#2792 - Tiny's Tavern, Wapato, WA - 6/13/2015

Tiny's Tavern (now closed) sign, Wapato, WA

Tiny's Tavern now looks abandoned (and there's no current liquor license for the address) and it appears that Jim Whitaker sold it and retired in 2017? It had quite the run though.

Wapato Washington, founded as "Simcoe" in 1885, is a small town in the Yakima reservation, about 10 miles south of Yakima and north of Toppenish, along the smaller of two highways that frame the Yakima River. It's population of 5,000 or so is over 85% Hispanic, and it once had a flourishing Japanese-American community -- before internment.

Jim Whitaker, owner of Tiny's Tavern for almost 40 years

"Wapato originated as a Northern Pacific Railroad stop (Simcoe) on the Yakama Indian Reservation. During the first half of the twentieth century, Native Americans, Anglos, Filipinos, and especially Japanese Americans supplied farm labor. The process that created a “Mexican Town” included growing dependence on cheap labor, especially during World War II when Wapato's Japanese American population was interned and the Bracero Program (guest-workers from Mexico) was instituted." (historylink)

When I visited in 2015, Ballard James "Jim" Whitaker had owned it for 36 years, having purchased it from Tiny's wife. Tiny was a local legend, and Jim told me some stories about him. Jim said Tiny was 6'7" or 6'8", almost 400 lbs "and not fat." Jim has a picture of him from when Tiny operated a feed store, and the photo shows him with a 100-lb bag of seed on each shoulder and under each arm. Tiny also started a donkey basketball event which continued long after his death, and which is referenced in the great old sign that I think still remains out front?

I hope that Jim is enjoying retirement and that the town of Wapato preserves the Tiny's sign forever.

Location of town of Wapato in Washington state

501 West First St, Wapato, Washington                              
Est. 1940? - Closed 2017? - Building constructed: 1947
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook

#3993 - Linger Longer Tavern, Albany, OR - 3/8/2020

The Linger Longer Tavern, Albany, OR

Albany, Oregon, with a population of around 50,000 citizens, lies at the confluence of the Calapooia and Willamette rivers, about 10 miles due south of Salem and 60 miles sound of Portland. The Linger Longer has operated here on Main Street since 1930 and is said to have been a bar since shortly after the close of federal prohibition in 1933. The building,  constructed in 1905 and one of the oldest in the city, was dragged across the street and a block north up Main Street to its current location in 1921. This street was one of two that battled for the position of the heart of downtown since the mid 19th century, a feud exacerbated by two founding families on separate sides of support in during the civil war. Eventually Main Street, championed by the pro-southern family, conceded defeat to the First Street.

Today the Linger Longer Tavern is classic, older, quieter type of neighborhood dive bar, brimming with historical artifacts and adhering to old school tavern standards -- e.g. no hard liquor and cash only. While the pool table tends to draw much of the action and attention, the centerpiece of the decor is the beautiful pre-prohibition Brunswick back bar, topped with old saddles. It is enlivened by local characters -- and also the occasional robbery or lottery fraud.

To my delight the bar not only has been around for many generations and features a beautiful antique back bar, but the owners actually gave a a great little printed history, which I have reproduced below. The bar appears to have had relatively few owners over the generations, and has primarily belonged to just two women over the last 60+ years. The tavern was said to be established by Russell Deere in 1933, and a 1941 city directory shows him as still the owner at least eight years later (although his name is spelled "Dear" therein). The obituary of Rita Miller (born "Kotthoff" and later "Case") claims that she purchased the bar from her father in the late 50s -- after building B-17s during WWII -- and the bar's history notes observer that she sold it to the current owner Ruth in 1979.

Ruth Tribur has turned management of the bar over to her son Bret Smith, but as of my visit still opened the business herself on Saturdays and Sundays (and celebrated the 40th anniversary of her ownership last November 1). Again, I am grateful for the staff there sharing their historical write-up which I quote below. As you will note the fully history of the back-bar is unknown, but there are a number stories floating around as to how it came to the Linger Longer. Each of these is quite possible, although it is unlikely that it was "three part set" with its remaining parts located in other bars in the area. For some reason these stories -- often involving the parts being actually sawed apart -- tend to be quite commonly associated with these bars, even when the existing piece is quite clearly a full unit exactly as pictured in the Brunswick-Balke-Collender (in the case of the Linger Longer, the "Mont Oro" model). But the Brunswick bars were manufactured primarily in Dubuque Iowa and in the years 1878 to 1912, so it certainly dates back around the 1880s, and as the Panama Canal was yet to be completed, west coast deliveries were often shipped around Cape Horn.

