Clark County History: Vancouver’s historical connection to Panama By Martin Middlewood for The Columbian
Published: April 18, 2021, 6:00am
Share: After seven years work, George Washington Goethals finished the Panama Canal in 1914, completing a task that stymied two other engineers. He commenced his first real engineering work as a lieutenant at the Vancouver Barracks, and performed many routine duties, including planning the headquarters building, designing the new post cemetery, mapping telegraph lines and creating tables marking the distances between Department of the Columbia posts. This photo was taken before his death in 1928. (Contributed by Library of Congress)
Maybe his middle name, Washington, foretold George W. Goethals’ (1858-1928) assignment to the Vancouver Barracks during 1882-1884. As the sole engineer under ill-tempered Brig. Gen. Nelson Miles, district commander, he was expected to be the Columbia District’s engineering mastermind. Th
By Lt Col Terrence G. Popravak, Jr., USAF (Retired), 142nd Wing / History Office / Published April 15, 2021
Frank W. Wright’s fighter plane in RAF 209 Squadron during World War I was the famous Sopwith Camel. The British Sopwith F.1 Camel shot down more enemy aircraft than any other Allied World War I fighter. Best characterized by its unmatched maneuverability, the Camel was difficult to defeat in a dogfight. Tricky handling characteristics, however, made the Camel a dangerous aircraft to fly. The example pictured here on display at the National Museum of the US Air Force was built by USAF personnel in 1974 from original factory drawings. (USAF photo)
Images From the Attic: Clark County History By Martin Middlewood, for The Columbian
Published: March 14, 2021, 6:04am
Share:
3 Photos Posing for a photo, a woman wearing a man s shirt and a little girl holding a fruit bucket take a break from picking, sorting and boxing prunes. Perhaps they were harvesting in an area known for its prunes, Prune Hill or Fruit Valley. The undated photo shows low growing prune trees and prunes scatted in front of the two for sorting and boxing. Such prune pickers helped Clark County become the Prune Capital of the World by World War I. (Contributed by Clark County Historical Museum)
Clark County History: Vancouver mayor went missing way back when By Martin Middlewood, for The Columbian
Published: February 28, 2021, 6:02am
Share: Mayor Percival addresses 8,000 soldiers in front of the recently completed Spruce Production Mill in February 1918. The mill processed the lightweight, flexible wood needed for planes. Of the crowd attending, 2,400 soldiers worked at the mill. The rest came from around the Pacific Northwest. The Spruce Production Division commanded 25,000 soldiers. Three years after his speech before this crowd, well-liked Mayor Percival disappeared, throwing all of Clark County into a tizzy. (Contributed by Clark County History Museum)
Grover R. Percival was so well-liked that a competitor nominated him to complete the term of retiring Vancouver Mayor Milton Evans. A unanimous vote propelled Percival into office in November 1917. As a councilman, Percival supported the Interstate Bridge project. Just 14 years earlier, he moved h
Clark County History: Moses Williams, Buffalo Soldier By Martin Middlewood, for The Columbian
Published: February 7, 2021, 6:00am
Share: Medal of Honor recipient Moses Williams (1845-1899) served in the U.S. Army for 31 years. When he hadn t received his medal for distinguished gallantry in action after a delay of 15 years, Williams was forced to petition the Secretary of War while serving at Fort Stevens on the Oregon Coast as an ordnance sergeant. He earned the country s highest military award in 1881 during combat with Apaches in New Mexico. Several members of his patrol with the 9th U.S. Cavalry s Buffalo Soldiers were pinned down, and Williams rescued the wounded with little regard for his own life. He retired in Vancouver, and died shortly thereafter. (Courtesy of the U.S. Army Museum of Noncommissioned Officers, Fort Bliss, Texas)