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The Cottage Grove $1.00

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Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Number 52 • 134 years

Historic preservation

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Bohemia Inn on Main St. bringing past ties to present lives dent could see the finished product as he stood in the Sentinel Editor vacant former office space, pointing out where the upstairs guest rooms would ike a lot of architecture built in the early be, a planned staircase and a common lounge looking 1900s, the stairway going out over the downtown upstairs at the two-story district below. brick building at 602 E. Occasionally, he’d have to Main Street is at a steep use the flashlight on his cell pitch, but owner and develphone to walk through the oper Ryan Thomas bound corridors because lightup almost effortlessly. ing needs to be replaced. The building in the But his plan to restore the iconic Cottage Grove building to its former glory downtown has been a was clear in his mindslandmark in for close to eye. The transformation of 120 years. Over the years, turning it into a historic, it has been home to several boutique hotel is underway. businesses. A theater Thomas has been laying occupied the east side of the foundation with broad the first floor. Long and strokes as he prepares to Cruson Service Garage ocadd the finer details over cupied the west side of the the next couple of years. building while Hemenway The Bohemia Inn and will Dry Goods occupied the include a restaurant, retail east side. Knickerbockers space and 10 guest rooms. Variety Store occupied the Design plans call for nine entire first floor in 1940 and operated continuously guest rooms upstairs with a shared lounge overlooking until 1988. historic East Main Street. It’s been part of the The first floor will downtown landscape for include a restaurant with quite some time. When a west main entrance. The Thomas bought the twooriginal second entrance story brick building on on the east side will be Main Street in 2022, it was brought back to the buildlike purchasing a 9,000 square foot canvas painted ing facade for access. There will be a 10th guest room by a master. Even though the building with wheelchair accessibilis currently in disrepair, his ity and a commercial retail vision for The Bohemia Inn space at ground level, he is clear and focused. It was said as if playing it out the reel in his head. as if the creator, designer, construction superintenSee INN page 2A By RODNEY HARWOOD

Rodney Harwood The Sentinel (Top) Ryan Thomas goes over details of construction with Matt Rossbach in preparation of starting the historic remodel of the building at 602 E. Main. (Bottom) The store front façade of the historic building at 602 E. Main in Cottage Grove will be restored as part of a project by Ryan Thomas Construction.

Council narrows city manager selection

an employSentinel Editor ment agreement hen city manager and candidate Michael makSauerwein met with the ing the Cottage Grove business official Michael and community leaders at Sauerweibn appointthe Candidates Reception ment. earlier this month, he told Official approval is anticthe estimated 100 people ipated to be made on Jan. in attendance, “This is like 8 at the regular meeting of home. My grandparents are the city council. from Eugene. I did my unSauerwein is estimated dergraduate and graduate to make a base salary of studies at the U of O. I’ve $175,000 and is expected spent a lot of time in Lane to relocate from Bellevue, County.” Wash., and start sometime The Cottage Grove selec- in January. tion committee and Sauer“Cottage Grove has what wein have signed a letter of a lot of cities in Oregon intent which commences wish they have. There is to the next steps in drafting an established downtown. By RODNEY HARWOOD

TODAY’S EDITION

Obituaries — A3 Opinion — A4 Sports — B1 Classifieds — B2-3

There is a great mix of residential, commercial and industrial. It’s one of the few communities where people can literally live in the city and work in the city and not be commuting from somewhere else,” Sauerwein said in a telephone interview from Washington state. “I grew up in Gresham. My wife grew up in the Salem area. I lived in Eugene at one point for almost 10 years. As a kid growing up, I spent a lot of time in Lane County, so there’s just a lot of positive things to say about Cottage Grove.” Sauerwein has served as the city administrator for the cities of Snoqualmie See CITY page 2A

541- 942-3325 ph | 541-942-3328 fax 1498 E. Main Street, STE 104 P.O. Box 35 Cottage Grove, OR 97424

Shop with a Cop returns with raging success shopping in the store. “It was really fun,” Boon Special to The Sentinel said, “I got an X-Box controller and a fishing pole and an M&M candy gift fter a three-year box to give to my family hiatus, the Cottage this year.” Grove Police Department His mother, April Coorebooted its “Shop with a per, was delighted with her Cop” event for 12 deservson’s opportunity to estabing students in the South lish a positive relationship Lane School District. The with police officers and to age-range of shoppers was get Christmas gifts he really kindergarten to middle wanted. schoolers. “I think this event is Twelve-year-old Boon awesome. It makes kids Cooper, a sixth grader at feel good that they can get Lincoln Middle School, gifts for their families, ” she was quite excited to meet said. “It’s a positive event Officer Shawn Branstetter that allows young people to and his “elf ” Reserve Offimeet police officers in a fun cer Steve Lemley. They got way and see they are real to know each other better people and not just authorby talking about what the Cooper family’s holiday tra- ity figures.” It was an enjoyable event ditions and Boon’s interests for Officers Branstetter and were to know where to start Lemley also. By CINDY WEELDREYER

“We got to hang out with kids and get to know them better,” Branstetter said. “It also gave us an opportunity to talk about the different resources we have in the department. Boon is now interested in knowing more about our K-9 program and that will facilitate another opportunity to interact with him.” Brooke Crow, the department’s administrative assistant, served as this year’s coordinator. She managed the logistics to ensure the popular event was well-organized and meaningful to all participants. “There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is done ahead of time but receiving all of the “thank you’s” from the children and even getting a big bear See SHOP page 2A

The Jewelry Girl

Martinez Yard Service