Coquille in Coos County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Haldane "Buzz" Holmstrom

May 10, 1909 - May 18, 1946

— Expert Boatman —

Haldane "Buzz" Holmstrom Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, April 28, 2018

1. Haldane "Buzz" Holmstrom Marker

Inscription. In November, 1937, Buzz Holmstrom, a service station attendant from Coquille, became the first person to run the Green and Colorado Rivers alone. His eleven-hundred-mile solo journey in a handmade wooden boat brought him national acclaim. After running the last rapid of the Colorado, he wrote in his journal:

I had thought once past there my reward will begin, but now everything ahead seems kind of empty and I find I have already had my reward in the doing of the thing; the stars and cliffs and canyons, the roar of the rapids, the uncertainty and worry, the relief when through each one, the real respect and friendship of the rivermen I met and others.

Some people have said that I conquered the Colorado River. I don't say so. It has never been conquered and never will. I think, anyone who it allows to go through its canyons and see its wonders should feel thankful and privileged.

Holmstrom died on the Grand Ronde River in northeast Oregon in 1946 and is buried in Coquille.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1937.

Location. 43° 10.473′ N, 124° 11.911′ W. Marker is in Coquille, Oregon, in Coos County. Marker can be reached from Coguille-Bandon Highway (Oregon Route 42S) south

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of Coos Bay-Roseburg Highway (Oregon Route 42). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coquille OR 97423, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Spruce Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); Coos Bay Waters to Coquille Waters Trail (approx. 6 miles away); Judah Parker County Park (approx. 7.7 miles away); Steam Engine No. 104 (approx. 13 miles away); Caboose No. 1134 (approx. 13 miles away); Caboose No. 11269 (approx. 13 miles away); Transportation (approx. 13.4 miles away); a different marker also named Transportation (approx. 13.4 miles away).

More about this marker. Marker is located within Sturdivant Park and near a boat launch along the Coquille River.

Regarding Haldane "Buzz" Holmstrom. Buzz Holmstrom's body was discovered May 18, 1946 along the Grand Ronde River with a gunshot wound to the head. Although ruled a suicide, many people believe he was murdered. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery to this day.

Buzz grew up in Coquille and is interred with family members in Coquille Masonic Cemetery.

Also see . . . FindaGrave.com. A nice biography for Buzz Holmstrom. (Submitted on July 23, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, April 28, 2018

2. Haldane "Buzz" Holmstrom Marker

Coquille River image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, April 28, 2018

3. Coquille River

One of many rivers that Buzz Homstrom ran alone.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 262 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 23, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.