For those who have 2026 Calendar, the Gallatin Boat Dock at Eagle Lake is the featured photograph. The above was not included in the calendar. While I was aware of Gallatin Boathouse, I did not the know of the existence of the dock until I examined the Gallatin photograph collection. I consulted my letters and notes from Ardith Bronson Doyle. Ardith was granddaughter of Bert Christie, who caretaker of the Gallatin House and she spent her childhood summers there. Ardith, with her husband Forest Doyle, did provide mye with a sketch of the interior of Gallatin House, but there was no reference to a dock.
Note: This is a perennial post, because it has merit and in my opinion they should be banned permanently. The following appeared in the New York Times, July 3, 2024 “Fireworks sparked 916 wildfires in the state in 2021, the most recent year for which full data is available, and those fires caused more than $3.2 million in property damage, according to CalFire. The year before that, in the state’s worst fire season on record, fireworks caused more than 2,000 fires and $8 million in property damage, along with injuries to 11 people and one death. Lest, we do not forget the firestorms this January in Los Angeles.
It is not just a California phenomenon. A study published last year in the journal PLoS One found that more than 11,000 wildfires nationwide were caused by fireworks between 1980 and 2016 — and that two-thirds of those blazes occurred in the two-week period around July 4. “In fact, more fires began on July 4 than on any other day of the year, it found.”
In Susanville’s early years as an incorporated city, it was remarkable what the council did. One of their actions, I still support today, and that is the prohibition of fireworks. The first time they banned fireworks was in 1906, following the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. It was also a nod to the insurance companies who suffered tremendous loss from that event. It was their belief, as well as many other communities, that this preventive measure would reduce the risk of fires.
In 1912, the City once again banned fireworks. The Lassen Advocate applauded the city and wrote: 21 June 1912 – “No Fireworks on the Fourth. We desire to congratulate our Board of Town Trustees on their action in placing the ban on all kinds of fireworks on July 2, 3, and 4. This action has been taken by large and progressive cities for years past, and we are greatly pleased to note that the smaller places are falling into line. Fireworks do no good and may do a world of harm. Fires may be started that will blot out blocks of cities or towns; little boys and girls all over the United States have lost fingers, hands, eyes and in many instances, their lives from the dangerous pinwheel and firecrackers. Let them yell all they will, let them spend their money for ice cream, candy—anything on earth but the fireworks.”
In 1916, the Monticola Club appeared before the Susanville City Council asking for a ban of fireworks for the 4th of July. The City said no. The council assured that the utmost care would be done, but they were not going to deprive children of the festivities.
In 1926, due to the tinder dry conditions, the City banned fireworks for fire, health and safety reasons.
School calendars are constantly evolving. After all many schools fall semesters begin August, when there was a time when the school year dd not begin until after Labor Day.
Lassen High’s Class of 1907 held many distinctions. First it was the first four year class to graduate from Lassen. It should be noted that was the class of 1906, had several graduates that involved a three-year commercial course of instruction. The Class of 1907 has distinction of the latest held graduation being on Friday, June 21, 1907. Those graduates were: Medford Arnold, Jessie Hulsman, Hanchen Lesser, Jeanette Alexander, Kate DeForest, Ruth Hemler, Evelyn Hulsman, Lena Cahlan, Wright Spalding, Percy Holmes and Ralph Taylor.
Standard Gas Station, 900 Main Street, Susanville, 1938-Jere Baker
To be quite honest, today my mind is blank as to what topic to cover, may be it is moving fatigue. So I randomly went to a file cabinet and I just pulled a file. I do not know anything about this Standard Gas Station located on the corner Main and South Union Streets. There was an era when Susanville had nearly twenty service “gas” stations. Hopefully, I will be a bit more creative tomorrow.
Camp 38, Red River Lumber Company, 1922. It was located on the east shore of Lake Almanor. Courtesy of R.S. Pershing
The family dynamics of the Red River Lumber Company is fascinating. While founder, T.B. Walker, in his western expansion was meant that his five sons would be in charge. While that was noble, it did not turn out the way he envisioned. Three of brothers, Clinton, Fletcher and Willis would relocate to California, while Gilbert and Archie remained in Minnesota.
