Category Archives: History

History

Antelope Station, California

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The Antelope Station, date unknown. Courtesy of Nevada Historical Society
The Antelope Station, date unknown. Courtesy of Nevada Historical Society

It was a popular stage station in the upper end of Long Valley on the Susanville–Reno Road.  It was established in the mid-1860s by Jonathon  C. Roberts. In 1873, Roberts sold to David F. Evans and for many years it was known as the Evans Ranch. In 1882, when the Nevada-California-Oregon (NCO) constructed its railroad there, they established a station named Oneida, for the Sierra County Township of Oneida. On June 6, 1889, a post office was established there named Purdy—for Solomon Purdy who came to Sierra County in 1852, from Oneida, New York and eventually sold to David F. Evans. In 1891, the Purdy Post Office was moved to a site known today as Bordertown. Travelers of U.S. Highway 395 between 1931 and 1976 will know the location of the old Antelope Station as the first site of the California Agricultural Inspection “Bug” Station.

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History

Where Are We—Susan River

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July 11, 2022

This view of the Susan River was taken near the headwaters at Silver Lake.  In 1934, in the case best known as Fleming vs. Bennett, would more or less once and for all settled not only the water right issues to the Susan River, but all of its tributaries. The State Department of Water Resources, per court order, intervened and put together a complete adjudication, which is still used today.

Tim

History

Lassen Industrial Bank Sold

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Lassen Industrial Bank built this Susanville landmark in 1922. Some fifty years later Bank of America tore it down.

In August 1928, in a somewhat surprising move to the local populace was the announcement that the Lassen Industrial Bank had intentions to sell the bank to Bank of America, formerly known as the Bank of Italy. Jules Alexander, president of Lassen Industrial Bank highlighted some of the positive aspects being part of larger bank, due to its access of larger amount of capital. Bank of America stated there were be almost no change in operations or that of the personnel employed locally.

Bank of America, 1971.

But there was more to the story, that the public was not aware. Lassen Industrial Bank was a in a financial crisis due to the delinquency on loans to the farmers and ranchers of the Baxter Creek & Tule Irrigation Districts due to the problems associated with Bly Tunnel at Eagle Lake. On December 1, 1928, Bank of America took over the beleaguered bank and with it and infusion of $100,000 to stabilize it.

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History

The Final Phase of Lake Almanor

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Lake Almanor

Many may not be aware but the dam at Lake Almanor was constructed in the three phases. The first was the initial dam completed in 1914. That dam had to be scaled back due to financial issues. The second phase was competed in 1926.

In the fall of 1961, PG&E disclosed that it intended to raise the dam by sixteen feet and increase the storage capacity by sixty percent. The $6.7 million project began in the spring of 1962—the job was awarded to construction giant Morrison-Knudsen. As the cost indicated, this was a substantial project, as the entire dam needed to be retrofitted. A portion of this was due that there was a seepage problem since the dam was first constructed. To rectify that problem over the years, several dikes were built in front of the dam, along with other alterations. To reinforce the dam required moving of some 800,000 cubic yards of earth; 275,000 tons of rock fill, and 90,000 square feet of gunite to prevent water seepage from the increased water pressure. Work on the new improved Lake Almanor dam was completed in the fall of 1963.

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History

The Tale of Two Litchfields

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Litchfield Acres Brochure

There were two Litchfields—the town proper.and surrounding it ten acre parcels known as Litchfield Acres. During the 1890s and into the early 1900s there was a colony movement across the nation where one could reside in a community and work their farm property adjacent to the town. Readers may recall that Standish started out as a colony.

In 1913, with the arrival of the Fernley & Lassen Railroad through the Honey Lake Valley witnessed the developments of several towns—Litchfield being one of them. There was the town proper, and then adjoining the town, the property was subdivided into  ten-acre parcels known as Litchfield Acres comprising some 570 acres. The promoters thought the ideal conditions found  there, where one could make a comfortable living whether planting an apple orchard to growing alfalfa. Of course, the literature sounded good, but it was not enough to entice buyers. Litchfield’s growth was stymied by the fact it could not compete with the nearby established town of Standish. On the other hand, for a number of years, the Litchfield Depot was a busy place which became the major hub for shipment of agricultural products.

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History

Ravendale In The News

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Ravendale, in better times.

When the NCO Railroad arrived on the Madeline Plains 1899/00, it gathered a great deal of media attention. The area witnessed some prosperous times, which peaked around 1915-16. World War I saw the drafting of the young men of the Madeline Plains, who after the war did not return because there were a lot of opportunities elsewhere than making a hardscrabble existence at their former home.

By the 1920s and into the 1930s, it was not all doom and gloom. Take for instance the Bailey Creek Sawmill to the west of Termo, that was a major boost to the economy. Of course, the Southern Pacific Railroad, which had taken over the former NCO provided jobs as well.

Of course, passer by travelers also was part of the economic fabric. For one Jim Lechuga, his visit to Ravendale was memorable. On April 28, 1930 he was arrested there with a suitcase that contained  360 tobacco tins full of marijuana. He told authorities it was for medicinal purposes. Roy D. Jones, State Narcotics Office, said that was hogwash, that marijuana had no medicinal value. On May 7, 1930, a jury trial was held in the Lassen County Superior Court. Lechuga was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison at San Quentin.

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History

Paul Bunyan Lumber Company – Then & Now

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Paul Bunyan Mill is now the location of a shopping district and more on the eastern edge of Susanville.

The Paul Bunyan Lumber Company was formed in 1945/46 as part of the break up of the Red River Lumber Company. Kenneth Walker wanted to remain in the family business and took over the company’s “Cedar Mill” in Susanville. This mill was closed in Susanville in 1967, but the lumber company continued with another mill in Anderson, Shasta County.

Thanks to Dave Bricker, he took this picture overlooking the same area in June 2022. Times have changed.

The east send of Susanville, June 20,2022–David Bricker

Tim

History

How Wet Will It Get?

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Flooding near Standish, 1952. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

If anyone has resided in California for any length of time, it is known for its extreme weather patterns. The winter of 1861-62, is one for the record books, which some in meteorological circles refer it to “The  Ark”.  There is a reason why, as California has not experienced anything like it since. It was reported that the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valleys were transferred into a vast lake. It should be noted that the floods of March 1907 did the same thing to the the Sacramento Valley.

As to the winter of 1861-62, locally we are thankful, for the A.L. Tunison diaries to provide a glimpse of what happened and also regionally.

By the end of November 1861 there was a foot of snow in the Honey Lake Valley. Then on December 8 and 9, heavy rains occurred. On December 18, 1861 Tunison receives news of flood damage elsewhere and writes, “Good flood in Sacramento Valley. Water 15 feet deep in Sacramento City. Boats run on Main Street in Marysville. Great many cattle lost. Slide on Sierra Nevada Mountain at Washoe covered up a quartz mill, injured two men, killed another. Two bridges gone on the Truckee River.” Continue reading How Wet Will It Get? →