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CAPE ARAGO
January 26, 1857: "Mr. Rogers presented a memorial to Congress concerning the collection district of Coos Bay; also a memorial praying for an appropriation for a light-house at point Argo. Adopted and ordered printed." (Weekly Oregon Statesman)
August 28, 1875: "Instructions have been received from the Lighthouse Department at Washington, by Gen. Michler, authorizing that officer to commence the construction of a bridge at Cape Arago, in the southern coast. The object of this bridge is to connect the island, on which stands the lighthouse, with the main land. It will be over 300 feet in length and is to be built in a very substantial manner. We understand that work will be commenced very shortly and prosecuted with vigor to the completion of the same." (Weekly Oregon Statesman)
April 5, 1878: "The bridge at Cape Arago which was carried away by the sea last December will be rebuilt in May." (Morning Oregonian)
May 10, 1878: "During the present month materials will be sent to Cape Arago station to replace the bridge from the island to the main shore." (Morning Oregonian)
July 31, 1880: "Resigned.--Mr. Crosby, who has been for many years past keeper of the Arago lighthouse, has resigned that situation, and we are informed that the assistant keeper of the Blanco light will be promoted to be his successor. Mr. Crosby has been in the lighthouse service almost continuously since its establishment on the Oregon coast. He was once keeper of the lighthouse at Umpqua, and his son, who has been assistant at Cape Arago, was born at the former place. He says the compensation has been reduced to so low a figure that he cannot afford to remain." (The Coast Mail)
October 12, 1886: "Frank Smart, the lighthouse keeper, died at Empire last Tuesday night." (Coquille City Herald)
July 30, 1892: "The lighthouse tender Manzanita has arrived at Astoria, from Port Orford. She passed out of the Columbia a week ago.
Leaving Gardiner City the Manzanita proceeded to Cape Arago and landed the annual supplies." (Morning Oregonian)
December 21, 1893: "In the Senate Mr. Mitchell of Oregon introduced a bill providing for the appropriation of $15,000 for a lighthouse at Cape Arago, Or., and $6,000 for range lighths at the mouth of the Willamette river." (Lincoln County Leader)
October 29, 1895: "J. E. Smyth, of Portland, brother of Robert Smyth who has the contract on the Arago lighthouse, came over from the bay last Friday to look after lumber and shingles purchased here. He came around from Portland on the schooner Ella Orena, laden with material for the lighthouse. The schooner brought one hundred thousand brick, forty thousand shingles, one hundred barrels of lime and cement, and other material. Mr. Smyth went back also on Friday's train." (Coquille City Herald)
December 24, 1895: "From Mr. McClure, superintendent of lighthouses, we learn that the schooner Donald was wrecked at the Arago point offing while lying at anchor there, preparatory to unloading machinery for the new lighthouse at that place. The Donald was owned by Joseph Smith, the contractor, and, together with the cargo of machinery, was a total loss. The vessel dragged her anchor during the heavy blow on last Thursday, went on the rocks and was smashed into fragments. It will be a serious loss to Mr. Smith, and as the time of his contract is nearly out it will disarrange his plans materially." (Coquille City Herald)
April 22, 1897: "The Chuckanut stone quarries have received orders to get out stone for the government lighthouse at Coos bay." (Lincoln County Leader)
July 19, 1898: "Dr. Evans, assisted by Dr. Horsfall, amputated T. C. Wyman's leg, at Empire, Saturday. Mr. Wyman was hurt in the late accident at the Cape Arago Lighthouse, but up to a short time ago it was hoped that his leg could be saved." (Coquille City Herald)
March 1, 1902: "The bar was reported to be unusually rough Thursday afternoon and had not abated last night. A man from the light house reported at Empire that the waves were breaking clear over the bridge that connects the lighthouse with the mainland. Several timbers from the jetty floated up the bay as far as Empire so it is surmised that considerable damage has been done to the jetty, but just what the extent of the damage has been cannot be learned at this issue." (The Coast Mail)
August 16, 1902: "Captain and Mrs. Score of the Cape Arago lighthouse came up Tuesday and stayed in town over night." (The Coast Mail)
January 9, 1904: "Thomas Wyman, assistant keeper at Cape Arago Lighthouse, was in town yesterday, accompanied by his son, who is making him a visit, being on vacation from duty as keeper of a light at the mouth of the Columbia." (Weekly Coast Mail)
December 26, 1907: "Word has been received in the city that Captain Nelson, of the Coos Bay bar lighthouse has been transferred to the Golden Gate lighthouse, and that he will leave to take charge of his new place on the next trip of the steamship Plant. A Mr. Boyd, of No. Bandon, is said to be his successor at this point, the change to be effected within a few days." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 16, 1908: "The government lighthouse tender Heather arrived at Empire dock last night with Capt. D.J. Byrne on the bridge. Its arrival enthuses new life in the veins of some of the old residents. The object of the visit of the tender is to convey material for the repairs for the bridge from the lighthouse to the main land, under the supervision of Capt. A.E. Withers, who accompanies the Heather and will be domiciled at the Arago lighthouse indefinitely." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 14, 1909: "Within a few days, all that remains of the old Cape Arago Lighthouse will be blown into the sea. This announcement was brought in today by men who have been working on the new station.
The old lighthouse has been or will be shortly vacated and the government proposes to have it destroyed. It has been undermined by waves and is likely to collaspe soon. It is feared that if it is allowed to stand, visitors may get around it and be injured when it falls from its own accord or rather from the action of the elements.
Sometime ago, it was stated that it would not be dynamited owing to the danger to the new station which is near the old site. However, it has been decided to use light shots of dynamite and gradually blow it to pieces.
