Enjoy snapshots of local history written in past issues of the Reflector from 30, 20 and 10 years ago, respectively.
A look back at August, 30 years ago
• On Aug. 11, 1994, an electrical fire burned down a large portion of St. Andrew Lutheran Church on Gher Road in Orchards. Despite this, around 600 members attended a congregation held outside of the smoldered building on Aug. 14. The ruined building was valued at $500,000 at the time, and lost at least $100,000 in contents. The church’s organ could not be salvaged, and a replacement was estimated to cost $50,000. The Sunday offering was taken in Kentucky Fried Chicken buckets that day. According to officials, the fire was caused by books and boxes stacked too close to a baseboard heater.
• On Aug. 15, Battle Ground’s City Council discussed possibly removing three feet of the Little League’s playing area at Fairgrounds Park due to encroachment on private residential property. Earlier that year, property owner Sharon Overbay threatened to sue the city if it did not move the fence back three feet toward the ballfield. A crowd of over 70 people, many of whom were Little League supporters, protested the decision. Little League supporters said then-Mayor Marvin Brothers made a compromise that failed the city and its youth. The council ultimately voted to send the discussion to the Building and Parks Committee to reach an agreement, though no meeting date was set.
A look back at August, 20 years ago
• In August 2004, then-Ridgefield Community Development Director Kevin Snyder estimated the city’s population would double by 2009. He noted that 1,051 residential units were in various stages of development. The city’s population in 2004 was estimated to be 2,200. It was estimated that the population would rise to 4,617 in five years. Additionally, The Reflector reported a new subdivision, Cedar Ridge, was slated for development, which would include 213 attached townhouses along Pioneer Street. According to current census data, the population reached 4,763 in 2010. As of 2020, Ridgefield’s population was 10,319.
• On Aug. 10, 2004, officials from the Fort Vancouver Regional Library celebrated a donation of nearly $115,000 for the establishment of a new Woodland Community Library building. The donation came from the estate of Margaret “Maggie” R. McQuarrie, a Woodland resident who passed away in March 2004. Family members recalled she loved to read and frequently visited the community library. Locals noted the 2,000-square-foot building, which was established in 1920 as a school building, struggled to accommodate the growing community. Members of the Friends of the Woodland Community Library, a group integral to the establishment of a new building, estimated it may take five to seven years to raise enough funds for a new facility. The new building would replace tennis courts near the existing library.
A look back at August, 10 years ago
• On Aug. 13, 2014, the La Center City Council debated whether to extend its moratorium on marijuana operations, which was set to expire in September, following the legalization of marijuana in Washington state in July. Chris Marr, a member of the Washington state Liquor Control Board, informed the council that the two newly opened marijuana retail stores in Vancouver had significantly outperformed other outlets across the state in sales. Although La Center had not yet received any applications for a retail marijuana store, Mayor Jim Irish mentioned that one operator had expressed interest. Marr highlighted that the sales success could boost state revenue, attract tourism to La Center, and create funding opportunities for marijuana research at the University of Washington. The council had not reached a consensus at that time.
• In August 2014, the Washington state Department of Transportation announced that its project to paint two bridges on Interstate 5 near Woodland was one-third finished after a year of work, with an expected completion date in fall 2016. The project involved removing rust and old paint before applying a new protective coat designed to last 20 years. The project, funded by the state, had a budget of over $15 million. Drivers experienced partial lane closures and a speed limit of 60 mph near the two bridges. A similar process may take place in the early 2030s.
