Clark County’s Historic Preservation Commission has approved adding the Heye and Eva Meyer Farm to the Clark County Heritage Register. The farm is at 13705 N.E. 50th Ave., Vancouver.
The farm is historically significant because the Meyers were active during critical decision-making and growth periods of major Clark County institutions such as the Grange, Clark Public Utilities and Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.
Also, when the Meyers purchased the property 1917, agriculture was one of the top three industries in the county. They grew hay, alfalfa, blueberries, grapes, filberts, tobacco and walnuts and raised livestock. Today, the house and outbuildings represent the historically prevalent but increasingly rare rural landscape of Clark County.
Heye Meyer was a founder of the Clark Public Utilities District and elected its first president. At his death in 1961, he was the longest-serving utilities commissioner in the state. A substation is named for him. Meyer also left a strong Grange movement, including a dedicated column in The Columbian newspaper and 17 chapters in addition to the countywide Pomona Grange.
Eva Meyer served on the board and as chair of what became the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. In 1963, she was instrumental in development of the Vancouver Community Library property at Mill Plain and Fort Vancouver Way. She also contributed books on public power to the new library and played a major role in designing the grounds’ landscaping. Eva Meyer died in 1980.
Clark County’s Historic Preservation Commission is the group that initiates and maintains the local Heritage Register.
For more information about the history of the Heye and Eva Meyer Farm or the Clark County Historic Preservation program, please contact Community Planning at (360) 397-2280 ext. 4913. Information also is available on the county’s website at www.clark.wa.gov/planning/historic.
