When you set a moon-high goal of recreating the old railroad depot as the site of the Museum of the North Beach, and along the way someone donates a historic caboose . . . well, this project just might be destined to happen. This weekend, the caboose made its way across Moclips, to its snug new home. Just add museum . . . 

A concrete foundation has been poured, a path has been cleared . . . all systems are apparently “go” for a historic caboose to journey down Pacific Avenue to its new home, at the old depot (and future site of the Museum of the North Beach). The caboose’s final run could happen late this morning. Kelly Calhoun took this photo yesterday:

On Saturday, Dec. 6,  there will be a lighting contest on Main Street, Pacific Beach.

Winning businesses will receive a plaque, and winning homeowners will get a gift basket.  A tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. (“ish) at 44 Main St. in downtown Pacific Beach.  The winners of the decorating contests will be announced afterwards.

“During the hours of Noon & 6pm shoppers can go to any of the following shops and receive a gift bag and goodies.

(Photo from the Museum of the North Beach)

Due to the difficulty in reaching Taholah which was only accessible by horse and wagon on the beach, Quinault tribal members came to Moclips to sell their wares to the thousands of tourists who arrived here via the Northern Pacific.  This image was taken circa 1910 at 5th & Pacific Avenue in Moclips.

Curt Warber led a workshop Wednesday evening on making SR 109 a “Scenic Byway.”

A group of business owners, nonprofits, community leaders, residents and others from Ocean Shores to Pacific Beach hopes to have a draft of its “vision” done in January, to apply for grants early next year.

 Warber answered some questions in a follow-up email:

The overall schedule is flexible, but we expect to have strong draft material done for January, then a real draft document around March.  The deadline for scenic byway-related grants is also likely to be coming up early in 2009, so there might be some projects that weуre trying to move forward at about that time, also.

Kelly Calhoun from the Museum of the North Beach has agreed to dip into his archives for the North Coast News. Here’s the first photo and information (which should also appear in the print edition next week):

FOOT BRIDGE OVER JOE CREEK, PACIFIC BEACH Circa 1910

 In the early 1900’s, a foot bridge stretched across Joe Creek giving access to the “Violet Patch” south of Pacific Beach.  This was later replaced by a cantilever bridge which was destroyed by winter storms.  The new 4th Street bridge was built in this location as part of the new highway along the coast from Pacific Beach to Copalis.  In 1953, the highway was moved east to its current location and the 4th Street bridge was demolished.  Pilings from this bridge are still visible across the creek.

 (Photo from the Museum of the North Beach archives)