Clark County History: Courthouse burns By Martin Middlewood for The Columbian
Published: January 31, 2021, 6:00am
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2 Photos An 1890 fire burned the Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver. (Contributed by Clark County Historical Museum) Photo Gallery
The only man publicly hanged in Vancouver almost burned up in an 1890 courthouse fire. On a windy February night, as five prisoners and 10 other men slept in the jail, the county clerk’s office caught fire. The flames quickly engulfed the courthouse and jail at 11th and Franklin streets. Sheriff Fleming’s son, the jailer, freed the shrieking prisoners trapped behind steel bars. The last one he rescued was almost roasted, and the only captive charged with murder.
All Over The Map: How Ferry, Franklin and Garfield counties were named December 11, 2020 at 10:27 am
Republic is the county seat of Ferry County; Ferry County was created from Stevens County in February 1899. (USGS Archives)
It’s time for the fourth installment of County Countdown, KIRO Radio’s 13-part series about the origins of county names in Washington state. Our three counties for this episode are Ferry, Franklin, and Garfield.
Follow along with your special commemorative map – available at your nearest Ernst Hardware (if you can still find an Ernst, let me know!) – but please pull over if you’re driving, of course.