Store owner donates $10K for tsunami repair work

Frank Wienecke, middle, and his wife, Beverly, receive a certificate of appreciation from Harbor Commissioner Ron Phillips, left, for Wienecke’s donation of $10,000 to Crescent City Harbor. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Frank Wienecke, owner of Crescent Ace Hardware, donated $10,000 to the Crescent City Harbor to help repair damage inflicted by the March tsunami.

“The community has been very good to me so it was a little way to show some appreciation,” Wienecke said.

Harbor commissioners and a representative of state Sen. Doug LaMalfa presented Wienecke with certificates of recognition Tuesday.

“We commend you for your community spirit and vision,” the harbor’s certificate read.

Wienecke’s ties to the harbor go back to when he moved to Del Norte in 1974 with his wife Beverly. They purchased Texas Tackle and Bait, which was in the building that now houses Crescent Harbor Art Gallery. Using a disaster loan offered by the government in the wake of the 1964 tsunami, Weinecke added a second story to the building.

When the new harbor was built, Wienecke was offered prime real estate for a fishing and marine store. He built Crescent Marine, which is now Englund Marine.

“I’ve been involved down there for over half my life,” Wienecke said.

His local philanthropic efforts run as deep as his harbor history.

The Ace Pavilion at the fairgrounds was donated by Wienecke when Crescent Ace Hardware moved from Northcrest Drive to Washington Boulevard.

Over a friendly game of penny poker, Randy Hatfield, Del Norte County Fairgrounds manager, asked about the lumber storage facility owned by Crescent Ace.

“I had asked him years ago when he was there, if you ever have to move, I’d like to have that building,” Hatfield said. The hardware store moved, and the lumber facility moved to the fairgrounds.

The 22,000-square-foot facility is used for equestrian events, softball practice, Little League practice and by any other local sports organization looking to stay dry during the rainy winter.

“We’ve seen our activities grow (by having the facility) because there’s a lot of people that have horses and hold events there,” Hatfield said.

Wienecke’s harbor and fairgrounds donations were praised by state Sen. Doug LaMalfa in a letter.

“He never expected any recognition — he never does,” Beverly Wienecke said, adding that Frank was surprised by the state recognition. “Frank just felt a real connection with them and said ‘we can do this — let’s help the harbor out now after the tsunami.’”

The tsunami’s effect on harbor finances definitely inspired the donation.

“It was obvious they were going to need all of the money they could get,” Wienecke said.

But his loyalty to the harbor persists without tsunami needs.

“I just feel an obligation to down there for some reason,” he said.

After the official thank-yous on Tuesday, Wienecke prepared his boat for a possible weekend crabbing trip.

He’d be launching from the harbor.

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