There have only been three structures on this site. Considering that it is one block off Main Street, in the original historic core of the town. In 1914, the first building on the site was moved from up the street. It was the old abandoned Congregational Church. C.E. Emerson who had a three-story hotel, along with his mercantile store was just across the alley, the current site of the Hotel Mt. Lassen. Emerson used this building as a warehouse. In August 1915, it caught fire that destroyed the entire east end of the block including the Emerson Hotel, the Hyer Hotel and the Methodist Church.
Emerson’s loss was only partially insured and was never ever to rebuild the hotel. He did construct a smaller native stone building fronting Main Street, that many people recall the home of Millar Hardware. Across the alley, and next to the Methodist Church a native stone building was built as Emerson’s warehouse. In March 1934, the Emerson Estate sold the warehouse building to the Lassen Advocate newspaper. In January 1963, the Lassen Advocate relocated to 2119 Main Street.
In the early 1960s, the Susanville Methodist Church needed additional space. A 1960 financial bequest by Elizabeth Lytle to the church’s building fund was a major boost. It was decided to purchase the Advocate building and build a second church building to house a Sunday School among other things. It progressed faster than anticipated and the native stone building was demolished in the fall of 1963. The church’s Fellowship Hall was built in 1967 containing a social hall, kitchen and classrooms. A dedication ceremony and the burning of the mortgage took place on May 12, 1978.