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
Powerful oil and packing interests headquartered in the Midwest and East Coast were “vigorously fighting” Referendum 16, appearing on the Nov. 4 ballot. Also known as the Oleo Bill, it prohibited the mixing of vegetable oils with milk “to give the appearance and odor of pure vitamin-giving butter.” Local dairymen feared they would go out of business if the referendum was defeated, and appealed to local voters to “help sustain the law and restore their diminishing volume of business.” Voters went on to reject the referendum.
- 75 years ago
Clark County reported its 11th case of polio of the year on Oct. 31, 1949. A 2½-year-old boy living in Vancouver was admitted to the isolation hospital upon referral of a private physician. Said to be doing well, his case was not critical. He was the first victim of the disease since Sept. 16.
- 50 years ago
On Oct. 30, 1974, Clark County’s Halloween season was being haunted by “an economic ghost called inflation.” Trick-or-treaters would be taking home smaller, and likely fewer, candy bars, due to rising costs. One market operator predicted apples and oranges would make a comeback as giveaway goodies. Pumpkin prices also saw an increase of 4 cents from the previous year.
