A year of turmoil on the Harbor

2018 wrought havoc on the Harbor in many forms, but there were some bright spots as well.

By Grays Harbor News Group • January 2, 2019 7:00 pm
Louis Krauss | Grays Harbor News Group The Pourhouse Tavern, one of Aberdeen’s oldest buildings, was torn down Dec. 3 along with the adjacent Selmer’s Furniture building. The bar and popular music venue was the last of the wooden buildings that survived Aberdeen’s major fire in 1903. City officials had long planned to demolish it to make room for the Gateway Center, which will be used to promote local tourism and house community space. The city intends to begin construction on that project sometime in 2020.
Louis Krauss | Grays Harbor News Group The Pourhouse Tavern, one of Aberdeen’s oldest buildings, was torn down Dec. 3 along with the adjacent Selmer’s Furniture building. The bar and popular music venue was the last of the wooden buildings that survived Aberdeen’s major fire in 1903. City officials had long planned to demolish it to make room for the Gateway Center, which will be used to promote local tourism and house community space. The city intends to begin construction on that project sometime in 2020.

2018 wrought havoc on the Harbor in many forms, but there were some bright spots as well. Here’s a look at some of those stories in pictures.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Armory Building was gutted by fire June 9, destroying the home of the Aberdeen Museum of History, Grays Harbor Genealogical Society, Aberdeen Senior Center and Coastal Community Action Program. The senior center and CCAP have since relocated their operations, and restoration efforts continue for the museum and the society.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Armory Building was gutted by fire June 9, destroying the home of the Aberdeen Museum of History, Grays Harbor Genealogical Society, Aberdeen Senior Center and Coastal Community Action Program. The senior center and CCAP have since relocated their operations, and restoration efforts continue for the museum and the society.

Louis Krauss | Grays Harbor News Group The Harbor Saw & Supply building at 3102 Simpson Ave. in Hoquiam was engulfed by flames Aug. 20. The owners quickly restarted operations at the power equipment business’s old location at 2211 W. First St. in Aberdeen. Manager Jake Lennox says he hopes to eventually rebuild the store at the Hoquiam site, which has since been cleared.

Louis Krauss | Grays Harbor News Group The Harbor Saw & Supply building at 3102 Simpson Ave. in Hoquiam was engulfed by flames Aug. 20. The owners quickly restarted operations at the power equipment business’s old location at 2211 W. First St. in Aberdeen. Manager Jake Lennox says he hopes to eventually rebuild the store at the Hoquiam site, which has since been cleared.

Louis Krauss | Grays Harbor News Group The City of Aberdeen purchased the riverfront homeless camp property along the Chehalis River in July, with the eventual goal of clearing people off the property, Mayor Erik Larson said at the time. The city then posted signs like this one, installed gates and instituted a permit system for access to the site. Three people sued the city in federal court over that system, and the judge ordered the city to revise it, raising concerns that it was unconstitutional. A new plan must be approved by the court in this ongoing saga.

Louis Krauss | Grays Harbor News Group The City of Aberdeen purchased the riverfront homeless camp property along the Chehalis River in July, with the eventual goal of clearing people off the property, Mayor Erik Larson said at the time. The city then posted signs like this one, installed gates and instituted a permit system for access to the site. Three people sued the city in federal court over that system, and the judge ordered the city to revise it, raising concerns that it was unconstitutional. A new plan must be approved by the court in this ongoing saga.

(COURTESY OF CONNIE ALLEN) North Cove was pounded by surf during a major storm Dec. 20, but the cobble piled up as part of the Wash Away No More campaign to protect the rapidly eroding shoreline appeared to do its job, keeping the loss of land to a minimum. Fundraising and rock placement continue in that effort to preserve the shoreline.

(COURTESY OF CONNIE ALLEN) North Cove was pounded by surf during a major storm Dec. 20, but the cobble piled up as part of the Wash Away No More campaign to protect the rapidly eroding shoreline appeared to do its job, keeping the loss of land to a minimum. Fundraising and rock placement continue in that effort to preserve the shoreline.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The owner of 220 Monroe St., where four boats sank in the Hoquiam River in 2018 (adding to three others since July 2017), has been cited numerous times for city code violations, including the presence of junk boats and cars and operating a business without a license. Salvage and cleanup of the sunken vessels remain up in the air as the owner and various government agencies squabble over responsibility.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The owner of 220 Monroe St., where four boats sank in the Hoquiam River in 2018 (adding to three others since July 2017), has been cited numerous times for city code violations, including the presence of junk boats and cars and operating a business without a license. Salvage and cleanup of the sunken vessels remain up in the air as the owner and various government agencies squabble over responsibility.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The owner of 220 Monroe St., where four boats sank in the Hoquiam River in 2018 (adding to three others since July 2017), has been cited numerous times for city code violations, including the presence of junk boats and cars and operating a business without a license. Salvage and cleanup of the sunken vessels remain up in the air as the owner and various government agencies squabble over responsibility.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The owner of 220 Monroe St., where four boats sank in the Hoquiam River in 2018 (adding to three others since July 2017), has been cited numerous times for city code violations, including the presence of junk boats and cars and operating a business without a license. Salvage and cleanup of the sunken vessels remain up in the air as the owner and various government agencies squabble over responsibility.