Category Archives: History

History

Standish Livery Stable

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Standish Livery Stable and Meat Market, 1909. Left to Right: Todd Hemler, Bill Kennedy and Fred Hansen. Courtesy of Vivian Hansen.

In 1904, George Short (brother-in-law to James Mapes) established the Standish Livery Stable on Milford Street (A-3). In 1906, he built an addition which became the home of the Standish Meat Market. Both the livery stable and meat market were leased to various individuals such as Fred Hansen, Todd Hemler and Floyd Bass. In 1912, Fred Hansen moved the meat market to a new location. In 1913, Louis A. Kline purchased the livery stable. Kline at the same time leased the Wrede Hotel located to the north of the stable.

On November 18, 1913 the Standish Livery Stable was destroyed by fire, and for a time threatened the entire town. The fire started in the harness shop, the former site of the meat market. It was later learned the harness maker, went on a drunken spree, returned to the shop knocked over an oil stove, and passed out. When the building was engulfed in flames, it was discovered the nameless harness maker was inside and volunteers dragged him out.

Most of the contents of the livery stable was saved except for forty tons to hay. The harness shop and its contents was a total loss. Kline only had partial insurance on the building in the amount of $400 and did not rebuild.

Tim

History

The Susanville Mill Company

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Lassen Grain & Milling
Lassen Grain & Milling Company, circa 1918. Courtesy of Dick & Helen Harrison

The Lassen Grain and Milling Company was established in 1917 and located on Richmond Road, Susanville across from the Southern Pacific’s railroad depot. By the 1920s, the beleaguered company was barely holding its own. A major problem facing the company was the lack of grain being grown in the Honey Lake Valley to support the mill.

Enter the Susanville Mill Company. Founded in the fall of 1926, this company took over Lassen Grain. Susanville Mill comprised of three men—B.F. Hutchens, E.B. Birmingham and L.E. Deforest. Hutchens and Birmingham were executives of Fruit Growers Supply Company, while DeFores was well known in the local agricultural community. It was their intent to encourage local ranchers to plant turkey red wheat and provide them with the seed.

After several years of operation the company sold to Bronson & Doyle.

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History

An Interesting Fire Editorial

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Main Street, Susanville, 1927. Note you can see where the fire burned above the Elks Lodge.

In June 2021 I wrote about a forest fire of 1926 that threatened Susanville, when it jumped the Susan River and spread to Inspiration Point.On July 2, 1926 the Lassen Mail had an editorial “Fire Danger Is Concern of Everyone.” Since it is that time of year when fire danger increases, I thought I would share the newspaper’s observation.

”During the closing days of June Susanville faced conditions that do not usually obtain until August. These conditions will become worse as the season advances and it will require the utmost care on the part of everyone to protect property interests. So far as the town of Susanville is concerned it is now reasonably  well protected from fires that might sweep in from the surrounding hills. But the wealth of Lassen County lies in her forests and these forests are at the mercy of the camper and the tourist.

”The state forestry department should see that a competent fire warden is placed in charge of the Susanville district. He should be a man who realizes the importance of his position and who has the necessary experience. During the past week more damage was done by back fires set by incompetent persons than was done by the original fire. The fire that destroyed Red River timber and finally crossed the Susan River and threatened the town of Susanville was a backfire set by one of those incompetent people that got way beyond control and made the situation worse instead of better.”

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History

The Mark

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The Mark advertisement, Lassen College yearbook 1970-71—Jim Chapman

This is an incomplete story, because I surrender. I started it over a well over year ago,  I kept getting blindsided, and well 2021 between Covid, fires, heat, smoke, etc did not help. The Mark was established in 1948, by Ray and Connie Langley to become what is known as Herlong Junction.  While The Mark is still exist, the original building depicted above does not. It was destroyed by fire around 2000 or so, but without the key piece of information, I am unable to complete story. In any case, one at least is able to see what the original establishment looked liked.

Tim

History

C.D.F.’s New Heaquarters

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A partial view of the lot at Main and Grand, Susanville.

