Today, is Arthur Cahlan Mathews 100th birthday! Art was born in Susanville on June 5, 1922, the only son of Arthur and Lena Cahlan Mathews. Upon his debut, he had an older sister, Ellen, and later on a younger sister Marcella. Art has many fond memories growing up in Susanville, and after he graduated from Lassen Union High School in 1940, he ventured out of Lassen Land.

His grandfather, John Cahlan came to the Honey Lake Valley in 1873, where he went into a partnership with W. Wallace Scholl in a buying a ranch near Johnstonville. It was not long after that, he married Lottie Farley.  The marriage would be brief, she died unexpectedly in 1876.

In 1877, an interesting opportunity came Cahlan’s way with the formation of the Farmer’s Co-Operative Association in Reno which he became manager. 1882 was a pivotal year, for Cahlan remarried to Reno school teacher, Charlotte Warren. Not much later a fire destroyed the co-op store, and the newlyweds returned to Cahlan’s former ranch, in which he bought out his partner Scholl. The couple would have two daughters—Lena who married Arthur J. Mathews and Neva who married R.H. “Hi” Browne. In 1908, Cahlan who was now 68 years old, decided to retire from ranching life and sold out to  Frank and S.F. “Duck” Bangham.

Cahlan moved into Susanville and purchased the old Moody place on the northwest corner of Main and Roop Streets (now the location of Uptown Cinemas). In 1911, Cahlan had a Dutch Colonial style home built there. This would be the home that his three grandchildren grew up in. In 1955, the house was moved to 1415 North Street, to be replaced with a brick building to be the new home of J.C. Penney.

In 1892, when Lassen County’s first financial institution was formed, the Bank of Lassen County, Cahlan was quite involved. He served for many years as Vice President. After the passing of his close friend Fred Hines, who served as the bank’s president, Cahlan was appointed as Hines’ replacement. Unfortunately, he would not remain at the helm very long, for he suffered a heart attack in the office at the bank on September 24, 1912.

Art, I hope this finds you well. Wish I could be there for your birthday dinner bash this evening, however, I will have a “Susanville pour” in your honor.

Tim

Lassen Mail, April 30, 1926 – Newly-Weds Elececikicked. Andrew H. Stahl, a saw filer at the Fruit Growers plant and Miss Daisy Fitzgerald of Sonora were married in Reno last Saturday morning and at once came to Susanville where they will make their home. Their “friends” had skillfully wired the furniture in their apartment in such a way that when they sat down they immediately arose again. A big Klaxon horn announced the fact that they had retired to their apartment and it was not until they had bribed the gang that the wires cut and the disturbance ceased.

Tim

One of things I do enjoy about doing tours, which I have been lapsed in doing, is the interesting interaction among attendees. During the St. Patrick’s Cemetery Tour something was relayed to me that I was unaware of and never had given any thought.  In many instances, the graves face to the east. That is certainly the case in most Lassen County cemeteries. Traditionally, the husband is usually buried to the left.  In addition, some churches make it a point for the altar to face to the east. I just never know what I will learn next.

Tim

There are a handful of subscribers who will recognize this instantly. On the other spectrum there will be others proverbially “scratching  their noggin.”

Tim