Oysterville School, 1940s
Seventeen households were represented at the Oysterville Design Review Board meeting last evening. That’s well over half the residents of the National Historic District. It is not often that our meetings include such large numbers and it is even less often that we speak with one voice. Last night was the exception.
Under discussion was the announcement by County Planning Director Faith Taylor that the County Commissioners have recommended the dissolution of Pacific County Section 20 of Ordinance 162. That action would effectively remove any possibility of legal protection to the Oysterville National Historic District. Oysterville would be covered under the same zoning and building requirements as any other of the county’s unincorporated areas leaving us wide open to trailer parks, mobile homes and the modern intrusions found in neighboring Surfside or Nahcotta. Our historic character would have no legal status and, therefore, no stability.
Map of Historic Oysterville
The meeting was relatively short and absolutely non-contentious. We spoke with one voice as we developed a plan to try to circumvent such an action by the County. As contentious as many of our Oysterville Design Review Board meetings have been over the last forty years, there was no disagreement last night. Oysterville citizens wish to protect the integrity of the Historic District and we need the backing of the County to insure that the ambience of the village remains intact.
As might be expected, there was no representation from the County in evidence. No one from the Planning Department. No County Commissioner. No one to answer our questions or to provide explanations. What a difference forty years makes! Until recently, the County sent a representative to every ODRB meeting to help us in a shared desire to protect and enhance the village. In recent years that practice has been abandoned and we feel that we have too. The excuse, of course, is “no money.”
At the ‘Y’
I don’t think our County or anyone else can put a price on the preservation of our heritage. Oysterville is the oldest extant community in Pacific County and one of the oldest in Washington State. We were founded just one year after President Millard Fillmore announced the creation of Washington Territory. Our County should consider Oysterville ‘the star in their crown’ and give it every bit of protection they can. What the hell is the matter with them, anyway?
Exactly.
Your government at work. z-z-z-z-z-z
I don’t see the upside of not protecting Osterville. I wonder if there’s big money somewhere in this.
At issue, according to the County, is the potential for a lawsuit if an applicant is denied a building permit because of an ODRB decision. Bottom line: the County says they do not have the money for such an eventuality. Why they feel that a suit is imminent is a mystery. They were not present to address those sorts of questions — like what has suddenly changed after 40 years?
Oysterville is the jewel of the Peninsula. I send more visitors up to walk the streets and enjoy the beauty of your little village. I would hate to see the County do anything to spoil this wonderful asset. Aarrghh!
I’m stunned. Just stunned by this latest shenanigan the county is pulling. Enough is enough.
Sydney — get your Oysterville neighbors and all your 9000 Peninsula friends to write letters to the Chinook Observer editor, and you yourself write a news piece about the county recommendation . Name names.
Thanks, Maggie. We’re on it!
So sorry to hear this Sydney. Has anyone talked with the local State Rep and State Senator? How about a petition at the store and church for visitors to sign?
Thanks, Larry! All manner of strategies are being considered. Stay tuned!
Good to have some strong hands at the helm but I can see you’re up against a gale force wind. The hearts of many Oysterville fans are with you!
Thanks!
Just yesterday as I was pumping gas in Ocean Park, I talked with a tourist who had just returned from visiting Oysterville. He told me how much he , his wife , their children and grandchildren enjoyed their walk through the history of Oysterville. Oysterville is such a powerful anchor for the history of the Peninsula and MUST be preserved! Let me know how I can help! When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
Thanks, Kitt. Stay tuned!
No money is not an excuse. Ever hear of conference calls? Even if they don’t want to pay for a trip from South Bend conferencing is easy to set up on Skye on a cell phone! The county needs to pay attention.
Agreed!
This is so sad! Please let me know how I can help! I’m happy to contact Commisioners and State Reps if it’s helpful! Petitions? We need a coordinated effort.
Thanks so much Tiffany! I’ll be in touch!
Oysterville is a bonafide tourist destination, and generates more tourist traffic over the year. Than the noisy crowds of day trippers and campers that come for the rowdy events, like the 4th of July that cause more problems than money.
My friends that come up regularly to visit Oysterville. They come because they deplore glossy developements that exploit such places, and come for the natural, historic, unspoilt solitude and beauty there.
The old church and gardens delight photographers, and to buy a bit of seafood from the side of the bay, and see the real oystermen is rare experience. and delightful..They do however, stay at the nicest places on the peninsula, and eat at the finest restaurants. They buy art, and books and attend seminars. They do not go places that have been turned into commercial tourists attractions, or care for sprawling hotels, no matter how
luxurious.
These people visit the ever dwindling places that are still real, beautiful and historic . Arn’t these the people we want to visit our penisula, not the people who surge in all at once, bring their own food, leave their messes on the beach and cause more traffic, trash and congestion than they contribute positively to the economy.
Of course, we encourage everyone to visit our beautiful places, but devlope the many places on the Peninsula that could be beautiful and historic with a little imagination, instead of despoiling the success that already exists.
Michele Taylor Micheletaylorpainter@gmail.com
What a lovely tribute, Michele. I hope you will let our County Commissioners know how you feel.
Whenever I am out gardening, and tourists ask me what they should see on the peninsula, a walk in historic Oysterville is always high on my list of recommendations. It would be a shame to see the historic feeling was lost there.
I am all behind you and the Oysterville community in standing up to the powers that be in Pacific County for the preservation of Oysterville. Since I first visited the community back about 1960 as a twelve year old and saw the Red House with the Espy sign out front (thus starting the process that eventually led to the realization that my ancestor William “Kentuck” Espy was the older brother of your greatgrandfather Robert Hamilton Espy) I have been keenly interested in the historic significance of Oysterville. Best of luck to you and others in the entire extended community of the North Beach Peninsula in preserving this hamlet of important significance to Pacific Northwest history!
Thanks so much, Ralph!
Please let me know how I (and the rest of the Nelson descendants) can be of assistance. I’d love to bury the county office in letters a la Miracle on 34th Street!
Tori, thank you so much! You can begin letter writing any time and get as many others to do it. The bottom-line message is “keep the ordinanceto protect Oysterville.” Letters can be addressed to the Pacific County Commissioners (Frank Wolfe, Steve Rogers, Lisa Ayers) at P.O. Box 187, South Bend, WA, 98586. Wouldn’t it be great if the message went viral and we could bury the County Courthouse (which, as we know they stole from Oysterville! lol) with letters?
I wonder if it would do any (extra) good to remind Mr. Wolfe that the house he lives in was built by my great-great grandfather… 😉
At issue here is the protection of the National Historic District under Section 20 of Pacific County Ordinance #162. Whatever the personal feelings individual Commissioners might have regarding historic buildings in the County-at-large, it is the specific protection that Ordinance gives the Historic District of Oysterville that is under discussion. ( Besides which, Commissioner Wolfe’s home is not within the District.)