ASTORIA, Ore. — I never tire of traveling Oregon’s backroads and byways, especially when there’s a chance to learn something new about the state.
In Oregon’s oldest townsite, Astoria, there is one particular waterfront building that provides a tie with the state’s riverfront past.
Astoria’s early days come alive when you step aboard “Old 300” and the Astoria Trolley. For just a buck, you can enjoy a three-mile out 'n back ride along the town’s waterfront. It’s the sort of trip that puts you in touch with history.
A century ago, the old brick building between 3rd and 4th Avenues made history when a gigantic fire tore through Oregon’s oldest city. It was nicknamed “The Big Fire” of 1922.
“It got under the waterfront docks and burned fast and spread like any wildfire in the woods that has plenty of fuel and air. It wiped out all of the businesses, the banks, the town’s infrastructure,” noted local businessman, Steve Fick.
The blaze jumped from building to building, and in just hours, entire blocks turned to ash. The Big Fire consumed 30 blocks of Astoria’s business district and displaced 3,000 people until it reached the brick building on 4th called the “Wharf and Warehouse Brick Building.”
“The city was built over the river water,” added Fick. “And everything was built of wood except for this building, so, it didn’t really affect this building.”
A lifelong local, Fick, has always admired the brick building “for its endurance and its lasting mark on Oregon history.” It was built in 1892, and it is the state’s oldest riverfront warehouse.
So, he bought the building, and he’s giving it a new life, with fresh-cut timber for flooring and myrtlewood tables, along with copper sheeting for interior walls.
“It’s unique for sure — I mean, you just don’t see myrtlewood tables like that anywhere, do you? It’s all got to do with the Oregon Coast, all nautical and all part of the identity of our community,” he said.
Fick hired local artist Bryce Harris to capture a time before outboards when fishermen rowed boats to catch giant Columbia River salmon called “June Hogs,” salmon that tipped the scales at 90 pounds.
The full-size painting of a fisherman and his catch contributes to the outdoor atmosphere.
“This is a man who’s working with his hands, and I admire that — plus, those were such huge fish,” noted Harris. “I’ve never seen one of those fish; they don’t exist anymore. So, for me, it’s a powerful image that way: He’s holding what might as well be dinosaurs!”
All of it — inside and out — is an ongoing and impressive homage to the brick building’s ties with Astoria’s salmon fishing history, back to a time, more than century ago, when Columbia River salmon canneries were economic kings in the state.
The old brick warehouse stored all the tin used to make the cans that were filled with fish and shipped around the world.
These days, the centerpiece of Pacifick Distillery harkens to a time when alcohol production was commonplace.
A copper still produces bottles of whiskey, gin and vodka. A full-service bar provides a wide range of drink options. A kitchen produces menu staples that include shrimp and crab, as well as chowder, and diners feel right at home.
“You’re in a historic building,” noted visitor John Jordan. “And it’s creating its own unique wares. You come in here; you can ask questions and learn something about the history of Astoria, and that’s the big part of the draw.”
Built where the river meets the shore, the lasting qualities of the old brick building offer new life that make Pacific Distillery worth a visit.
“That’s what we are, a nautical timber community,” noted Fick. “That’s what our past is, and hopefully, where our future goes, too.”
Be sure to watch the weekly half hour program of "Grant’s Getaways." The show airs each Saturday and Sunday at 4pm on KGW.
You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon travels and adventures in the Grant’s Getaways book series, including:
- "Grants Getaways I," Photography by Steve Terrill
- "Grant's Getaways II," Photography by Steve Terrill
- “Grant’s Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
The book collection offers hundreds of outdoor activities across Oregon and promises to engage a kid of any age.
You can reach me: Gmcomie@kgw.com