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 Feb. 9, 1924, the city council cleared up “Vancouver’s garbage muddle” when it decided to continue using the Hahn brothers as the municipality’s refuse haulers. The city leased a portion of the Hidden Farm, “about a mile and half east of the heart of Vancouver on the Camas road,” to use as a dumping ground. Although the Hahns had an exclusive agreement, any other individual interested in hauling garbage could do so, “provided he paid $1 a load to the Hahn brothers.”
75 years ago
The Washington Legislature ordered the state Un-American Activities Committee to turn over records and property on Feb. 4, 1949. The request came as the House received a report filed by the committee, which called for the “signing of non-communist affidavits by old age pensioners and other public welfare recipients,” as well as continued investigations into schools, specifically textbooks. Former Rep. Albert F. Canwell, R-Spokane, head of the committee, revealed to legislators that the records had been destroyed.
50 years ago
A nationwide strike led by independent truckers was underway by Feb. 4, 1974. Frank Sisseck, owner of S&S Truck Co. of Vancouver, estimated that nearly half of the 400 independent truckers in Southwest Washington were cooperating with the work stoppage. The rising cost of diesel and cap on shipping rates led to revenue loss for drivers. One of the potential impacts of the strike was on grocery supplies, which one independent truck driver believed could be cut by 75 percent if the direct action succeeded.
