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
Sheriff William A. Thompson arrested suspected arsonist Max Poeth on April 30, 1924. State Fire Marshal W. A. Groce provided information that led to the apprehension of Poeth, who was alleged to have started “various mysterious fires which … occurred in the city during the last 30 days.” Investigators discovered a receipt made out to Poeth “in an oil-soaked vest” near one of the attempted conflagrations earlier in the month.
75 years ago
On May 4, 1949, city leaders began exploring options to make it easier for grocery stores to sell beer. The original ordinance, passed in 1939, limited the sale of liquor and beer to a specific downtown area. Fruit Valley grocer R.W. Churchman told commissioners that the law allowed “only five out of about 60 grocery stores in the city” to sell beer. Mayor Vern Anderson indicated a change would likely be made for barley pop, but “present regulations will be left on the sale of other liquors.”
50 years ago
The two owners of Bachelor Island declined the federal government’s $1.1 million offer to buy the 1,837-acre island on May 1, 1974. Bachelor Island Ranch Inc., a potato farm, and Bachelor Island Duck Club, a six-person private hunting club, both said they weren’t interested in selling. (Eventually they did sell; Bachelor Island became part of the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge in 1985.)
