Lassen Post Office Now Known as Janesville

Main Street, Janesville, 1911. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

It was on November 5, 1923 when the post office name at Janesville was finally restored. It was on July 2, 1914, when the post office name was changed to Lassen. This was done by a real estate promoter with the arrival of the railroad in the Honey Lake Valley. It was deemed there were too many towns ending with “ville.” Some thought the suffix carried a stigma of a small village. This did not set well with many of the town’s residents. After all the town’s name did not change, nor its voting precinct or school. The residents did not like it and petitioned the Postmaster General to restore the name, but it was denied. In 1923, the residents once again petitioned the postal authorities to restore the name.  It was granted on September 22, 1923, but it was not until November 5 when official change occurred.

Tim

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