The Changing Waterfront

Bruce Day and Wayne Schade will talk about the history of Coos Bay’s waterfront over the last 50 years, interspersing historical highlights with lively stories of waterfront life through the lens of one of Oregon’s few remaining ship’s chandler companies, Day Ship Supply, and with observations from several decades of direct waterfront involvement.

Bruce Day was born and raised in Coos Bay and graduated from Marshfield High School. He spent his childhood years working with his father at Day Ship Supply, learning the business of providing needed supplies to visiting ships. At his father’s insistence, Bruce pursued a college liberal arts education, graduating from University of Oregon. He joined the family business in 1974 at the age of 25. He became owner and operator of Day Ship Supply at his father’s passing just a year and a half later.

During Day’s long history in a ship’s chandler business, he has witnessed dramatic changes in the shipping industry and in waterfront activity. He has seen the effects of outside influences on shipping and waterfront operations, including higher prices, reductions in timber supply, changes in interest rates, and, of course, 911. Day relates how his business reacted to the changes by expanding the array of supplies provided and shifting focus over the years from primarily serving large cargo ships to supplying other clients as well. Both Day and Schade also relate personal stories of their encounters with individual ship’s crew members from all over the world.

Wayne Schade grew up in Reedsport, graduating from Reedsport High School and attending Southwestern Oregon Community College. After a few years as a mill worker, Schade went to work at Day Ship Supply in 1977. He worked with Bruce Day for eight years, experiencing the many changes in the business, including expansion to serving the foreign fishing fleet, especially Bulgarian, Polish and Russian boats. His vantage point on the evolution of the Coos Bay waterfront also included working for Jones Stevedoring Company, several years as a longshoreman, followed by work as a ship’s agent with Kerr Norton Marine. In 1996, Schade became Chip Procurement Manager at Oregon Chip Terminal, retiring in 2015. He continued as a “casual” longshoreman after retirement, until 2019.  Schade worked around the waterfront for 38 years, describing himself as a “waterfront rat” who has gathered fascinating stories about the many interesting people he has met.

Doors open at 6pm
Museum exhibits and store open until 8:30pm
Free with paid museum admission
CHM Members get in free

First Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Al Peirce Company with additional support from The Mill Casino.

All events subject to change.