Donna, haven't forgotten about the Cape Meares photos...I'm still trying to figure out how to get a couple of them into the forums...problem is, old black-&-white photos look awful upon scanning, especially since this operator doesn't have a lot of experience doctoring them and loading them properly!
Anyway, here's some extra info about Cape Meares' twin keeper's houses:
The two sturdy keeper's houses, each 2-1/2 stories and painted white w/lead colored trimmings and brown roofs, were located about 1000 feet east of the lighthouse. The keepers and their families maintained large gardens and kept chickens and a few milk cows for most of their food. Every few weeks, trips planned for high tide were made to buy staples and other supplies in town (Tillamook). Horses and wagons were used to travel down to Tillamook Bay and a pulling boat was rowed and poled across the Bay to town during high tide (high tides were necessary as a large portion of Tillamook Bay turns to mudlflats at low tide). Keeper's children rode horses to a one-room, wood-stove heated schoolhouse nearby, the wise old horses would often have to scrunch down on their haunches and slide down muddy trails!
Sadly, the deteriorated and vandalized keeper's houses were removed in the summer of 1968 when Tillamook County turned their lease from the USCG over to Oregon State Parks. A viewing area, parking, and new restrooms took their place.
Most of this info was taken from the Tillamook Pioneer County Museum's 1990 Commemorative Calendar. I bet they still have copies laying around for sale if anyone cares to call them (503-842-4553).
