Category Archives: History

History

Some Early Susanville Airport History

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Susanville Airport, early 1940s

On Tuesday morning, September 9, 1919, the first airplane flew over Susanville. Who the unknown aviator was has never been determined. It was believed by some to have been a Forest Service plane used to spot fires.

By the 1920s, pilots were regularly visiting Susanville. An impromptu airstrip was developed in the Milwood section, at the north end of Spring Street. By the late 1920s it had become apparent that an airport was needed. E.G. Scammon, Robert M. Cook and Charlie Bridges were appointed to a special aviation committee to locate  suitable site for an airport. They selected the Hanford Tract near Johnstonville. It met several criteria, as the property was inexpensive and required a small expenditure to construct an airport. In addition, there was plenty of open space for expansion and equally important few homes in the area. Aviators, on the other hand, complained that it was too far from Susanville. Yet, it met the approval of federal aviation officials.

On July 17, 1928, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors met in special session to discuss the airport. At the conclusion of the meeting it was agreed to purchase the property. On August 22, the County bought the 60-acre Hanford Tract from W.V. Warren for $1,700. In 1929, the City of Susanville bout 40 adjoining acres from May Hemler for $400 to extend the runway. On April 8, 1932 the County assigned all of its interest in the airport to the City.

The years 1931-32 witnessed significant changes at the airport. First was the oiling of the runways. That was followed by a fuel station and beacon light. In 1932, the City moved a two-room cottage on the premises. This was occupied a by a caretaker, whose main responsibilities were maintenance, i.e. no stray cattle on the runway and tending to the needs of the pilots who arrived at the airport.

In 1939, the Susanville Flying Club was organized, and it had a major impact on the airport. It employed the services of licensed flying instructor, Al Reese and flying lessons were now available. In 1940, additional improvements were made at the airport. That year Lassen Junior College offered civilian pilot training, with initial enrollment of twenty-two students. In September, the Civil Aeronautics Board rated Susanville seventh out of 183 California airports. The airport was earmarked with $371,000 for immediate improvements as part of the national defense program. In 1942, the U.S. Navy Department took control of the airport for flight training of cadets. The Navy retained control of the airport until the conclusion of World War II.

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History

Astor Pass, Nevada

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Roop Siding
Roop Siding on the Fernely & Lassen Railroad just north of Pyramid Lake, April 1966. Courtesy of Gil Morrill

While yesterday we explored the early day fur trappers of the Hudson Bay Company and others of the 1820s and 1830s in the region there is a geographical feature named for John Jacob Astor. Astor Pass is more like a narrow canyon/valley that separates Honey Lake and Pyramid Lake. By the 1880s, it is well documented as Astor Pass, many attribute it to John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), who was a major American competitor in the fur trade with Hudson Bay.

Astor Pass came into prominence in 1912, providing an easy route for the Fernley &Lassen Railroad into the Honey Lake Valley via Pyramid Lake. In the pass, the railroad established Roop Siding.

While the rails have been removed interest in this locale has not gone by the wayside. In the 1970s, there was considerable interest in diatomaceous earth deposits—remnants of decomposed fish and organic matter of Lake Lahontan. This particular matter, if developed, was to be utilized as fertilizer. Since the early 2000s the area has been studied for potential geothermal resources.

Tim

History

Hudson Bay Company & Honey Lake Valley

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Honey Lake Valley, 1938

While Peter Lassen gets credits for the first Anglo person to visit Honey Lake Valley, that is not the case. Hudson Bay fur trappers, by the 1820s, had made their presence in Northern California. By the early 1830s they were exploring Northeastern California—more specifically Lassen and Modoc Counties. In the fall of 1832, Chief Trader John Work led a large party where in they encountered Goose Lake. For the most part they would follow the Pit River. However, one group made an expedition over the Warner Mountains and made a reference of three lakes—Surprise Valley. Later expeditions came through and by 1840 the fur trappers had designated the Honey Lake Valley as Hot Springs Basin. On a related note, it was relayed to me that at one archeological site in Lassen County contained Hudson Bay implements of the1830s.

In July 1844, William Thomas Hamilton (1822-1908), member of a fur-trapping group, was one such early day visitor to Honey Lake. Hamilton wrote in his memoirs: “We reached a beautiful valley called to-day Honey Lake Valley, but at that time without a name. We remained here three months, enjoying ourselves as only men can who love the grandeur of nature. Our time was spent in exploring, hunting, fishing, reading and practicing with all arms.”

