Pat Jollota Books

The book explores the historical development of Camas, Oregon, founded by Henry Pittock in 1883 as a paper mill site. Named after the Camas lily, significant to the Chinook tribes, the colony thrived on agriculture. Incorporated in 1906 to regulate alcohol during Prohibition, Camas evolved through the mid-20th century as high-tech industries emerged alongside its traditional paper mill. Today, visitors enjoy the town's quaint cafes and antique shops at the Port of Camas, a site that once served as a rough landing amidst dense forests.

Named for a British sea explorer, Vancouver was conceived in the early 1800s when Lewis and Clark camped at the waterfront and deemed the area ripe for settlement. The Hudson's Bay Company soon established its fur-trading empire here, and "Fort Vancouver" became the commercial center of the area. In 1849 American troops set up Columbia Barracks nearby, establishing the area as a military stronghold. In 1857 the city of Vancouver was incorporated, and gradually became an important industrial and residential city. Vancouver is now a big city, and along with nearby Portland, Oregon, is home to high-tech, maritime, lumber, and manufacturing industries.

Before midnight on March 19, 1950, several startled bystanders watched two men force a screaming young woman into a car and drive away from Saint Joseph's Hospital in Vancouver. One of them yelled out that she was his wife and was drunk. That was the last time anyone saw JoAnn Dewey alive. Her battered, naked body washed up on the banks of the Wind River seven days later. Suspicion quickly fell on two brothers, Turman and Utah Wilson, who fled town before police caught them in Sacramento. Their arrest and sensational trial captivated and divided the peaceful community. Author Pat Jollota uncovers the chilling details of this tragic story.

Profiles Vancouver's most notable and notorious residents, from the city's namesake, British Captain George Vancouver, and explorer William Clark to modern day musicians and philanthropists.

The book explores the rich history of Vancouver, Washington, highlighting its transformation from a wilderness outpost for the Hudson's Bay Company to a thriving city. Initially an Army town, it attracted settlers and saw agricultural prosperity. The shipyards and defense industry spurred growth during the world wars, followed by economic downturns. As new infrastructure emerged in the late 20th century, the city expanded, showcasing the resilience of its community through ongoing changes and challenges.