœĂ€Ăƒ Âœv Â?i>ĂŒÂ…iĂ€ VÕÀÀiÂ˜ĂŒÂ?Ăž >Ă›>ˆÂ?>LÂ?i vÂœĂ€ LÂœÂœĂŒ “>Žˆ˜} ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i ĂƒÂ…ÂœÂŤ p LÂ?>VÂŽ >˜` ĂƒiĂ›iĂ€>Â? ĂƒÂ…>`iĂƒ Âœv LĂ€ÂœĂœÂ˜Â°

OPTIONS

70 Steps: There are

about 70 operations in “>Žˆ˜} > LÂœÂœĂŒ

THE TIME 17 Hours: It takes about £ä Â…ÂœĂ•Ă€Ăƒ Âœv Â…>˜` Â?>LÂœĂ€ ĂŒÂœ “>ÂŽi > ÂŤ>ÂˆĂ€ Âœv LÂœÂœĂŒĂƒ] ĂŒÂ…ÂœĂ•}Â… ĂŒÂ…i ÂŤĂ€ÂœViĂƒĂƒ Ă€iÂľĂ•ÂˆĂ€iĂƒ >˜ >``ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â? ĂŒĂœÂœ Â…ÂœĂ•Ă€Ăƒ ĂŒÂœ ĂƒÂœ>ÂŽ ĂŒÂ…i Â?i>ĂŒÂ…iĂ€ vÂœĂ€ ĂœÂœĂ€ÂŽÂˆÂ˜} >˜` ĂŒÂ…i˜ wĂ›i Â…ÂœĂ•Ă€Ăƒ ĂŒÂœ `ÀÞ > ĂœÂ…i˜ VÂœÂ“ÂŤÂ?iĂŒi`° Ăœ

7 Standard Styles: /Â…i 7ÂœĂ€ÂŽ ÂœÂœĂŒ ˆ˜ > wĂ›i‡ iˆ}Â…ĂŒÂ…Ăƒ ÂœĂ€ œ˜i >˜` œ˜i‡…>Â?v‡ˆ˜VÂ… Â…iiÂ?Æ ĂŒÂ…i *>VÂŽiĂ€ ˆ˜ > œ˜i >˜` œ˜i‡…>Â?v ˆ˜VÂ… Â…iiÂ? ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂƒÂŤĂ•Ă€ Â?ÂˆÂŤĂ† ĂŒÂ…i -“œŽi ՓiÀÆ ĂŒÂ…i ÂœĂœLÂœĂž ĂŒÂœÂŤ Â?>Vi‡ÕÆ ĂŒÂ…i "Ă?vÂœĂ€`Æ ĂŒÂ…i ˆŽiÀÆ >˜` ĂŒÂ…i ,œ“iÂœÂ‡ĂƒĂŒĂžÂ?i ĂƒÂ?ÂˆÂŤÂ‡ÂœÂ˜Â°

40

PRODUCTION

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Oddest request so far:

pirate boots vÂœĂ€ Â?ÂœV>Â? iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒĂƒ ­œv VÂœĂ•Ă€ĂƒiÂŽt

the tools WELL BUILT It can take six to eight weeks to construct a pair of boots, and about 10 actual “man hours.”

The business deal Scott Bergen made with his mentor, George Ziermann, included the ownership transfer of Ziermann’s old-school boot-making and repair equipment: sole stitcher, lasts, leather polisher and more.

ScottsHandmadeBoots

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

41

gg EVENTS

our favorite

EVENTS March 2-10 ‘Billy Elliot — The Musical’ The Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen presents the inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Based on the hit film, and featuring a score by music legend Elton John.

2-3 The UFO/Paranormal Summit is an annual gathering/ conference at the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Ocean Shores.

3-4 Beachcombers Fun Fair In Ocean Shores, the annual event features exhibits, seminars, information booths and vendors, plus a kids’ science fair Saturday morning and beach walks Sunday morning.

11 Socks in the Frying Pan An Irish trio performing traditional and contemporary music from Ireland at 2 p.m. at the Raymond Theatre in downtown Raymond.

15 GHC Winter Jazz Concert This quarterly concert, at the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen, features the college Jazz Band, directed by Dr. William Dyer, and the and Jazz Choir, directed by JR Lakey.

17 Razor Clam Festival All things razor clam — including a Clam Chowder Cook-off — are featured at the 11th annual festival in Ocean Shores.

11th Annual ,>â À > iÃÌ Û>

42

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Northwest Carriage Museum

Celebrate spring and daffodils at Seabrook March

22 The Zaniac Comedy Show Alex Zerbe is a master of physical comedy, juggling and magic. Showtime is 7 p.m. at the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen.

