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UMPQUA RIVER
February 24, 1855: "The site for the Light-house authorized under the act referred to was never selected and reported upon as the law requires, and in order to prevent the appropriation from reverting to the surplus fund this board recommended its reappropriation, with additional sum to enable this office to have the Light-house constructed.
The law requires that sites for all Light-houses shall be examined and reported upon, and valid titles obtained, before commencing the work." (The Umpqua Weekly Gazette)
The law requires that sites for all Light-houses shall be examined and reported upon, and valid titles obtained, before commencing the work." (The Umpqua Weekly Gazette)
August 25, 1868: "Three or four years ago the lighthouse at the mouth of this river was undermined by the steady encroachment of the waves. It fell, and its site is undiscoverable. It was built upon a small sand spit, a piece of folly which Government ought never to tolerate. The buoys which once marked the channel at the entrance of the river are all gone. Some of them were picked up and sent to San Francisco, and one, an iron buoy of the best manufacture, is lying on the beach a short distance above the river's mouth." (Morning Oregonian)
October 27, 1877: "A bill to appropriate $25,000 for a lighthouse at Umpqua has been introduced in Congress." (The Morning Astorian)
July 30, 1892: "The lighthouse tender Manzanita has arrived at Astoria, from Port Orford. She passed out of the Columbia a week ago. Captain Richardson conclude to proceed south to the Umpqua river, where another lighthouse of the first order is being built. The bar was crossed and the lens for the new lighthouse was landed safely at Gardiner City, about 12 miles up the river." (Morning Oregonian)
September 23, 1892: "Major Handbury, United States engineers, has returned from a visit to the coast in the capacity as an engineer of this lighthouse district.
(From Gardiner) Next morning they went down nine miles and examined the light station being built at the mouth of the river. The light tower is completed ready for the lantern, and is a very handsome and substantial structure. The keepers' houses are approaching completion, and will be very commodious and comfortable." (Morning Oregonian)
December 20, 1894: "I.L. Smith, who has been second assistant keeper at the Cape Foulweather lighthouse for some time has been transferred and promoted. He received orders last week to go to Gardiner, on the Umpqua, where he will assume duties as first assistant keeper. The lighthouse on the Umpqua is a new one, having just been completed, and will be put in operation about the first of the year." (Lincoln County Leader)
September 15, 1896: "Word was brought to town last week, that the body of M. A. Stream, keeper of the lighthouse at Umpqua, who was drowned while bathing in the surf August 14th, was found on the beach near the lighthouse." (Coquille City Herald)
May 21, 1901: "Harry Brant, second assistant keeper at the Umpqua lighthouse, is dangerously ill. Dr, Horsfall left for there this morning, being called for consultation by Dr. Patterson." (Coquille City Herald)
February 22, 1902: "Lighthouse Constructor, W.G. Carroll has about finished repairs at the lighthouse. An oil house yet remains to be constructed.--Bandon Recorder." (The Coast Mail)
August 25, 1914: "J.A. Laughead, of the construction department of the lighthouse service, returned from Gardiner on Monday evening, where he went to make arrangements for repairing the buildings at the Umpqua lighthouse. He has three of four more weeks' work at the Heceta lighthouse, and will complete the work there before going to the Umpqua." (The Coos Bay Times)
July 31, 1924: “John C. Herring, formerly a rancher near Mercer, is assistant keeper at Umpqua lighthouse.” (The Siuslaw News)
July 31, 1924: “John C. Herring, formerly a rancher near Mercer, is assistant keeper at Umpqua lighthouse.” (The Siuslaw News)
August 31, 1928: "A new road is being constructed to the Umpqua river light house by light house workers. When completed the road will place the lighthouse within about five and one-half miles of traveling distance from Reedsport." (Siuslaw Oar)
October 19, 1928: “Capt. D. O. Kenyon of the Umpqua river lighthouse is making his own road from the Roosevelt highway to the light house station, according to the Courier. He works unaided during his spare time.” (Siuslaw Oar)
March 8, 1929: "The survey of the road leading from the Roosevelt highway to the Umpqua river light house has been completed and the road will be opened soon. This will give a better outlet for the needs of the station and will also open up one of the most beautiful spots along the coast to tourists." (Siuslaw Oar)
June 22, 1934: “The Umpqua light, sentinel of the Umpqua river, will soon be sending forth its beams of red and white emitted from an electric lighting system. Plans call for the installation of a transformer on the West Coast Power Company's line near the junction of the highway with the lighthouse road. A cable will carry the current from this point through the timber to the buildings. In case of emergency, a lighting system is being installed also, eliminating danger of being without light during stormy weather, if the power fail.--Reedsport Courier” (Siuslaw Oar)
March 3, 1939: “D. O. Kinyon was recently transferred from the Umpqua lighthouse to one of the Puget Sound 'lights.' He and Mrs. Kinyon were required to assume the new charge so quickly that they hardly had time to say goodbye to their lower Umpqua friends.” (Siuslaw Oar)
March 3, 1939: “D. O. Kinyon was recently transferred from the Umpqua lighthouse to one of the Puget Sound 'lights.' He and Mrs. Kinyon were required to assume the new charge so quickly that they hardly had time to say goodbye to their lower Umpqua friends.” (Siuslaw Oar)