Clinton was the first t arrive in California as he assisted his father with the acquisition of the California timberland. It was Clinton’s first hand knowledge of the California timber, that he would be at odds with his brothers. Clinton was early day supporter of control timber burns. In the 1930s, Red River faced a myriad of problems. In a letter, dated August 10, 1935, Clinton wrote his brother, Archie, about his thoughts of the condition of Red River’s California forest. For posterity is the following excerpt:
“It is regrettable that the house of Walker has no forest man. Kenneth covers the nearest but he seems to be absorbed in the performance of log contracts; our annual fire and insect losses are staggering. A systematic annual light burning at the right season of the year would reduce and ultimately eliminate these sources of loss and the cost would be insignificant as compared to the loss and yearly increasing fire hazard conditions in the forests. Burning by means of power burners on or dragged behind tractors could be done very cheaply and the prospective danger of injuring hollow hulled trees could be eliminated by following the burning with a few shovelers. For the entire period of the Walker family timber operation we have centered our attention largely or almost exclusively to lumber operation. Kilne followed the woods and logging and now Willis is attending to the contract writing in log sales matters but little if any thought is be given to Forest matters. I think the Forest bill Introduced in Washington should be followed up and that a competent forest engineer should be working on our forest matters. We are doing nothing but slash down that wonderful forest and letting the fire and beetles burn and eat us down year by year without raising a hand or a voice to afford protection from these annual staggering losses. ”
Some communities celebrate a founder’s day, the date in which an individual located. It was on June 23, 1854, IsaacRoop set up a trading post on the Noble’s Emigrant Trail. Shortly thereafter, along with his brother Ephraim they constructed a cabin. Roop’s trading post had a home. It is interesting to note that in August 1854 Roop filed the region’s first water right claim to Smith Creek, later to be called Piute. Who was Smith and why stream was designated such is still mystery.
Ready to launch near Milford, 1905. Courtesy of Marge C. Foster
Many of the original Honey Lake settlers had an entrepreneur spirit, while in the throes of an establishing their new found home. One such individual was Nicholas Clark who located on the west shore of Honey Lake, four miles north of Milford. In 1857, his place was an informal stage stop. Taking advantage of Honey Lake, he advertised having two fine boats, whether for fishing or pleasure, equipped with quality fishing tackle. This was the first of many commercial boating endeavors on Honey Lake. It should be noted that in 1881, Clark had the only boat on Honey Lake.
The Gem Saloon, Susanville, 1908. B.R. Zimmerman Collection
The first Trustees of Susanville (now Council) not only had the difficult task of the basic organization of the town, but it was compounded that they did not have any operating revenue. It instituted a business license and the lucrative liquor license fees. After all, in 1900, Susanville had five saloons. Of course, this action did not sit well for some business owners. Not only did litigation ensue, there was a disincorporation movement as well. At the November 1902 Trustees meeting they tabled the matter for calling for special election to disincorporate. They cited there were was no need to incur the expense of the election due to the pending litigation.
Westwood Ballpark. Courtesy of the Westwood Museum
During 1938 and 1939 the Red River Lumber Company experienced a lot of labor strife. Due to a strike in February 1939, Red River closed the mill. A unique thing happened at that time, Westwood would soon have a baseball park. What is that old saying when life give lemons, make lemonade.
The mill workers had an abundant of idle time, Jim Travers came up with the idea that they could use some recreational outlet to dispense with their extra energy. On the property they were using as the wood lot was a partially destroyed house caused by a fire some time ago. Travers and Earl Yaber came up with the idea to transform the property into a baseball park, and the other strikers were supportive of the project. The AFL union asked Red River if they could lease the property for that, and the company consented. In no time at all, the volunteers quickly cleared the property, removing the old building and hauled in 200 loads of decomposed granite from Fredonyer Summit to spread over the baseball field. In short order the property was transformed into a ballpark that could accommodate 600 people, along with parking, drinking fountains, rest rooms, an enclosed press box and seventeen flood lights. Nearly 500 men and women contributed to the cause.
Map provided by Hank Martinez
On Sunday, June 12, 1939 the first softball games were held. First up was the Westwood AFL, who lost to Susanville’s Model Laundry by a score of 7 to 8. The next match was between the H.S. Anderson Club and Fruit Growers’ Story Club, which Anderson prevailed in the tight match that went into four extra innings with a score of 14 to 13.
In July 1925, the Susanville Hotel Company hired T.J. Rees, a Fallon, Nevada contractor, to construct a three-story 70 room hotel, on the former site of the Emerson Hotel, on the corner of Main and Lassen Streets. The estimated cost was $300,000. It was interesting to note, that the new hotel opened with little fanfare on April 27, 1926. There were skeptics who considered it a “white elephant” and would never be a paying proposition. A lot money has been poured into the building with little or no financial returns.
On a side note, Rees was in Susanville to construct the Masonic Temple. In the same time period, Rees was awarded construct the American Legion building which was completed on August 12, 1926.