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History

The Standish Saloon Battle of 1907

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Dobyns Saloon—L-R Seated, Leslie Cottingham, Garfield Vogt, Roy Hopkins—Standing L-R Unknown, Unknown, Shorty Roe, 1907–Betty Barry Deal

During the planning stages of the Standish Colony in 1897, numerous issues were addressed. One, it would be a “dry” town and deeds would include a covenant restricting the use, sale or manufacture of intoxicating liquor. However, things changed quickly, after the initial construction of the town of Standish. The organizers of the Standish Colony were beset with numerous problems, and financially struggled. In 1901, the Standish Colony went bankrupt, a major milestone for the fledging town. No longer under tight control from the town’s founders, Standish went into a boomtown stage.

There were other changes on the horizon. A part of the old Wild West era was coming to end, in which one could randomly open a saloon. Lassen County adopted an ordinance, that to operate a saloon one had to apply for a county liquor license.

In December 1906, Susanville resident, Henry C. Dobyns submitted the necessary paper work to Lassen County for a liquor permit to operate a saloon in Standish. Among the documents included was. petition signed by 15 registered voters of Standish. At the January 2, 1907 Lassen County Board of Supervisors meeting they approved Dobyns license. By the end of the month Dobyn’s “Tipton Saloon” was opened for business in Standish.

There was a lot of resentment in the Standish community having a saloon. It was just a matter of time before things got ugly. On September 5, 1907 James Wood and N.B. Elledge filed a complaint with the county board of supervisors that Dobyns was not in compliance. They cited that not only underaged children of 18 had been served alcohol, but also allowed to loiter there. Then there was the issue of selling alcohol to Indians, who then became inebriated and causing havoc in the community. On September 21, 1907 a hearing was held with testimony from ten Standish residents about how the business was conducted in a disorderly and indecent manner. After all was said and done, the board revoke Dobyn’s license and gave him to the end of the month to close the saloon.

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History

The Tumbleweed War

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Stock corrals at Leavitt, circa 1922. Boggs put a lot of pressure on the railroad to keep the right of way clear between Leavitt and Susanville.

The Russian Thistle, (Salsola tragus), is best known too many as the iconic “tumbling tumbleweed.” Ironically, it became a symbol of the American West, yet it is a non-native plant. Its origins are from eastern Russia. Some sources indicate it was accidentally introduced in 1873 by Russian emigrates to South Dakota. The seeds from the plant are initially disbursed by wind. It is believed that many a railroad stockcar were imbedded with seeds, that allowed for them to be scattered throughout the west.

By 1914, a major infestation plagued the Honey Lake and Long  Valleys.  Some blamed it on the newly constructed Fernley & Lassen Railroad for the outbreak. L.W. Boggs, the Lassen County Horticultural Commissioner started an all out “war” to eradicate it.  Boggs September 1914 report to the Lassen County Board of Supervisors provided this insight:

“In continuing of my August report on the work of destroying the Russian  Thistle, a public nuisance. I have to inform you that I have been clearing the county road from about two miles north of Milford to the Constantia Ranch at the southern end of Long Valley, a distance of about 32 miles. Along which road, the farmers have willingly complied with the law requiring them to destroy the same pest, where found growing on their lands. One or two absent owners have been communicated with and plans are underway for favorable work the coming season or as soon as possible. ..From correspondence with County Commissioners of other counties in California, I have been informed that it is very practicable to rid the land of this pest and feel very much gratified that I have been working along the lines they have been doing and in which manner they claim that in three years time the Russian Thistle can be destroyed. This, which by keeping the highways and railroad tracks cleaned up annually and adjacent farming lands cleaned by cultivating.”

In July 1916, Boggs reported the Russian Thistle have been eliminated by two-thirds. Just when it seemed victory was near, on the horizon something unanticipated derailed the fight. With World War I on the horizon in 1917, such work had to be put on hold, and after the War, the Russian Thistle was firmly established.

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History

Sunny Lassen

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Partial Cover of the Sunny Lassen brochure

This was a small brochure of the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce published circa 1956. What caught my attention was the cover photograph. It was a view of Eagle Lake during its low water level that I had not come across before. There are a lot of Eagle Lake aficionados that subscribe, so I am sure they will enjoy it as well. Among the positive aspects of Lassen the brochure proclaimed No Fog, No Smog. One interesting aspect was that it noted that Doyle was the main railroad shipping point for uranium  mining that was being done in Long Valley.

Tim

History

The Delayed Standish School

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Standish School, 1911. Courtesy of Esther McClelland

Yesterday, we explored how Westwood was slow in building a church. Over the mountain at  Standish it had a church early on, but did not have a school. However, there were two nearby schools—Bridgeport on Chappuis Lane and Honey Lake at the intersection of Alexander and Lambert Lanes. On December 30, 1905, eleven Standish residents, who had a combined total of 22 school age children petitioned to form a new school district from territory served by Honey Lake School. It was granted.

