In 1880, Edward W. Hayden, a newspaper man arrived in Susanville, and worked for the Lassen Advocate. He would eventually own the newspaper in 1892 and sold it 1921. In 1927, he wrote some memoirs about what Susanville was like in 1880. There were two observations that peaked my interest. One was the water tank on Main Street, that there is very little documentation. The other has me befuddle and may be readers can assist. My interpretation according to Hayden was that there was a bandstand on Inspiration Point. At that time, the locals just called it the bluff and it was not named Inspiration until 1918.

Hayden wrote: “In the center of the intersection of Main and Gay Streets was a water tank four feet high about as wide and eight or ten feet long., a lofty flag pole at is western end. [The flag pole was erected in 1861 by Union sympathizers.]

“Two private residences were in the space between Roop and Pine Streets and the space occupied by the Elk’s Home was vacant. There was a rudely constructed stairway leading up to the bluff to a band stand high above the town.”

Tim