Finishing touches to rebuilt Ocean Crest restaurant

MOCLIPS Friday was the three-year anniversary of a day that still brings tears to Jess Owens eyes.

The grandson of the longtime owner of the Ocean Crest Resort and Restaurant chokes up when he recalls how his aunt Shari Curtright suited up with the District 8 Fire Department that fateful day when the view restaurant its priceless artifacts and family heirlooms, its cherished collection of native baskets and renowned wine collection went up in flames, with no way to save the cedar building.

Part of the restaurant was the home where his grandmother, Barbara Topete, had once lived.

Last Friday, however, also was a day of tears of joy as Owen and his wife Sara were overseeing the finishing touches of a multimillion-dollar rebuild of the restaurant that features perhaps the most breath-taking view of the Pacific Coast in the state combined with what Jess vows will be the same culinary class that set the Ocean Crest apart from just about anything anywhere in the region.

Original artwork was being displayed with special care by Barbara Bennett Parsons, who was providing silkscreens and other pieces from her father, the late Grays Harbor artist Elton Bennett (1910-1974).

My dad did things for Ocean Crest that he wouldnt have done for anyone else, Bennett Parsons said.

Elton Bennetts work often ended up at Ocean Crest because of a longtime family friendship, she explained.

The charm of the family matron, and dad would do something for her once a year. It was supposed to be for my mother, and mother would put it up on the living room wall and Barbara (Topete) would come over, she said of the longtime tradition of Bennett art being showcased at the resort. Barbara always had the best eye.

Some of the pieces include Bennetts designs of early Ocean Crest folding brochures from the 1950s.

We had a colored-pencil drawing of his that he did on black construction paper in the old building that unfortunately got lost in the fire. That was beautiful, Jess Owen recalled. About 30 Bennett pieces were lost in the fire.

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Finishing touches to rebuilt Ocean Crest restaurant