100 years ago
On Feb. 15, 1924, Vancouver street department employees planted trees in the parking strip surrounding Esther Short Park and along adjacent sidewalks. Washougal’s A.O. Hathway donated “sufficient dogwood and buckeye trees for the purpose.” The City Beautiful Club and the city were responsible for the planting and preservation.
75 years ago
A public hearing on the county’s zoning ordinance was held in Barberton on Feb. 11, 1949. Opponents of the new law, consisting of 200 Grange members, felt it did not adequately represent all Clark County residents. Others alleged discrimination by the planning board. County commissioners and planning board members explained the purpose of the ordinance, agreed revisions might be practical, and set up similar meetings in other communities for the following week.
50 years ago
On Feb. 12, 1974, Judge George H. Boldt issued his decision in the United States vs. State of Washington, a victory for Native rights. Often referred to as “the Boldt Decision,” this case centered on tribal fishing rights, but more broadly affirmed tribal sovereignty. Judge Boldt’s 203-page ruling held that the application of Washington’s law restricting “the time, place, manner and volume of harvest of anadromous fish by treaty Indian tribes is unlawful.”
25 years ago
On Feb. 14, 1999, a 450,000-gallon asphalt tank at Albina Fuel on West Eighth Street caught fire. While working on a new roof, an employee using a cutting torch noticed smoke and flames coming from inside the tank. Asphalt residue on the tank caught fire, causing the conflagration, and forcing the plant to temporarily shut down. Vancouver firefighters quickly quelled the blaze, leaving no injuries and allowing railroad traffic to resume on schedule.
Katie Bush is public historian at the Clark County Historical Museum