California Division Forestry, local manager, William Mann announced that in the fall of 1946 that $35,000 had been allocated to establish a local headquarters. They had bounced from place to place and at the time were located near the Lassen County Hospital.

Of course, there is always a decision to locate a permanent site. They studied two options. The first was the corner of Main and Grand Avenue. Some thought it would compliment the adjoining Memorial Park that was underway. The other was a five acre parcel just west of Susanville along Highway 36. This option was hard to resist as it was available to the forestry division for free. That sealed the deal and construction began in the spring of 1947. It is interesting to note in 1916 it was the site of a state prison labor camp for the construction of Highway 36.

Tim

History

A House Makeover

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Ranker Residence—Ardell Torrey

Architecture is one of my many interests. Personally, much of today’s building designs are rather bland, whether commercial or residential. Today, we examine the Mattison house, which originally was not a stand out.

In 1879, Otto Ranker came to Susanville from Oroville to operate a blacksmith shop. In 1884, he located what was referred to as four corners, about two miles east of present day Standish. Like many homesteaders before and after him, he first lived in a small three room cabin. As needed, another room would be added, and so forth. In the early 1890s, he had a second story built that consisted of four bedrooms. In 1900, he moved to Chico for health reasons, but rented his ranch..

Mattison House
Mattison House, near Standish

In 1906, Ranker sold the property to Fred Mattison. Shortly afterwards Mattison had the house remodeled. Mattison died in 1926, but his wife’s family continued to occupy the property. In the early 1950s, during a cold winter the pipes froze. Hal Story crawled underneath the house with a blow torch to thaw the pipes. Instead, of thawing the pipes, he caught the house on fire and the residence destroyed.

Tim

History

Milford Street, Standish

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Milford Street, Standish, 1908—Prentice Holmes

Tuesday’s are a wild card day, some times there is a post and some times not. For newer readers, when I started this site back in 2015, I did a daily post seven days a week. After five years, I scaled back to six days. However, I wanted to make sure something went on this Tuesday, to monitor the issue with the host sever.

The above photograph is Milford Street, Standish looking west, known today at the Standish-Buntingville Road or County Road A-3. The building to the right was the Wrede Hotel. It is now replaced with gas pumps at the Wayside.

Tim

History

July 4, 1920

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Pine Creek Estuary, Eagle Lake—Verna Wood

This is certainly an unusual type of vessel or is it? I will leave it up your imagination. In the meantime, hoping everyone has an enjoyable Fourth of July. Personally, it is a quiet time for me, as I generally stay close to home on these kinds of holidays..

Tim 

History

Homer Lake, Lassen County

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Homer Lake, Lassen County, 1919

It is one of three lakes on Keddie Ridge, the other two being Hidden and Deerheart.  The origin of the name is not known.  On December 24, 1878, G.A. Chipman and J.D. Anthony referred to it as Moon Lake when they claimed its waters for use on their Rising Star Mine. By 1881, it was being referred to as Homer Lake. By 1911, the lake had been planted with trout. In 1916, Frank Cady, who was deputy fish and game warden, first learned of the lake, and went to inspect the same as there rumors that unknown parties had dynamited the lake for fish. He found no evidence of same, and caught several trout weighing on the average of two pounds.

Homer Lake, July 2007

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History

Lake Almanor Causeway

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Chester Causeway
Chester Causeway

In 1925, Great Western Power Company announced its plans to enlarge Lake Almanor. The raising of the dam would flood a large portion of Chester Flats, thus flooding a number of roads, and also Red River Lumber Company logging railroad network. Controversy arose when Great Western informed the Plumas County Board of Supervisors that the road across Chester Flats would be re-routed to follow the high water contour. The residents of Chester and Westwood were furious, for such a proposal would add an additional seven miles between the two communities. They wanted a causeway in which the current route would remain the same. Great Western balked at the idea. After all, a causeway would cost Great Western $220,00, while to re-route the road would only cost $50,000. To make a long story short the opponents bypassed the Plumas County Board of Supervisors and had the State Highway Department intervene. In 1926, an agreement was made between the State and Great Western that a causeway would be constructed.

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