Pages of History: Coast Guard Station eyed back in 1939

From editions of the Del Norte Triplicate, January 1939.

There is still a possibility that a Coast Guard Station may be built here within the next couple of years, according to word received yesterday by the chamber of commerce  from R. R. Waesche of San Francisco, rear admiral in the United States Coast Guard Service.

Waesche informed C. A. Cronkhite, secretary of the chamber, that the site at the shore end of the breakwater had been approved, but that there are no funds available at this time.

The department plans to include the project in the appropriations bill to be passed by the present session of Congress, the construction to be financed through the Public Works Administration.

Specials at Piggly Wiggly

Bayo Beans, locally grown, 6 lbs. for 45 cents; extra special raw lard 5 cents a pound.

Aquarium for Crescent City

A $15,000 aquarium, featuring sea life found in the ocean adjacent to Crescent City, is to be built here in the near future, according to plans announced this week by a group of Oregon businessmen.

In charge of the plans will be E. H. Barry as manager and with him in the venture will be H. L. Collins and G.P. Smith, who are now operating similar enterprises at Seaside and Depoe Bay, Ore on U.S. Highway 101. Construction is expected to start soon on property south of town and just north of the Breakers Auto Court.

Seawater is to be piped in from the ocean to provide actual sea conditions for the unusual specimens on exhibition, including a sea lion, octopus, wolf fish, and sea anemones, all of which will be kept in glass tanks and floor pools to give spectators a thrilling view of just what happens on the ocean floor.

Horseshoe club organized

Plans for the formation of a horseshoe club here were announced this week by O. R. Griffin, one of the leading exponents of the game in Del Norte County, who pitches a mighty mean game of barnyard golf.

The plans include building a modern horseshoe court at the new Plaza Park and also maintenance of the present court at Symms Camp in Gasquet. Membership in the club is set at $1 per season; and as soon as the club is organized, tournaments will be arranged with Grants Pass, Medford, and other outside clubs.

U.S. engineers favor harbor completion

Development of Crescent City Harbor as one of the leading commercial fishing ports of the Pacific coast is the ambition of United States engineers, according to the word of J. J. McNamara, chairman of the Del Norte board of supervisors, who spent several days in San Francisco last week conferring with Col. J. A. Dorst, district engineer.

Mr. McNamara said that the entire personnel of the district engineer’s office, including Col. Dorst himself, are heartily in favor of completing the Crescent City harbor project, in which the government to date has invested approximately a million and a half dollars.