Category Archives: History

History

The Red Bluff-Honey Lake Toll Road

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Devil’s Corral Bridge, 1918. Courtesy of Margaret A. Purdy

In 1863, the Tehama County Board of Supervisors decided to construct operate and maintain a toll road from Red Bluff to Susanville. A convenient location for the toll gate was placed along the Susan River, five miles west of Susanville at Devil’s Corral. In August 1864, Aaron Seaman and Jerry Tyler acting as agents for Tehama County as toll collectors, sued John Packard and Archibald Boyd for a total of $41.25 in toll charges. The toll fees were three cents a head for cattle, twenty-five cents per horseman and fifty cents per wagon. However, the resourceful Honey Lake defendants were able to have the case dismissed. The date of their toll fees for use of the road was in August 1864. They cited that Tehama County could not collect toll fees outside their jurisdiction, since Devil’s Corral was in Lassen County, and this toll road soon folded.

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History

Where Are We?

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October 8, 2020

There are three landmarks named for this individual, a native of New Jersey, but in 1857 became a resident of the Honey Lake Valley, before moving elsewhere in Lassen County. He was also one of the first to move to Honey Lake Heaven aka Pacific Grove, California.

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History

Your Tuesday Tidbit – Almost A Goner

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710, 712 Main Street, Susanville, January 7, 2005.

For a short time I resided on the second floor of 712 Main Street. Real seasoned residents will remember the building as Spalding Drug Store. In later years it was occupied by the Bootery and the Smart Shop. It was a transitory time for yours truly. Fortunately, I moved out in the summer of 2004, and the building was destroyed by fire on January 5, 2005.

Tim

History

Omira, Lassen County

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Omira351
Omira. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall

Omira was located two miles or so south of Doyle and came into being as a station on the newly constructed  Western Pacific Railway.  On April 12, 1909, the townsite was recorded on land owned by R.E. Rhodes, property later known as Rowlands.. The railroad named the town after a woman who promised to build a church there. Originally, the plan was to make this a division point for the railroad. Grading for the yards and turntable was done and that was the extent of the development as the Western Pacific decided to change the division point to Portola. The town consisted of section houses, water and fuel tanks, and a two-story store with a restaurant—rooms were rented on the second floor. In addition, that building housed the post office that operated from 1910-1918 with Stella Stiles as first postmaster. In 1926, the Western Pacific consolidated many of its smaller stations, Omira Station was closed and operations moved to Doyle.

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History

Control Burns Revisited

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Bunnell's
Bunnell’s Resort, Big Meadows. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall

While my Red River series covers a tremendous amount of material on the Red River Lumber Company, there were some topics that were not addressed. In 1938, the topic of controlled burns was being discussed, as the company had done it in its earliest years until Clinton Walker’s departure in 1913. Below is an excerpt of a 1938 memo Clinton wrote to the Board and the experience of a control burn at Lake Almanor.

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History

Slidey Clyde

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A totally off topic item to begin 2021—after last year’s tumultuous year.. This 1930s bookmark was tucked away in a bound volume of the Lassen Advocate. Hopefully, no one encounters a Slidey Clyde during 2021.

Happy New Year!

Tim

History

Remembering Gold Run

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Since this is the last day of 2020, which usually many folks reflect on the year that is very memorable to many. Personally, I have a special fondness for Gold Run. This, of course, had to deal with Frank Satica, who was an early instigator on my path to research the region’s history. For some the photographs might be bittersweet with the devastation by this year’s Sheep Fire, that the scars will be there for a long time.

Satica Ranch, Upper Gold Run, September 1975
Perkins Ranch, Gold Run, 1906—George McDow, Jr.
A view looking at the former Ridenour property with the Sella dairy in the foreground, which was located at the lower end of Gold Run, 1950s. Courtesy of Wendell V. Loughead

Tim

History

Speeder’s Rejoice

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Childs
A 1931 car caravan at Child’s Meadows on the way to the Lassen Park dedication. B.R. Zimmerman collection

On August 14, 1931, California raised the speed limit on state highways from 40 to 45 miles per hour. How quaint. Driving in residential districts also changed from 20 mph to 25 mph. School zones still remained the same at 15 mph. One other interesting change was that of the minimum age to obtain a driver’s license. It went from 14 years of age to 16.

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History

The Great Standish Fire

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Standish Creamery, 1907

In the early morning hours of July 17, 1929, the largest fire in the history of Standish occurred. At that time, a next door neighbor to the Standish Creamery saw the roof of that building on fire. Quickly, a volunteer farmer-firemen bucket brigade assembled to combat the blaze. It became readily apparent early on that the creamery could not be saved. All efforts focused on containing the fire and to prevent it from spreading to nearby residences and stores. By the time the sun rose, the creamery was a pile of smoldering rubble. Approximately, $1,500 worth of butter and cream went up in the flames. The total loss was valued at $20,000 and was only partially insured. It was owned by the C.E. Emerson Company of Susanville. Cause of the fire, a defective flue.

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