According to a paper found in the University of Oregon Library, written by a student of the far distant past, the Coquille Valley is the only valley in the United States where no attempt was ever made to control flooding. Instead, houses and outbuildings were built on high stilts and when the Coquille River overflowed its banks the water could go where ever it pleased.   Read More

-- Work starts on a microwave system to bring KGW-TV to Coquille viewers. A tower in Coos Bay will link with the Portland ABC station, a coaxial cable will then bring signal to Coquille television sets.
-- CHS performs ‘Who Dun It?’ a mystery directed by Kit Kitteredge. The play stars David Farr, Marvin Pemberton, Karen Cross, Curtis Flood, Jereda Prince, Bill Haddix, Linda Malthu, Gordon Turley, Sue Ashenfelter, Vivian Stein and Judy Baker.
-- Safeway hosts Kids Day at the Liberty and Roxy Theatres. 1200 youngsters showed for the free matinees. The new Safeway building opened March 16.
-- At that up-to-the-minute modern Safeway Store -- Hill Brothers Coffee, 92 cents 1-lb can. Bar-S fully cooked holiday ham 89 cents a pound. Scamper dishwashing detergent 87 cents the 32-oz tin. Lucerne milk, two half gallons 83 cents.
-- At Lounsbury Ford -- A new sporty 1958 V8-powered Ranch Wagon station wagon can be yours for $60 a month.

Researching Coquille’s past? Make the Coquille Valley Museum your first stop. Resources include access to the Coquille Valley Sentinel archives and many historical items and records from around the valley. The museum is open Saturday afternoons. For more museum information, contact Bob Taylor at 396-2773.

Researching Coquille’s past? Make the Coquille Valley Museum your first stop. Resources include access to the Coquille Valley Sentinel archives and many historical items and records from around the valley. For more museum information, contact Bob Taylor at 396-2773.

This is a story that started along time ago and there is a lot of missing history along the way. We are hoping that our readers may solve some of the mystery. Some information is from hearsay years ago and we have guessed on some, which we hope is fairly accurate.

On both the Coquille and coos Bay there was a fleet of small boats called the Mosquito Fleet.
These were gas powered and usually faster than the larger paddle wheel boats. Some called it the Taxi Fleet because they could be hired quickly to do a variety of jobs.
In case of an emergency the Taxi Fleet was your choice to deliver something or someone quickly. If you had a party or a picnic and needed transportation they could do the job.
On the Coquille River they ran generally from Randolph Island just upstream from Rocky Point to Coquille. Their job served a special service for the people who lived along the Coquille River.
This picture was taken on the lower end of Randolph Slough which divided Randolph Island from the main Coquille River. Prosper is cross the Coquille River next to the big tree.
The picture appears to be the start of a picnic, party, holiday or special occasion. Everyone is dressed in their Sunday best. Women in long dresses and men dressed in suits with interesting hats.

What was happening 30 years ago...