23-25 Daffodil Days at Seabrook Parade, 23-25th. picnic, vintage car display & more.

Contact: Jaclyn 360-589-0831

Over 50 Magnificently restored

horse-drawn carriages circa 1850-1910

Fun, interactive exhibits for all ages!

Group and school tours available Open Daily 10 - 4 PM 314 Alder St. (at Hwy 101 & St.Rt.6) • Raymond, WA (360) 942-4150

nwcarriagemuseum.org

3DLG IRU ZLWK 3DFL¿F &RXQW\ /RGJLQJ 7D[ GROODUV

Grays Harbor Mounted Posse Pro Indoor Rodeo The annual Indoor Pro Rodeo will be held at the county fairgrounds in Elma on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

April 7-8 Annual Driftwood Show & Glass Float Hunt In Grayland — Vendors, music, food, driftwood exhibits, competition and prizes. Glass Float Round Up on Grayland Beach. For more information, visit www.graylandcommunityhall.org.

8 Chinook Winds Quintet The Chinook Winds is the resident wind quintet of the Great Falls Symphony, 7 p.m. at the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen.

“ASAP Business Solutions Good for Grays Harbor” Since ASAP Business Solutions opened its doors in April of 2016, we have placed 600 people into jobs, serving 32 customers. It’s because of “the right people, at the right time, with the right equipment, and right protection, guaranteed.”

We take care of our customers, and we take care of our candidates. It’s time for ASAP Business Solutions to work 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for YOU. Looking for a workforce or a career--we can help. Staffing, Safety, Payroll, and Marketing solutions...

Sunday Afternoon Live Pianist Steven Vanhauwaert performs at 2 p.m. at at the historic Raymond Theatre in downtown Raymond.

14 Tokeland & North Cove Art Studio Tour Open studio tours with an auction event Saturday night benefiting the Ocosta School District art program.

Sponsored by the North Cove-Tokeland Chamber of Commerce.

3773 Martin Way E., Ste. A-107 • Olympia 360-491-4405 800 Wishkah St. Aberdeen

360-637-9536

www.asapbiz.com

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

43

gg EVENTS

One-stop

SHOPPING

•Apparel & Workwear •Automotive •Camping •Clam Digging Gear •Cleaning Supplies •Electrical & Lighting •Feed & Farm Supplies •Footwear •Hand & Power Tools •Hardware •Heating & Cooling •Hip Boots & Waders •Home Goods •Hunting & Fishing •Lawn & Garden •Marine •Outdoor Living •Pet Food & Supplies •Paint •Plumbing •Pool Supplies •Raingear •Sporting Goods •Stepping Stones & Wall Blocks •Welding Supplies

www.denniscompany.com est. 1905 Raymond Long Beach Aberdeen Elma Montesano SERVICE • SELECTION • EVERYDAY LOW PRICES

Cabins Oceanfront Units Jacuzzis Fireplaces Kitchenettes

Great seaside lodging at an affordable price

14-15 Rainier Agility Dog Trials Handlers direct their dogs through a complex course of challenging obstacles at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds.

21-22 Long Beach Razor Clam Festival The event that helped put the Long Beach Peninsula on the map in the 1940s features free razor clam digging lessons, contests, music, an annual chowder cook-off and a giant clam fry.

World Class Crab Races & Crab Feed A unique family fun experience at the marina in Westport.

27-29 Shorebird Festival — Three days celebrating the annual migration of shorebirds at Hoquiam’s Bowerman Basin.

Includes a fun fair, field trips, lectures and lots of viewing.

Photo & Fine Arts Show Juried works of photographers & artists featured at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

For more information, contact: Associated Arts of Ocean Shores 360-289-0734.

28-29 Rock and Gem Show Find your gem at the 50th annual Earth’s Treasures Rock & Gem show, at the fairgrounds in Elma. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

May 1593 State Route 105, Grayland walshmotel.com 44

360-267-2191

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

5 35th Annual Ocosta Recreation Oyster Feed All you can eat — steamed, stewed and fried oysters, spaghetti, salads, rolls and juice. Beer and wine available. At the Ocosta Recreation Hall.

Savor Seabrook Seafood and Wine Festival Seabrook celebrates its eighth annual Seafood and Wine Festival at the Seabrook Town Hall, benefiting the Seabrook Community Foundation.

Seafood tasting from local restaurants.

5-6 Loyalty Day Celebration and Parade & Blessing of the Fleet This year’s Loyalty Day Celebration and Parade enters its 68th year. Ilwaco’s Loyalty Day Parade is Saturday, while a parade through downtown Long Beach is Sunday, which also marks the annual Blessing of the Fleet at the Port of Ilwaco.

