Oregon Coastal Road – 1949

There is only one place this can be. It’s an Oregon Coastal Road. The profusion of Scotch Broom along both sides is a good clue. It’s an highly invasive species that was introduced to Oregon sometime between 1860 and 1871. There seems to be some debate as to when and who actually introduced it. Some sources say it was introduced to Oregon to stabilize sand dunes on the Coast which it does quite well.

The invasive species, Scotch Broom, along an Oregon Coastal Road. Vintage Photo from 1949.

Offbeat Oregon states that it was introduced by George Bennet, an settler from Ireland who settled on the southern Oregon Coast and built the town of Bandon. The town burned down, the second time, September 26, 1936.

Since then it has spread across much of Oregon and has become a huge pest. It costs about the state about $40 million in lost revenue every year. There are many movements to try to eradicate it, but over all it is only marginally effective.