THE BEGINNING OF OWC

An organizing committee--Doreen Gandy, Marlene Howard, Lola Janes, Nan Phillips, Joann Picken, Florence Samuels, Thea Shepherd, Gail Tycer, and Ed Weinstein--met for almost two years (1980-1982) as the Don James Invitational Writers Conference.  Most were founding board members when the organization became Oregon Writers Colony, after receiving IRS 501(c)3 tax classification status in 1983. 

The organization was formed for the express purpose of supporting writers and establishing a permanent writers retreat on the Oregon coast, a place where writers could go to write, a retreat for writers managed by writers.  For six more years, the organization worked towards that goal by having writers conferences and workshops. 

In 1989, they found the house, a lovely log home on a ridge in Rockaway Beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean to the West and Lake Lytle to the East.   Board members Margaret Borland, Sue Bronson, Joleen Colombo, Doreen Gandy, Marlene Howard, Bonnie Graham, Gail McNally, Naomi Stokes and Marsha Weber made the decision to purchase the house.   And with a generous gift from Jean Auel and a beneficiary gift from founder, Lola Janes, who had died the year before, Colonyhouse became a reality.