Quite frankly I would want to stop at the Linger Longer for the name alone, but it also makes a fine stop for anyone who would enjoy a cold beer amidst some local  history. And I wish every old bar I visited had compiled such helpful notes:

"The building you are in was constructed in 1905. It originally sat on the SE corner of Main Street and Old Salem Rd (one block to the south). The NW corner of the building would have been located above the new round-a-bout as you turn into Salem Ave. Around 1921 the whole structure was moved to its current location by Mr. Calvin, owner of Calvin's Drug Store. 

During the 1920's the are you are inhabiting was a clothing store. In 1930 it was converted into a cafe and became Linger Longer Lunch. After repeal of prohibition in December 1933 it was established as the Linger Longer Tavern by Russel and Hortense Deere. The tavern has had several owners througout the decades. The Case family owned it for 2 generations. The current owner, Ruth, purchased the tavern from Rita Case (her maiden name), and the building from Dr. Frances Keiser on Nov 1, 1979." 

"In the early 1950's, the back-bar, which was manufactured around 1880, and counter were moved to their current locations. The back-bar faced west and sat in front of the beam that dissects the ceiling. There was seating in the front area and a kitchen behind the back-bar. During the past 39 years that Ruth has owned the tavern, there have been numerous stories told about how the back-bar came to the Linger Longer Tavern. It has been said that it came around Cape Horn on a ship, or that it was stored in a barn then moved here, or that it came across the company on a train, or that it was taken off of a cruise ship, or that it is one part of a three part set and another part is located in (insert name of city here, as there have been dozens). You probably have figured out that we don't know how it came to be here. Many patrons used to play a game where they would try to toss coins over the top of the bar. Whoever made it over first, won, causing the other player to buy the next round. The coins that didn't make it over became the bartenders to keep as a tip. 

The bar is now managed by Ruth's son Bret. He is here Monday through Friday opening every day at 7 a.m. Ruth celebrated here 83rd birthday in January. She still enjoys opening on Saturdays and Sundays."

145 Main St SE, Albany, OR 97321 - (541) 926-2174
Est. Dec 1933 - Building constructed: 1905
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Articles: democratherald - corvallisadvocate - yelp - 2008 lottery ticket theft - 2002 robbery - yahoo

#3999 - Hubbard Inn, Hubbard, OR - 3/9/2020

The Hubbard Inn, Hubbard, Oregon

The Hubbard Inn in Hubbard, Oregon, about 25 miles south of Portland, claims to have been established in 1889, and insofar as I can tell that would probably make it the oldest bar in Oregon, in the sense of a single location having hosted bars of various names. (Huber's dates itself to 1879, but didn't move into its current location until 1910.) Current owner Terry Harden has some artifacts to help support the claims of very significant age, at minimum pre-dating prohibition, such as old photos and the existence of a prohibition era tunnel and under-floor space for poker and liquor consumption.


19th century city guides in my possession provide few hints, as they list owners of saloons in Hubbard, but no business names nor precise locations. The 1893 Salem Polk guide lists Hubbard saloons owned by John C. Milton and George W. Taylor. The 1889 Polk Oregon-Washington Gazatteer includes saloons in Hubbard owned by George W. Taylor, Emil Klinger, and Isidor Isaacson. The 1909-10 Polk lists ones owned by Isadore Isaacson and Klinger Bros Emil and Alphons. The 1913 Sanborn Fire Insurance map does indeed show a saloon at the corner of 3rd and what would become F street (the renaming of what is labeled "B" in the 1913 map to "F Street" can be shown in subsequent maps such as the 1928 version, e.g. relative to the railroad spur and Hershberger building).

Located in tiny Hubbard (area 0.71 square miles) and not visible from the highway, it's not a place you're likely to stumble upon by accident, but the locals definitely know where it is. There was a lively crowd on the Monday afternoon I visited, and there are more when they have live music or Monday prime rib dinners. And like any great, long-running, local bar, it has bric-a-brac spanning decades.

Current Hubbard Inn owner Terry Harden

The first settlers arrived in the area in the mid 19th century, and grew after early resident Charles Hubbard offered the Oregon-California railroad land in and through what would become the city. The locals grew wheat and later experienced what some consider to be the first "crop circle" in the world. Another crop artwork was noticed in farmer Doug Aamodt's wheat field by a pilot flying into Lenhardt Airport in 1998, "igniting a media frenzy and sending dozens of UFO experts to the site." (pdxmonthly)

Whether you're visiting the local fields from another galaxy or just road tripping through northwest Oregon and looking for some local history and character, the Hubbard Inn is well worth a stop.

