It was about 1935, and I remember my parents, my sister, Gladys, my friend Inez and I drove to the Oregon Coast from Woodburn in our family’s classy looking Graham-Paige.
Dad worked in real estate and may have gotten the cabin as part of a commission. It was at Agate Beach near Newport — not directly on the beach, but walking distance. There were three rooms, including a living room with a rock fireplace that smoked continually. The saying was that smoke follows beauty, but while none of us were beauties, we still got the smoke. The cabin also had a fairly large kitchen with a cook stove.
The third room, a bedroom, was divided by wires with sheets hung over them for some privacy; there were three beds that were always cold and damp. There was also a bathroom, but no bathtub or shower.
I don’t think my mother was enchanted with going to the cabin, because of all the work it required. Preparing and bringing enough food for three meals per person was not fun for her. No hamburger stands appeared on the way to the coast from Woodburn! What did we eat? Our cow and chickens provided eggs and milk and Mother made good white bread and butter. She also made delicious cottage cheese mixed with cream.
