HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CANNON BEACH

It is Saturday, December 9th, 1955 and it's election day. Citizens in the small coastal community of Cannon Beach, Oregon are going to the polls, yet again, to determine whether the area from Haystack Rock north to 8th Street is to become an incorporated city.

Like the 3 elections before it, this one is controversial. Since the first one, held in 1948, proponents claim an incorporated city will allow for the construction of a badly needed $211,000 sewage disposal facility. Opponents assert that the $1.2 million assessed value of the community is too low to support such an expenditure without a huge increase in property taxes. At a hearing in Astoria 2 months earlier to decide whether the issue is to be placed on the ballot, Judge Guy Boyington orders the overflow crowd to be moved to another, larger courtroom.

Generally, proponents of incorporation are led by local business people who feel that they need the sanitary sewer system to make the downtown and community thrive. Opponents are dominated by retirees on fixed incomes who fear the financial burden that the increased taxes will bring.

Headed by Doctor J.W. Sargent, destined to become the 1st Mayor of Cannon Beach, the proponents wage a hard campaign with telephone calls and rides to the polls for their supporters. Because of the 3 previous failures in the last 7 years, most people feel that the issue will fail again.

However, when the votes are finally counted, the City of Cannon Beach is born by a vote of 193 to 110 - a 64% plurality. 93 % of the eligible voters weigh in which, according to the Seaside Signal, is the largest percentage election participation in the history of Clatsop County and one of the largest turnouts in the history of the State of Oregon.

Two months later the new Mayor and 2 City "Councilmen" Rittenback and Swigart are elected and prepare for the drafting of a City Charter. The new City Recorder, Gerald Cox, publishes the proposal in local newspapers and still another election is held. On March 5th of 1957, the City's first Charter is overwhelmingly approved and the City of Cannon Beach becomes a bona fide municipality.

In March of 2007, Cannon Beach will be recognizing it's 50th anniversary and Mayor Elect and History Center President John Williams wants to celebrate. In addition to the Sculpture Without Walls project, Mr. Williams is contemplating other events such as a lecture and exhibit at the Cannon Beach History Center and a reception for those who have lived or owned property in Cannon Beach since 1957.

So please, if you have lived or you know of someone who lived or owned property in Cannon Beach for the last 50 years, please have him or her call me at (503) 436-1581 ext.118 or email me at mays@ci.cannon-beach.or.us so that you or they can actively participate in the Cannon Beach 50th birthday party.