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. 1, 1923, 800 tons of steel arrived at the Northwestern Equipment Co. factory on the former Standifer Shipyard site. The factory was planning to begin manufacturing in the ensuing days. Workers had already installed most of the plant’s equipment, readying the site to begin “actual manufacturing operations.” The company employed around 60 men.
- 75 years ago
Local nut growers began to gear up for the upcoming meeting of the Oregon-Washington Nut Growers Society. The two-day meeting would take place in Vancouver and welcome nearly 300 attendees to a litany of events, lectures and discussions. Nut enthusiasts could expect topics such as soil management and fertilizers; the nut industry and commercial banking; and the filbert industry in Europe.
- 50 years ago
Drivers in Vancouver filled their tanks as they prepared to observe “Gasless Sunday” on Dec. 2, 1973, as requested by President Richard Nixon. In response to the ongoing energy crises, Nixon ordered numerous actions to save energy, including closing service stations. Congress declined to make the president’s order mandatory, however. According to The Columbian, only one service station intended to stay open on Sunday.
