Linguistics, especially local terminology, changes over time, with not only an older generation passing on, succeeded by a new one, mixed with new arrivals making for a blended community. Some local designations retain their original names, others abandoned.
Susanville’s Winchester Hill is a perfect example. This steep hill is located on Mill Street between South Gay and Weatherlow Streets. It was so named for George and Fannie Winchester who in the fall of 1914 built a house at 205 South Gay Street, on the south east corner of Gay and Mill. It was also one of the first houses built in the Brashear Tract subdivision, that had a deed stipulation that all homes constructed must at a least cost a thousand dollars.
Doyle, July 10, 2021—Noah Berger, Associated Press
It was in mid-August 1926 when a fire on the Plumas National Forest broke out. High winds sent embers and a spot fire erupted in the Last Chance area. As the winds fanned the flames, the fire came over the crest of the Diamond Mountain Range between Milford and Doyle. The fire rapidly spread past Bird Flat (Herlong Junction) on its way to Doyle. After burning through four ranches, it appeared that fire threatened Doyle. Then a strange thing happened. The wind abruptly changed direction blowing the flames back to the area it burnt and it slowly extinguished itself. Bert Downing lost a barn with 150 tons of hay and several other buildings, but his house was saved. However, H.W. Sutton, John Wagner and Paul Zurfluh were not as fortunate and lost there homes. Another causality was the Lucerne Schoolhouse, but it had closed the year before due to a lack of students.
McGiffert loader, Camp 28, Red River Lumber Company, 1924—R.S. Pershing
With the advent of railroad logging required the development of supporting equipment. In this particular case, today, a machine to load logs onto flat bed rail cars. Some consider the McGiffert Loader the “Cadallic ” of loaders, which many in the woods just referred to the machine as a “Jammer.” The McGiffert was invented by John R. McGiffert in the early 1900s , and were manufactured by the Clyde Iron Works of Duluth, Minnesota.
The McGiffert while efficient in getting the job done, did not look like much. It had an elevated platform for the boiler and spools. What is interesting it was self propelled wherein its chain-driven axles moved it along the rails. As the McGiffert straddled the tracks, a large, somewhat awkward looking machine. The boiler and spools were mounted on a platform that was elevated over the tracks. The entire machine sat on legs that rested on the ground on either side of the tracks. The McGiffert was self-propelled, as it had a chain-driven drive axles that moved the machine along the rails. The empty log cars were shoved underneath the loader. The log cars would then be rolled through the loader, with logs loaded onto the cars by a boom off of one side of the loader.
McGiffert loader at Camp 28, Red River Lumber Company, 1924–R.S. Pershing
Fruit Growers Supply Company was still using McGifferts into the 1940s on the Susanville Operation, and may have until 1952 when it discontinued railroad logging.
In 1859, Peter Olsen located along the north bank of the Feather River, which would later become the community of Chester. Olsen like a handful of others, of what then was known as Big Meadows were dairymen. Over the years, he acquired some 1,100 acres. Upon his death in 1892, his three sons, George, Nels and Edgar took over the operation. Time changes. In the early 1900s, Great Western Power Company began buying all the properties in Big Meadows to transform it into Lake Almanor. The Olsen’s sold all but 110 acres, which was above the 4500 contour line.
Olsen’s Hotel, Chester. Courtesy of Margaret A. Purdy
The dairy operation would slowly be phased out, so it was time to change occupations. The family became innkeepers. In 1913 construction began on their hotel. In early May 1914, the doors were open to the public, and timing could not have been better. By the end of the month, Lassen Peak began erupting, bringing throngs of people to see it. Olsen’s was one of the few nearby lodging establishments and business was off to a booming start.
For many years the hotel was operated by Nels and Eula Olsen. In 1948, it was time to retire and they sold the hotel to Earl McKenzie. McKenzie leased it for a time, and it finally shuttered. As to the building’s final demise, I do not know.
One of things the Red River Lumber Company did not like about California was its politics. After the company established Westwood, it initially took a neutral stance to politics. That would change over time.
The Westwood Auto Club served as a de facto chamber of commerce for Red River. Since 1916, Californians voted on several bond measures to build a state highway system. By 1926 those funds had been exhausted and to the dismay of the residents of Northern California the majority of bond revenue was spent building highways in Southern California. In June a movement was on hand to place on the ballot a one cent per gallon gasoline tax to be used for highway construction. The Westwood Auto jumped on the bandwagon and led a vigorous petition drive to obtain signatures to place the matter on the ballot. It was widely supported and by the end of July enough signatures had been obtained to place the measure on the ballot, to be known as Proposition 4.
To date nearly $100 million had been spent in the last ten years for highway construction. It was estimated an addition $123 million was needed to complete the state highway system. Southern California had an initiative also on the ballot—Proposition 8. This was an effort to grab a major portion of road funds for the next twelve years. It turned into a North/South divide issue. Proposition 4 proponents worked hard and were successful. In Lassen County nearly 90% of the voters approved it.
During Susanville’s early history the community was plagued by some devastating fires such as in 1882 and 1893. In each instance efforts were made to correct the situation, but to no avail. Then came fire of June 6, 1900 and everything changed. All the wooden structures on the south side of Main Street from Roop to Union were destroyed, some forty in all and the estimated loss at $100,000. It served as a catalyst for the incorporation movement for Susanville.
