Seaside, Oregon's first seashore resort had become a major tourist attraction of the Pacific Northwest by 1888. Excursion boats came down the Columbia River with vacationers who disembarked on a railroad trestle in the bay near Skipanon (Warrenton) and then to Seaside by train.
Grimes built a hotel on the Necanicum River, but, as more accommodations were needed, he built tent platforms in the grove of trees between the river and the ocean. This area became known as Grimes Grove.
By the 1890s, cottages were being built along the path to the beach. Horace Seely Butterfield, a prominent Portland jeweler, built the Butterfield Cottage in 1893. The house had many additions and changes over the years. It was used by the Butterfields for their beach cottage until 1903 when they built five new cottages on the ocean front.
In 1907 Guy E. DeGolia became the caretaker and in 1912 he took Emelia "Emma" Bitterling Roberts as his bride. Emelia continued to live in the cottage for most of her life, as the caretaker, and she operated it as a rooming house in the summer.
On October 22, 1923, George G. & Marion F. (Bockman) Roberts were married in Portland, Oregon. George was in the petroleum business and the young couple made their home in various towns throughout Oregon State. In September 1958 the couple purchased the Butterfield Cottage located at 21 N Columbia in Seaside where Marion, a skilled milliner, opened “House of Roberts” custom design millinery & hat shop.
The business thrived for well over a decade and Marion was known to have generously loaned young women hats for Prom, Graduation & various other celebrations, as one local resident recounted.
In 1972, at the age of 74, George passed away and Marion closed House of Roberts. The Cottage was then sold to Wm. & Margaret Manspeaker for another Cottage chapter to be written. Marion passed away in 1987. She and husband, George, are resting at Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton, Oregon.
A generous family donation of over 12 original hats designed by Marion & House of Roberts is currently on display in the Butterfield Cottage.
Marion Roberts, circa 1920s
On December 5, 1984, the Butterfield Cottage was given to the Seaside Museum and Historical Society and moved to its present location at 570 Necanicum Drive. It has been interpretively restored to be used as a museum depicting a beach cottage and rooming house of 1912.
The Butterfield Cottage is the only cottage which has survived from the original Grimes Grove, which is the present location of Seaside's downtown core area.