World Photo by Madeline Steege
The walkers end the walk at the Empire Boat ramp just down the hill from the Hollering Place in Empire. In the late 1800’s this is where people would cross the bay to go northern part of the state.
World Photo by Madeline Steege
A map shows the proposed sawmill trail that runs a historic route from an area near McCullough Bridge to Empire.
World Photo by Madeline Steege
People from the Bay Area community take a walk on the former sawmill or whiskey trail that went from a former mill site in North Bend close to the McCullough Bridge to the county seat in Empire near the Hollering Place. Judy Wagner, Dick Wagner, their dog, Cassie, Don Luce, Anne Donnelly, Frank Walsh, Tom Greaves, Monica Schreiber and National Coast Trail Association, president Al LePage all walked the four and a half miles on Friday morning under cloudy skies. The self-guided tour was a research exploration of the historic Sawmill Trail. Recreational, natural, cultural and historic values associated with any proposed walking route only can be appreciated by retracing them on foot.
World Photo by Madeline Steege
People take a walk along the route of the Sawmill-Coos Indian Trail that went from a former mill site near McCullough Bridge to the former county seat in Empire near the Hollering Place. Above, Cassie, a retired greyhound racer, joins the walk with her owner Dick Wagner.
World Photo by Madeline Steege
People from the Bay Area community take a walk on the former sawmill or whiskey trail that went from a former mill site in North Bend close to the McCullough Bridge to the county seat in Empire near the Hollering Place. The first bridge the group crosses is the small walking bridge at Pony Slough at the North Bend High School. The actual bridge the sawmill workers, walked, rode horses or buggy was closer to the bay. After many years of fill the bridge was moved further up the slough.
Coos Bay city councilors gave their blessings to a plan to put signs marking the route of the historic Sawmill-Coos Indian Trail, running from Simpson Heights to the Empire boat ramp.
Dick Wagner, chairman of the North Bend Historic Landmark Commission, said the project wouldn't cost taxpayers a penny, with funding coming from grants.
The route follows existing roads and paths that trace the steps taken by Coos Indians, as well as workers in the area's earliest mills.
The grants would go toward paying for signs to post along the five-mile route, as well as to print brochures.
Mayor Jeff McKeown said it's a great project.
"Nice walks are something people in our community really value," he said.
The council also unanimously approved rules for the city's new skate park, though plans to ban roller bladers from using the park are on hold.
City Engineer Carl Nolte said he thinks the rule was included because in-line skates can do damage to the park's bowls and edges.
"That's my guess," he said.
But Jelena "Dudi" Wittwer questioned the ban, noting after the meeting that a similar park in Medford allows rollerblades. She also said she was concerned the ban would prevent in-line skaters from using future streetscape additions to the park.
"I just want them to have a fair chance," she said.
Mayor Jeff McKeown asked staffers to look into the issue.
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