I chatted with Hubbard Inn patron and U.S. veteran Bob

The Hubbard Inn, Hubbard, Oregon

3389 3rd St #9597, Hubbard, OR 97032 - (503) 982-5541                              

1913 Saborn Fire Insurance Map
Library of Congress Scan

Est. 1933 
Previous bars in this location: Capitol Saloon (as per Terry)
Web site: thehubbardinn.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor 

#3973 - Tiny's Tavern, North Bend, OR - 2/27/2020

Tiny's Tavern, North Bend, Oregon

After chatting up some locals at the Humboldt Club in North Bend, Oregon, they advised me that the Silver Dollar was the place in the area where one was mostly likely to get stabbed, but despite that my next stop should actually be Tiny's Tavern, around the corner (not to be confused with the Tiny's Tavern in Mt. Angel, which I would visit a couple weeks later). The fellow who accompanied me noted that there was a laundromat inside Tiny's, and while having a laundromat in your bar was nice, if one thought of it as your laundromat having a bar, it was even better.

Entering under the crackled paint sign into Tiny's presents one with a fine neighborhood dive, with a high range in customer's ages, black vinyl seating and red velvet wallpaper. Working the bar that night was Megan, whose parents bought Tiny's in 2011. Over Megan's shoulder was a photo of Evelyn Bucher, who bought the bar in 1952 and ran it for about 50 years before that, and who remains much admired. (Megan's step-mom was Evelyn's daughter.)  Excerpting from Evelyn's obituary:

"In 1956, being the independent, storng-willed person that Evelyn was, and against her husband’s wishes, she bought Tinys Tavern. Jim told her it was all hers, he was keeping his job. She continued to run Tinys until her health declined in 2009. Instead of retiring at age 65, and against her daughter’s wishes, she decided to enlarge the tavern and add a Laundromat. Outside of her family the tavern was her main focus. She put in many long and hard hours making sure her customers came first and they were happy, comfortable and well fed. She also took great pride in knowing she had served more than three generations of customers and her deep friend chicken had a state-wide reputation."

Bartender Megan

To my delight, Tiny's has an 86 list (so don't try bringing your act back here, Mandy from Safeway!) And in addition to the laundromat and pool tables, Tiny's has serves a menu centered around fried tavern fare, and a nice selection of microbrews. It makes a nice little stop for anyone who appreciates dive bars, particularly if it is late in the evening or if you have a little laundry to do.

971 Union Ave, North Bend, OR 97459 - 756-7675                              
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - untappd

#2695 - Myers Flat Saloon, Myers Flat, CA - 1/29/2015

Myers Flat Saloon, AKA Meagher's Trading Post Saloon
Myers Flat, California, Jan 2015

In the deep shade of the towering Coast Redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants through the Humboldt Redwoods State Park, lies the community of Myers Flat, California, population 146. One of those 146, Bill Meagher ran the Myers Flat Saloon there, a ramshackle bar resembling an antique collector's garage, connected to a trading post and liquor store. While visiting the place in 2015, I was informed (by Bill himself, I think, but memory fails here) that the place was constructed in 1963 and that Bill purchased it in 1974. However, the current Facebook page says the saloon -- now referred to as Meagher's Trading Post Saloon -- was established in 1982, so perhaps the bar portion was started at that time? In addition, I'm not completely clear on the ownership of the entire town, which at one time Bill and the other fellows who created it were trying to sell the entire town, including the saloon and a grove of redwoods, for $2.6 million.

Myers Flat Saloon, AKA Meagher's Trading Post Saloon

In any case, Bill passed away in July of 2017, and it appear that his children carry on running the saloon, which remains a fine little pit stop on this scenic old highway. And I'm pretty sure it was Bill himself who told me a brief story in 2015 of when he had one of his items stolen from the bar. He told me that "a druggie" had stolen a mask that he had purchased for $75. He asked the bartender why they didn't call him at the time, and she told them because they had guns. "That's what WE have guns for," Bill replied. But later on, Bill saw a van and recognized the thief. He said he blocked the van in the street and punched the thief in the nose. "Then he saw it my way," noted Bill.

I believe (?) the fellow in the red shirt is Bill Meagher

12896 Avenue of the Giants, Myers Flat, California - (707) 943-1970                              
Est. 1982? - Building constructed: 1963?
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: wilsonwheels  

#3801 - Croke Park (Whitey's), Boston, MA - 6/24/2019

Danny and Danny at Whitey's / Croke Park, Boston MA

In preparing for a visit to Boston I'd read about at least three bars that were touted as the best dive bar in the city, and at Croke Park, AKA Whitey's, in Southie, I finally believed it.

