Coquille High School - Laurel Yearbook (Coquille, OR)

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Dedication As America celebrates its 200th birthday, everyone across the nation is taking part in remembering the history ot the past and striving to keep the freedom of today. This year, seeming fit, the 1976 Annual Staff would like to dedicate this year's edition to the town and people of Coquille. In so doing, we hope that it will remind the reader of how it once was and is now.

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Early Coquille History 1776 Two hundred years ago the Coquille Indians were living here-hunting and fishing and minding their own business. 1852 Gold prospectors had spread throughout Southwestern Oregon. 1854 A party of 40 miners attacked an Indian village down near the mouth of the Coquille River. Sixteen Indians were killed and the Indian agent called it a massacre . 1856 Most of the Indians who had survived the diseases brought by the white men and the wars fought to protect their land were removed to the Siletz Reservation to become farmers. 185? Ephraim Cunningham located a place at a creek that became known as Cunningham's Landing. 1864 Dr. S.H. Leneve bought the Cunningham Place. 1865 Titus Willard bought the site from Dr. Leneve with the intention of building up a farm (not a town). 1867 The first local school was built near Cunningham creek. The first teacher was a young man named Chester Rowell, who later became a physician in San Fransisco. 1871 Till Vowell (ateenagerof 19years)talked Titus Willard into letting him open a store. He also encourged him to start a town. 1872 Titus Willard laid out the first plat of the town, which contained only five blocks and was to be called Coquille City. 1875 The first steamer, The Myrtle, began regular runs up the Coquille river from Bandon. 1880 Diptheria broke out and killed a number of children. 1884 A wagon road was built from Coos Bay to Coquille City. A mail route was established and was carried by stage. 1889 Telegraph Communications were completed between Coquille City and Empire City. 1892 A fire broke out in the business district and destroyed several buildings. The business blocks were not rebuilt until after the railroad was completed. 1893 A railroad replaced the stage. The train tracks went down Front Street. 1896 The county seat was moved from Empire City to Coquille City by a vote of the residents of the county. 1901 Electricty comes to Coquille City. 1920 The Chamber of Commerce, by a majority vote, chose the French pronunciation of Coquille (Ko-Keel) over the Indian pronunciation (Ko-Kwel) that was favored by the early settlers. INTRODUCTION 9

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Memorial Mark Shields For Mark Smoke wavers upward from a cigarette As Mac Davis soothes the clatter of rain on porch steps. I inhale slowly and desperately try Not to hear you pestering the girl beside you-grin, dimples, and shining eyes. Not to see Senior boys hoisting you shoulder high you smiling warily. Not to smell the scent of farm boy-unwilling ly dressed for school. Not to hear the shouts of teammates-you make another touchdown. Not to see myself laboriously reading hastily done homework-you boast to friends when you get an A. And yet, a second puff, another haze of smoke, Mac Davis says something about words not coming easy-and you impishly shrug your shoulders. I will miss you. Mike Maus Mike Maus would have been a Junior this year. Many students did not know him well because he had just transferred to Coquille High School from McKinleyville High School in California. Moving here in January, he lived with his sister. Besides studying, he worked for his brother-in-law in the roofing business. By working, he earned money so that he could work on his car - a '55 Chevy. Mark Shields, who would have been a Sophomore, was well known by the student body. He spent much time as an athlete by going out for football and track. He also contributed much time and effort in his positions as Student Body President at the Coquille Valley Middle School during his eighth grade year and as Freshman class President last year. Both of these boys died suddenly and unexpectedly during the summer of 1975. They will be missed. Elaine DeBoard MEMORIAL 11