In 1860, Zenas J. Brown (1812-1895), a pharmacist, received the nickname of Dr. Eight Square when he constructed an octagonal building in Susanville. Brown, in the scheme of things is known for a lot of things.

In 1861, Brown created Susanville’s first subdivision, located in the vicinity of Lassen High School and aptly named Browntown. In my opinion this just weird. First, the nearby mining town Richmond rivaled Susanville. Secondly, it was not until in 1863, that Susanville plot map had been surveyed and recorded. However, Isaac Roop the questionable owner of said property, did not prevent him in sale of said lots that would become officially known as Susanville. It should be noted that in 1920,  what would comprised Browntown was legally subdivided and known as the Armstrong Addition. Furthermore, most that property today is the Lassen High School Campus.

Brown’s lasting legacy, that he is credited with the planting of the area’s first orchard of apple and peach trees. In 1863, one of Brown’s peach trees produced the area’s first peach crop —four peaches devoured by Susan Roop and Mrs. C.W. Fuller. In the fall of 1864, Brown sold his subdivision and left the region.

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