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. 29, 1925, the Columbian reported on a recent court case involving a goose. After the son of O.C. Bowen found a goose tied to a tree in the woods in Camas, the young boy carried the fowl home. Soon thereafter, the goose escaped and was captured by Jim Wallin and John Scott. The two men considered the bird their property and wouldn’t release it to O.C. Bowen under the “finders, keepers” principle. This led to a court case presided over by Judge W.H. Durnham. Jurors were unable to agree after a full day of deliberations, and both parties planned to retry the case.
- 75 years ago
The National Park Service released plans for the creation of a museum to preserve Fort Vancouver’s history on Jan. 1, 1950. Written by museum curator Walter C. Rivers, the plan called for 64 acres of Vancouver Barracks land to be used for exhibit space, as well as a large-scale re-creation of the original fort. Rivers’ plan included talks and guided walking tours of the old stockade.
- 50 years ago
On Jan. 28, 1975, The Columbian reported that voting on Vancouver School District’s $8.3 million special levy election was heavy. By midday, nearly 3,000 votes had already been cast. This was an increase of around 600 from the previous year’s election. In other areas with levies, such as Battle Ground and Yacolt, voter turnout was lower than in previous elections, which some officials attributed to icy conditions.