Standish School, to the far left, teacher Miss Esther Pierce, 1911—Esther McClelland

On Saturday, June 2, 1906 a school bond election for $1,300 was held. All ten voters approved it. That summer the Wilbur Brothers constructed the school. The brothers also built Honey Lake and Missouri Bend schools, each with a distinctive bell tower. In 1950, Honey Lake School was annexed to Standish, due to a lack of students. On July 1, 1951 the residents of Bridgeport, Soldier Bridge and Standish School Districts approved to consolidate and form the Shaffer Unified School District. The Standish School was subsequently closed and torn down in 1967.

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History

The Creation of Westwood’s Peoples Church

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Westwood’s Peoples Church

Red River Lumber Company’s town of Westwood was fairly well planned, but all the facilities built between 1912-14, a house of worship was not included. This was extremely odd when factoring in that T.B. Walker, founder of Red River was a devout member of the  Methodist Church.

The spiritual needs, however, was not completely ignored. In October 1913, the Rev. Robert G. Green, a Methodist minister at Akeley, Minnesota, where Red River operated mill,  was recruited to come to Westwood to oversee the social welfare of the community. Green found it to be challenge as to where to hold non-denominational services. Westwood’s first multi-purpose facility
was the Opera House, and it was there where Green delivered his Sunday sermons.  One of the problems holding services in the Opera House was that Green had to compete with other parties who wanted to use the building, since it was the only facility dedicated to public gatherings. Green had been informed a church would be built after the Opera House was completed, but that did not happen.

By early 1917, the pressure was on for a church to be built. A committee had organized to solicit donations. They had plans for a building, not only for its seating capacity but that it should have a full basement to provide for a library, kitchen/dining rooms, and other rooms for sociable functions such as Y.M.C.A. meetings.  After considerable debate it was determined that ideally the church should seat 600 churchgoers. Once the committee agreed to the building’s size, they were able to calculate the cost. They estimated a price tag of $8,700—with lumber the most expensive item at $4,000.   The committee had secured $3,000 in pledges and pressure was placed on Red River on its “stingy” spending for its employees. Red River was also learning the hard way in a critical labor market, that to retain workers and their families concessions had to be made. Red River finally obliged.

In the summer of 1917 the church project moved forward with Red River donating the lumber and labor.  The site selected was at 500 Cedar Street, which Rev. Green described as a rock pile strewn with empty beer and whiskey bottles. By November 1917 the new church was completed. Initially, it was a church with no name. Since it would serve the needs of variety denominations it was named The People’s Church. On Sunday May 19, 1918 dedication ceremonies were held with Dr. John Wilson, District Superintendent of the California-Nevada  Methodist Conference officiating.

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History

A Novelty Event—A Waist Social

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Susanville’s United Methodist Church, circa 1950

Someone deserves bonus points for creativity thinking out of the box for this social event—a Waist Social.  That is correct, waist as in the human figure and not waste as in rubbish. To attend the function at Susanville’s United Methodist Church, the admission fee was probably the most unique I have ever come across in all my years of research and this was clever. To gain admission, a person’s waist was measured, for every inch cost one cent.

The entertainment was noteworthy, too. One feature was a “colored” wedding, wherein James Crawford was the bride, James Compton, the groom and Maynard Buckles as the minister.  All this hi-jinx was done in part to welcome the Rev. D.D. Edwards, the new minister of the Methodist Church in October 1926.

Tim

History

Indian Valley, Plumas County

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Indian Valley, Plumas County

Just over Diamond Mountain from the Richmond/Susanville area, is Indian Valley in neighboring Plumas County. Those residents of that valley played an important part in the early history on this side of the mountain.

After all, one of Indian Valley’s earliest resident was Peter Lassen. In 1855, Lassen and his companions found gold on this side of the mountain. The next spring when news leaked out, many a miner traveled up Lights Creek and then down Diamond Mountain on what became known as Gold Run. A number of Indian Valley residents migrated over the mountain and became permanent residents.

The traffic on the road via Gold Run to Indian Valley, did not diminish after the minor gold rush peaked. In the 1880s, Susanville’s first telephone line paralleled that route. By 1920, with the development of Engel Mine, near Taylorsville the road witnessed a lot of usage, many of the miners were from the Susanville region and would return on weekends.  By the late 1920s, the mine was past its glory days, and the subsequent development of Westwood and Highway 36, travel diminished  over the route.

Tim