The first "testimonial" cited on the bar's own web site begins this way:

"I don’t want to say this is the worst bar in the world because I’ve never been to places like Bangladesh, Rwanda, or Haiti. But I can say with 100% certainty that this place is, by far, the worst bar in Boston. I’ve been to crackhouses where I’ve felt safer. Also, that had less crack. Seriously, at no point did I feel like I wasn’t about to be stabbed by the locals."

I was not there at a time of day where I would enjoy that sort of scene, but it still impressed me as a welcome dive, with the sort of character accrued over time, and a few characters who provided lively conversation. In particular I met two fellows named Danny, both locals, both born in Ireland, and one of them the owner of the bar. Owner Danny had a very different worldview from mine, but that didn't stop us from having a quite enjoyable -- and fairly long -- bar conversation. Indeed, I went well beyond my planned one drink when customer Danny kept buying another round because he wanted to see the conversation continue.

As expected from a classic dive, the bartenders deliver generous pours for an inexpensive price, and while the exterior features a surprisingly fresh coat of paint, inside the walls are covered with the names of doodles of patrons over the years. I don't know if they like this or not, but Esquire named it one of the top bars in the country. If you like true dive bars with a rugged personality this is a must stop when you are in the area.

268 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127 - (617) 606-5971                              
Web site: crokeparkwhiteys.com
Articles: onlyinyourstate - esquire - yelp - timeout - bostonherald - roadtrippers - universalhub - universalhub - lonelyplanet - eater - nytimes

#3041 - M T Saddle, Shoup, ID - 8/20/2016

Note: After a long time with blog posts lagging behind bar visits, I've recently gone about 9 months without posting a blog entry, and I am now 1,154 bars behind. I do plan to resume blog posts, but since I don't know when (or if) I will catch up on all bars, I'm going to take a different approach. Rather than always posting in the order I visited bars, I will now be posting which ever I feel like doing next, which should enable me to catch up on at least the most interesting (at least to me) bars. The order and dates I actually visited the bar will still be reflected in the titles.

First hint of the M.T. Saddle Saloon

With that said, I had to resume these posts with what may now be my very favorite bar,  the M-T Saddle Saloon, near, Shoup, Idaho. I was not sure we'd actually reach this one, as it is 13 miles down a single lane dirt road along a river, and my car is the furthest thing from an offroad vehicle. There were a few hints of this on the internet from hikers and hunters, including a photo from just the year before my trip, so we were optimistic as we turned off Highway 93 and headed west along the Salmon River. 18 miles later we arrived in the old mining town of Shoup, which actually had human residents and an active business the past few years, but that all ended when the Shoup Store, with its antique gas pumps and beer guzzling salmon sculpture, closed down last November. From Shoup the pavement ends, but the one-lane dirt road is fairly wide and in good shape. While not seeing any humans, we passed deer and ospreys, yellow cliffs and desert bighorn sheep. Approximately 13 miles down the dirt road to seemingly nowhere, we spotted a faded plywood sign for the M-T Saddle, and shortly thereafter, there, almost miraculously, it stood.

The saloon was opened by Mike Tibbits in the mid 70s (his initials forming half of the double entendre of the establishment's name). The presiding bartender was a perfectly grizzled character named "Oly." The taps were inoperable, but the refrigerator was stocked with cold, cheap beer and sodas. The saloon, with a couple other buildings on the lot, was crammed full of dusty photos, paintings, and artifacts. One of the locals told me that Tibbits had a plan to create an entire little ghost town block, but that plan seems to have been abandoned. There are few hints of the bar's existence from outside the lot itself, and we chatted with some semi-locals who had just stumbled upon it that day after deciding to just head down that road to see what's at the end of it. You might imagine their surprise. In my own search for "hidden gems" of bars around the northwest, it will be difficult to top this one.

Bartender Oly

A few road obstacles on the way

3431 Salmon River Rd, Shoup, Idaho                               
Est. 1970s
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook (unofficial)
Other: Idaho State Police Preliminary Order

#2676 - Charlie Brown's, Boise, ID - 12/24/2014

Charlie Browns Lounge, Boise, ID

Charlie Brown's was one of those long-running neighborhood icons that I passed hundreds of times as a kid but never stepped foot inside until decades later. But the towering sign outside necessitated a visit, and it was clinched as a classic for me as soon as I saw the inner bar, with it's carpeting on the sides, slanted facades featuring old wildlife paintings, and a few old geezers hovering over their drinks.

I was informed that Charlie Browns had been here for "43 or 44 years," which would have put its opening around 1970. It's now a divey, neighborhood sports bar, with darts, pool tables, chili cookoffs, special dinners on holidays, and pot luck memorials for regulars who have passed away.

5783 West Overland Road, Boise, ID 83705 - (208) 375-6541
Est. circa 1970
Web site: facebook  
Reviews: boiseweekly - yelp