​Rose Point Community Club

For those of you who did not live in the Rose Point area in the dark ages, a bit of history may be of interest. On the other hand, it may not, but here it goes! The "Early Settlers" received as part of their deed a little understood clause that declared them to be owners of one-half of 1/42 interest in the community beach. These shares were given (somewhat arbitrarily) by Guy Farrar, primary developer of the neighborhood and owner of the Juanita Gold Course, to help promote sales of home sites in the area. Remember that these were "gentler times", and it didn't much matter that Guy's surveyor, whom some said used his forefinger at arm's length for a transit, created some interesting situations. Into this area moved Severt Thurston and family. Severt was a kindly gentleman, primary owner of Western Hotels, later to be known as Westin. For whatever reason he built an addition that extended onto the beach property by approximately 17 feet. He also had a sprinkler system installed, kept the lawn and plantings immaculate, encouraged the beach owners to use his yard and swimming pool. Obviously, not one word was said about the encroachment. After all, he and his wife Ellen were primary contributors to numerous neighborhood projects. You could never ask for better neighbors. Two owners later, the encroachment subject was again a matter of concern. That owner, believing the property to be his by adverse possession, took legal steps to make it happen, clear out to the inner harbor line. We would have been left with a mighty skinny piece of waterfront. I visited John Erlichman's partner, a top zoning attorney in his own right, told him our story, to which he replied, "Forget it, you don't have a prayer." My reply was, "We won't forget it and you're going to represent us." He did, and several months and several thousand dollars later, we prevailed. And then, only because Ellen Thurston stepped up and in a deposition stated that her late husband would have bought the encroaching property or he would have torn down the addition, but he never would have taken it by adverse possession. Those of us who knew Mr. Thurston also knew that she spoke the truth. Hence, the odd shape of the beach property, as delineated by the chain link fence on the north side. A Board decision was made that the addition and some yard were to remain intact. The club's interest was in the waterfront. It was a good compromise. The next near catastrophe was Guy Farrar's widow, Neva, offered to donate the remaining shares of the beach property to its present members so that we would own 100% of the property. We procrastinated, partly because we did not know how to set up a vehicle for receipt of the gift. Grant Silvernale to the rescue. He devised some kind of corporate structure to accept the shares. We were brought to our feet when Neva suggested that since we did not want the shares very badly she might give them to the City or sell them on a first-come, first-serve basis! Recognition should be given to Charlie Campbell, even though his law degree came from Oklahoma territory. Charlie has certainly helped during times of trial and tribulation, even to the extent of convincing the tax assessor that the joint ownership of our community beach represents an entity which can never be liquidated except as our individual properties are sold. It is a quasi-park and it should not be taxed. To the best of my knowledge, it isn't. So much for history. Enjoy the beach!