The events are free to attend.

Beach Homes Aren’t Just For Summer Visit www.OwnOceanShores.com

Donna Jones Broker 360-580-5354

donnajones55@live.com

13 Sunday Afternoon Live Jazz vocalist Gail Pettis performs a Mother’s Day concert at 2 p.m. at at the historic Raymond Theatre in downtown Raymond.

Real Estate / Ocean Shores

19-20 Home and Garden Show At the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds in Elma. Wondering how to gussy up the yard? The annual Home and Garden Show has tips to take homeowners through everything they need to know to take their sheds, shrubs, flowers and other decorative and building needs to the next level. Admission is free.

20 Grays Harbor Concert Band Spring Concert A concert featuring marches, crowd favorites and a few surprises under the direction of conductor Tiffany Maki at the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen.

Call 360-532-1900 300 Myrtle St. Hoquiam, WA

Quality Pet Care Serving the Twin Harbors since 1980

Dr. David Westby and Dr. Dan Brown If pets p could drive, it’s where they’d t go!

raintreevetcenter.com WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

45

gg EVENTS 25-27 The 12th annual Grays Harbor Home Show & Expo fills the Ocean Convention Center with a multifaceted event that includes home show, art exhibit, chainsaw carving competition on both wood and ice, hotrod/ classic car show and vendors galore.

25-28 World’s Longest Garage Sale four days of bargainhunting fun. Garage sales dot the Long Beach Peninsula streets from Ilwaco to Oysterville, so treasure-seekers have miles and miles to explore.

26-27 Weekend with the Fleet & Blessing of the Fleet Celebrating Westport’s commercial fishing and maritime industry. Saturday festival includes informational displays, commercial fishing-related competitions, Sea Scout displays, vendors, beer garden, food and more at the Westport Maritime Museum grounds.

Saturday evening, enjoy Fisherpoets and “Light the Dock” celebration. The Blessing of the Fleet ceremony is Sunday at the Fishermen’s Monument on Neddie Rose Drive.

June

Elma

Gateway to Grays Harbor Since 1888

Heat on the Street AUGUST 3-4, 2018

Join us for these great events in 2018!

March 23-25 May 4 June 29-30 August 3-4 October 31 November 11 November 16-18 December 8

• Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo • Citizen Recognition Banquet • Elma’s City Wide Garage Sale Days • Heat on the Street Custom Car & Motorcycle Show • Elma’s Downtown Trick or Treat • Elma’s Veterans’ Day Celebration & Parade • Elma’s Holiday Bazaar Weekend • Pictures with Santa

Save the Date! Jan 19, 2019

• Elma’s Winter Wine Festival

Elma Chamber of Commerce

For more information on these and other great events: www.elmachamber.org • (360) 482-3055 • 222 W. Main

46

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

2 Ocean Shores Wearable Art Show Artists of all media types create functional and not-so-functional pieces of spectacular fashion at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

3 Spring Craft Fair and Bake Sale Presented by the Lake Quinault Community Circle in Amanda Park. Handcrafted jewelry, woodwork, arts, photography, gifts, foods and crafts reflective of the Pacific Northwest. 3 Grays Harbor Symphony “City Lights” Viewed in many

AD DIRECTORY

circles as Charlie Chaplin’s greatest film, listen to the symphony perform the soundtrack to “City Lights� while the silent film is presented in its entirety. At the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen.

Hood to Coast Washington This one-day race features 77 miles for running teams and 52 miles for walking teams. It ends at Seabrook. For more information, visit the website at htcraceseries.com.

Festival of Colors kite festival An event for novice to professional kite flyers in Ocean Shores.

9 Flag Day Parade The annual Ocean Shores parade features more than 75 entries and a grand marshal. One of the only Flag Day parades in Western Washington.

15-17 Beach Volleyball Tournament Pro & amateur volleyball competition plus a fun run at Seabrook.

43

ASAP Business Solutions

9

Billy’s Bar & Grill

11

Brady’s Oysters

9

Breakwater Seafood & Chowder House

21

Bryan & Son Jewelers

3

Capital Medical Center

42

City of Aberdeen

44

Dennis Co.

46

Elma Chamber of Commerce

49

/ÂœĂ•Ă€ÂˆĂƒÂ“Ă‰ >ÂˆĂ€}Ă€ÂœĂ•Â˜`Ăƒ

46

Ă€i>ĂŒ 7 i`iĂ€>Â? Ă€i`ÂˆĂŒ 1˜ˆœ˜

7

>Â˜ĂƒÂœÂ˜ ÂœĂŒÂœĂ€Ăƒ ˜V°

45

Donna Jones

11

ÂœĂ•Ă€Â˜iĂž /Ă€>Ă›iÂ?

