Old Blue House on Fifth Street – c1970

Building 5th Jackson Hildreth Cabin c1986

This building used to be located east of the Oregon State University’s Field Station. For quite a few year it was rented by Ellis & Joyce Mott from Ralph Hildreth, a Bandon CPA. The Motts told me that they understood the building had originally been built on skids and used in the woods as a Logging Company’s Office. At some point it had been moved to its location of 5th street, remodeled and put into service as an ocean view rental. The Marsh or Mayea logging crews may have been involved in moving the house ?

Look carefully at the top photo. In the distance you can see an early (now long gone) primitive bathroom set in the 5th Street right of way. It was never locked up and I have no idea who was supposed to be taking care of it. Because tourists enjoying the Battle Rock State Wayside above naturally assumed the bathroom was being maintained by the State.  They would loudly complain to the State about the conditions in the bathroom.  I have no idea how long this went on, but at some point the State installed a sign up the hill aways to correct that impression. The whole situation seemed so unusual at the time,  I now wish had I photographed that State of Oregon sign because I recall the City’s phone number was prominently posted for people to direct their comments to !