The Oregon Coast has a special history of art deco style due to the bridges built in the late 1930s. These bridges did more than open the door to modern transportation, they left a unique art deco legacy on the coast.

The modern design of the bridges and the new highway-oriented culture affected new construction in places like Newport. As the City Center grew, many business owners wanted to project the same modern, progressive image as the bridge. They adopted the contemporary style of the day, what we now call the ‘steamline moderne’ phase of Art Deco.

Some structures have survived, like the former Bank of Newport shown at right. Many more are hidden by late century ‘upgrades.’ However, many are only a faint glimmer in the mirror of time. Their art deco style exists only in memories and the rare photo.

The Bay Way Cafe & bus station at Highway 101 and 2nd Street featured streamline deco style. The interior had myrtlewood flooring and streamline hardware fixtures. The Bay Way was demolished in 1961.

— Newport's 'lost deco' is an important part of the district's heritage because for a time, these auto age gems shone like deco diamonds on an asphalt necklace.

The Williams Motor Company was located at Highway 101 and Fall Street. It was home to the Hudson auto dealership and featured a streamline deco style wraparound showroom. It was demolished in 1963.

Mitchell's Mobilgas was just down the highway from the Bay Way at 101 & 1st Street. It featured a streamline deco style facade, signage and three styles of pumps. It was demolished by 1967.

The M&I Five and Dime store was on 101 between Hurbert and Lee. It featured a streamline deco style facade, stainless steel wrapped overhang, recessed entry and glazed tile front. It is now a carpet store.

Shorty's Shell was across the highway from Williams Motors at 101 & Fall Street. It featured a streamline deco style curved facade with stair stepped roof line and long horizontal windows. This auto age icon was demolished by 1967.

Hull's Associated station was on 101 at Olive/2nd Street. It featured a streamline deco style facade with a five sided window in the garage bay. This legacy of auto culture was demolished by 1967.

The Standard Station was on the NW corner of 101 & Hurbert Street. It featured a streamline deco style facade with curved windows. It was replaced by a parking lot by 1967.

The Woodson Motor Co. was at 101 & 1st Street. Its streamline deco style curved facade, slanted windows and cutout neon wraparound signage had been covered over in recent years by a misguided attempt to apply the 'crab shack chic' aesthetic, a.k.a. shingles. The building was demolished in 2012.

Archival photos courtesy of the Lincoln County Historical Society.