A locked gate on the edge of the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
is about as close as most people get to the secluded bay front acreage
beyond. And that's the way it's been for nearly 75 years. Now, that's about to change. The 93-acre Jesuit-owned Nestucca Sanctuary is up for grabs in a sealed bid auction set to end at 5p.m. Wednesday. "It's
a unique property, so an auction seemed the way to go," said Bill
Lockyear, chief financial officer for the Society of Jesus, Oregon
Province. The move to sell the sanctuary is a part of trend
within the Society nationally, and comes as retreat use within the
church has declined, Lockyear said. The Jesuits developed the
site in the late 1930s to be used by novitiates as a place of study and
reflection. It continued to be used in that manner for about 50 years
until they converted it to a retreat facility for groups inside and out
of the church. It's been fairly empty for about five years, Lockyear
said. The drive to the property winds through the refuge, past deer and geese,
wetlands and meadow, then up and over the headland and down again
through dense forest of Sitka spruce, Alder and Hemlock. A two-story
wood lodge perches about 50 feet above Nestucca Bay with more than a
mile of shoreline, and views to the north of Haystack Rock and to the
south of the Pacific Ocean. There are rooms for 14 in the main
lodge, plus a dormitory and four cabins, adding up to accommodations for
38. There is also a tiny reflecting pool with nearby seating. A bid of $1,295,000 is the price the seller is obligated to sell at, though they could opt to accept a lower bid.
Link (here)
4 comments:
i hope they fund more liberal professors and teachers to their educational institutions . It will nurture more mind to put Cordielone and Co. out of power
I hope they use the funds to catechize the youth on the true faith so that we have less ignorant people (e.g. Anonymous December 5, 2012 9:32 PM).
I used to go there for retreats - it was a place that honored the natural world. It is hard to believe they are selling the property. What happened to the Jesuits commitment to the sanctity of creation; I guess money is more important than the earth.
Andy Dufner made the Nestucca Sanctuary what it was. His vision, management skills, none egotistical way of being, intellect, sense of humor, and love of the land and wildlife helped nurture the Sanctuary and people that came there. Colleen Dean was Andy's right hand person and was in charge of booking the place and correspondence with potential retreatants. Before Andy's death, he put together (hand picked) the Nestucca Sanctuary advisory board which was made up of a number of people who were very involved with the sanctuary. There was also a liaison to the NW Jesuits. So after Andy died, the advisory board went to work on trying to keep nestucca going. Colleen was exhausted, and in grief.
The Jesuits installed one and then another on-site priest. The board limped along, trying to get the sanctuary disconnected from the NW Jesuit's but that didn't happen and most of the board resigned because of lack of communication (or control issues) with the NW Jesuits. Eventually (in 2008) the Jesuits kicked Colleen out and shut the place down. I think it is tragic that such a peaceful place that was used by so many people and was self sustaining was shut down.
RIP Nestucca Sanctuary, I hope the rich person who buys the place does not rip it up to make a big development.
John Madsen.
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