A weekly look back compiled by the Clark County Historical Museum from The Columbian archives available at columbian.newspapers.com or at the museum.
- 100 years ago
On Dec. 18, 1924, a Prosser apiarist, E.E. Starkey, ordered a large package of bees and queens from Yacolt’s Farwell Bee Farm. Starkey hoped to use Farwell’s bees, of which he had numerous colonies of bees in northern Clark County, in the Yakima Valley. The purchase by Starkey was the first known attempt to ship “package bees” from the county.
- 75 years ago
On Dec. 19, 1949, Vancouver resident V.O. Spencer recounted the nearly unbelievable tale of how his car got wrecked. While driving on the Pacific Highway, Spencer saw a tree falling into the path of his car. He ducked to avoid injury, but the tree smashed his car’s windshield and metal top. While surveying the damage caused by the 50-foot-long cottonwood, he noticed its base looked as if he had been gnawed by a beaver. While he never caught the culprit in the act, he reported the accident to the state patrol.
- 50 years ago
On Dec. 19, 1974, the Battle Ground School District forged ahead with plans for the new Pleasant Valley School, despite court challenges. Two neighbors, K. L. DeBord and William Hitt, challenged the district’s special-use permit, claiming the school would have adverse effects on the neighborhood. In spite of the challenge, the school opened the following year.