2

McHugh’s

43

Northwest Carriage Museum

35

Personal Service Providers

45

Raintree Veterinary

8

Selmer’s

52

-Ă•Â“Â“ÂˆĂŒ *>VˆwV

35

Sweet Leaf Cannabis

11

/ˆ“LiĂ€Â?>˜` >˜Ž

51

/ĂœÂˆÂ˜ -ĂŒ>Ă€ Ă€i`ÂˆĂŒ 1˜ˆœ˜

44

Walsh Beach Motel

8

Wiitamaki Jewelry Store

5

Windermere Real Estate

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

47

gg WHO & WHY

WHY I LOVE IT HERE:

by Denise Burke

After

a stretch of dark stormy days on Grays Harbor, when my umbrella has blown inside out one too many times, I admit I can lose sight of the fact that we truly live in God’s country. Then when clouds break, rain stops and sun peeks through, my love of the Harbor is renewed.

Further contemplation of our beautiful corner of the world leads me to conclude there is not one simple answer to the question of “why I love it here,” it’s a thousand little things that make this a wonderful home.

A moderate, year-round climate (usually not 20 degrees more or less than 50), the availability of affordable homes and an abundance of natural beauty to enjoy within a 30- to 45-minute drive would all be excellent selling points for an area brochure. Add to that, the ease of building strong community connections and the opportunity to be a little bit bigger fish in a smaller ocean. I am incredibly grateful that we are not held captive by traffic like our metropolitan neighbors, PHOTOS ON THIS but enjoy commutes calculated in minutes rather than hours, saving our time for more important things. Even the rain, which contributes immeasurably to all the natural beauty we enjoy, is much preferable to wildfires, drought, snowstorms and floods that many parts of the country endure.

48

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

PAGE BY D ENISE BURK E

When clouds break, rain stops and sun peeks through, my love of the Harbor is renewed.

Discover

Unforgettable Grays Harbor

• Unforgettable Wildlife & Scenery

For every year added to my life, I appreciate even more that our clean, fresh air, an easy-going lifestyle, a safe and supportive community and nature’s awesome playground are all elements that make life here so good. Professionally, I’ve been blessed to spend 20 years of my career with Timberland Bank, founded here more than 100 years ago, and am incredibly proud to be part of the team that has worked hard to stay true to our roots, see our company grow and continue to provide value to the area into a second century.

• Unforgettable Hiking & Camping • Unforgettable World-Class Fishing

Outside of work, my joy comes from volunteering, gardening and all things creative – but especially photography. What a blessing to have an

• Miles of Unforgettable Beaches

inexhaustible supply of opportunities to photograph the natural beauty that surrounds us only minutes from home.

Whether capturing the beauty of flowers in my backyard, sunsets at the bay, or experiences on our coast or rainforest within an easy drive, I am grateful for the incredible wonderland we have to enjoy.

If we are going to keep our hometown moving ahead and sustainable for the future, it seems incumbent on all of us to give back somewhere.

For me, it has been a privilege to volunteer and build lifetime relationships in Hometown Hoquiam.

Serving with neighbors and friends in the Hoquiam Development Association, on the Hoquiam Parks Board and now on the Planning Commission has given me a deeper understanding that despite economic challenges, people who dig in and work together do make a difference and make this a better place for the future.

Even writing these words, my inspiration is renewed that with better weather just ahead and flowers sprouting through, I’m ready to shake off my umbrella and get back outdoors. There will soon be gardening to do, photos to capture, nature to explore and community events to gather around — each of these great reminders of why I love it here and of how very fortunate we are to live in God’s country.

800-621-9625

| www.visitgraysharbor.com

Visit us online at facebook.com/GraysHarborTourism WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Spring 2018

49

gg LAST SHOT

Spring bloom

Photographer Denise Burke captures a halfopened peony bloom. See her story on page 48.

50

Spring 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

The Future of Health & Wellness ͸ͶͷͿ

Your patient-centered medical home. ͸ͺȀͽ ඵඵ ͸ͺȀͽ ͽ ඵඵ ͽ ͹ ඵඵ ͹

ඵඵ

ඵ ඵ ඵ ඵ ඵ ඵ ඵ ඵ

ඵඵ

ඵඵ

ඵඵ ඵ

Thank you you for for letting letting us us be be your your partner partner in in health health and and wellness! wellness!

Thank

ͼͶͶ Ǥǡ ǡ Ϳ;ͻͺͷ ඵ Ǧ Ǥ ඵ ͹ͼͶǦ͹ͺͼǦ͸͸͸͸