The machinery and other removable goods in it will be first taken out and placed on board the Heather or some other craft and used in some other station.---Coos Bay News." (Coquille Herald)
August 3, 1909: "W.S. Denning and wife and daughter, Alice, of the lighthouse visited relatives her Sunday." (The Coos Bay Times)
April 14, 1910: "Keeper Denning of the Cape Arago lighthouse reports that the storm has been one of the worst he has seen here in quite awhile. Yesterday, tremendous breakers came, and running clear over the lighthouse and tossing spray 150 feet near Saddle Rock." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 16, 1910: "Oscar Langlois, who has been assistant at the Cape Arago lighthouse for a number of years past, has been transferred to the Bandon lighthouse, and with his family and household goods, was moved to his new station by the launch Fish. A man from the north will succeed Mr. Langlois here. Mr. Carey, who has been assistant at Bandon, has been transferred to Point No Point, near Seattle, Wash." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 22, 1910: "The new assistant keeper at the Cape Arago lighthouse is Ray Bronson, who comes from one of the stations north of here. He takes the place of Mr. Langlois, who was recently sent to the Bandon lighthouse." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 10, 1912: "Joseph Dunson, who succeeds William Denning at the Cape Arago Lighthouse is expected to arrive in a day or two from Smith Island, Washington, to take charge at Arago. Upon his arrival, Charles Miller will leave for Tillamook where he has been appointed fourth assistant light keeper." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 22, 1913: "Fred C. Stone, a workman employed in remodelling the Cape Arago lighthouse, fell of a scaffold today and sustained a fractured skull, broken nose and chin and other injuries which may prove fatal. He was unconscious when picked up.
Stone was employed with the force of men now remodelling and improving the lighthouse. Just what caused him to fall from the bridge or scaffold is not certain.
He struck on the rocks beneath which inflicted the injuries.
Stone recently came here from Eugene and his wife is now in or near Eugene." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 26, 1913: "Wm. Denning and family of Astoria, are spending their vacation here with his brother, L.F. Denning, and other relatives. Mr. Denning is keeper of the lighthouse at Astoria and formerly was keeper of the Cape Arago lighthouse." (The Coos Bay Times)
August 7, 1913: "Mr. Crosby, lighthouse keeper at Cape Arago, has resigned. Pay too small. Plenty will be glad of the situation." (The Coos Bay Times)
August 14, 1914: "The daughters of the lighthouse keeper, Capt. Dunson, are reported very ill with whooping cough." (The Coos Bay Times)
September 22, 1914: "Capt. Dunson, the genial keeper of the Cape Arago lighthouse, was a Marshfield visitor yesterda. He reports that the road between here and the lighthouse is now in good shape." (The Coos Bay Times)
December 23, 1915: "Capt. Dunson, keeper of the Cape Arago lighthouse who was in the city today, reports that a severe earthquake shock was felt at the light house at 1:20 o'clock this morning. Capt. Dunson said that it shook the house severely and that the shock could not have been anything else but an earthquake.
The lighthouse and keeper's residence is located on an island separated from the mainland. The buildings are high up on the rock and the place is one where the shock would probably be felt more severely than on the main land." (The Coos Bay Times)
September 4, 1924: “The personnel at Cape Arago Lighthouse spent three miserable days early this week. During the whole time the fog horn was kept going continually, making sleep impossible. Besides this the fog was heavy, almost like rain. It drenched everything, Captain Herman said.” Marshfield Times. (The Siuslaw News)
September 4, 1924: “The personnel at Cape Arago Lighthouse spent three miserable days early this week. During the whole time the fog horn was kept going continually, making sleep impossible. Besides this the fog was heavy, almost like rain. It drenched everything, Captain Herman said.” Marshfield Times. (The Siuslaw News)
January 27, 1933: “The Cape Arago lighthouse on Sunset Bay and located some 14 miles southwest of North Bend, flashed a 750-watt electric beam for the first time as twilight fell on Jan. 16. Thus the old method of oil lighting which had been used in this tower became a thing of memory. A little ceremony attended the first beam of the new and powerful light, as little Ila Albee, three-year-old daughter of Keeper Wyman Albee threw the switch at 5:08.” (Siuslaw Oar)
January 27, 1933: “The Cape Arago lighthouse on Sunset Bay and located some 14 miles southwest of North Bend, flashed a 750-watt electric beam for the first time as twilight fell on Jan. 16. Thus the old method of oil lighting which had been used in this tower became a thing of memory. A little ceremony attended the first beam of the new and powerful light, as little Ila Albee, three-year-old daughter of Keeper Wyman Albee threw the switch at 5:08.” (Siuslaw Oar)
May 4, 1934: “By May first the new fog horn installed at Cape Arago light was to be hooked up and ready for business.” (Siuslaw Oar)
May 4, 1934: “By May first the new fog horn installed at Cape Arago light was to be hooked up and ready for business.” (Siuslaw Oar)
July 8, 1938: “Arago lighthouse, in Coos county, will have a new fog horn, to be located several hundred feet from the present one, thus alleviating the raucousness of the sound to the public.” (Siuslaw Oar)
July 8, 1938: “Arago lighthouse, in Coos county, will have a new fog horn, to be located several hundred feet from the present one, thus alleviating the raucousness of the sound to the public.” (Siuslaw Oar)
October 6, 1939: “A newly graded road leading from Charleston to a nearby lighthouse is being oiled.” (Siuslaw Oar)
October 6, 1939: “A newly graded road leading from Charleston to a nearby lighthouse is being oiled.” (Siuslaw Oar)