On June 13, 1900 a citizens meeting was held to discuss the legal requirements to incorporate the town. After some debate it was decided to move forward. A petition was circulated and signed by sixty-five registered voters requesting the Lassen County Board of Supervisors to call for a special election to decide the incorporation issue. The board obliged. On August 15, 1900 the voters went to the polls and improved the incorporation by 61 to 20. Elected to serve as trustees were Charles Emerson, John Humphrey, Howard Meylert, Julien Pardee and John Riley. The first city council meeting was held on August 28, 1900.
With Burning Man taking place soon on the Black Rock Desert, the town of Gerlach receives a lot of attention due its close proximity. Some may wonder who was Gerlach.
Gerlach was named for German immigrant Louis Gerlach (1835-1921). He came to the United States in 1853, and in 1855, located at Stockton, California working as a butcher. He would later operate his own butcher shop. Gerlach then became affiliated with the Wagner Meat Company, that raised their own cattle, along with operating a slaughterhouse. This inspired Gerlach to branch out on his own in the cattle business. In 1884, he purchased Granite Creek Ranch, near the present town of Gerlach. As his operations grew, in 1892, he incorporated as the Gerlach Land & Cattle Company. His main focus was northern Washoe County, Nevada. In 1906, Gerlach acquired the Ward Land & Stock Company for $100,000. This included over 5,000 acres, and with it such places as Bare Ranch in Surprise Valley. Thus, a nucleus of an outpost was created at what is present day Gerlach. In 1909, the Western Pacific Railroad built its railroad through the area and established a station at Gerlach, and thus the formation of the community. After Gerlach’s death in 1921, his ranching empire was slowly dissolved.
American Legion Parade, Susanville 1926—Margaret Purdy
During August 16-21, 1926, Susanville was a festive place. It was the host of the statewide American Legion Convention. That was a tremendous feat by the local American Legion Post named after Thomas Tucker, a Maidu, and Susanville’s first casualty in World War I.
The community gave the some 3,000 attendees the proverbial red carpet treatment. Buildings were decorated with patriotic bunting or adorned with the American Flag, and some times both. Two parades were held that week. The first one was mid-week in the convention, which featured numerous floats, decorated cars and an assorted lot. There were the Santa Barbara Legionnaires, dubbed the “bathing beauties” with the men wearing gunny sacks, displaying their knobby knees. The second parade was a bit more dignified with the veterans marching down Main Street from the Elks Lodge to the newly constructed Veteran’s Memorial Building.
The designation of “Pioneer” to log cabins is such a misnomer. In many instances they get that designation from the recreational arm of a government agency, to lend some rustic aura to inspire visitors awe. The so-called Pioneer Cabin at Antelope Lake falls into that category. There are still a handful of similar cabins in the eastern segment of the Plumas National Forest. These cabins were used during the summer months, primarily by Honey Lake ranchers who brought their livestock into the mountains for summer range.
The cabin at Antelope Lake origins are with Adelbert Torrey, who in the 1880s was residing at Buntingville. He would bring his dairy cows for the summer, for the abundant feed and water. Adjacent to the cabin Torrey built a water wheel used to process butter. In 1888, Torrey sold the property to his Buntingville neighbor, Leonard Hicks. It remained in the Hicks family until 1941 when it was sold Frank and Alma Flux. Flux had paid $3,000 for the 400-acre property. He stated the previous owner had sold the timber to Clover Valley Lumber Company for $20,000. It appears from records of Susanville attorney, Harden “Finn” Barry that Flux sold the property in 1956, as a future reservoir site.
The third version appears in Asa Fairfield’s Pioneer History of Lassen County published in 1916. Unlike Version Two they share few similarities. One important fact, Dodge in Version Two has the main instigator as Joseph Hall, when Fairfield duly notes its Joe Hale. This is important, when Hale returned to Susanville concerning the Indian encampment he encountered, he had the forum to relay the news—he was half-owner of the Pioneer Saloon. It should be noted that Fairfield relied entirely that of William Dow, one of the participants.
In June 1866, when Joe Hale went in search of stray horses some ten miles west of Susanville he spotted a number of Indians who did not appear to be local. It had been well known, especially with the Indian Valley Maidu had been providing ammunition to the renegade band of Paiutes of Northern Washoe County. It was Hale’s opinion this ammunition would be used on a attack at Camp McGarry and relayed the same to the residents of Susanville when he returned.
The next day a posse of five men—William Dow, E.V. Spencer, Joe Hale, Byron Gray, Charles Drum—organized to break of up this ammunition exchange with the Indians.They followed the Indians tracks and spent their first night at Martin Springs, near present day McCoy Flat Reservoir. The next day they went up north to Champs Flat and spent the night there. The next day they went south along the west side of Eagle Lake. By the time they reached the south shore Dow and Gray stopped to let the horses rest. The others carried on the pursuit and came across an Indian encampment at what would be known as Papoose Meadows. According to Dow, the posse found the camp consisted of women from Indian Valley, and that the men had left camp to hunt. That night when the posse re-grouped it would attack either at night or towards dawn.
The next morning they did. Dow stated four Indian men were killed, one injured and escaped [Joaquin] and another fled with horses. This differs dramatically from Version Two. There is no reference to what happened to the Indian women, or whether ammunition was found or seized.
