Category Archives: History

Westwood Club

March 31, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

When the Red River Lumber Company established its company town of Westwood in 1913, it had to provide numerous amenities due to its remote location at the time. It was necessary to not only attract employees, but to retain them, as the lumber industry experienced a high turn over rate in labor. The Westwood Club was one of several facilities designed to meet the recreational needs of its employees. It included a restaurant, lunch counter, soda fountain, cigar and newsstand, barbershop, reading room and a billiard room.

On early Friday morning, March 31, 1944 a fire broke out in the Westwood Club though the cause, was never determined. Within twenty minutes the whole building was engulfed in flames. The heat so intense, that Nick Kannier’s automobile which was parked in front of building, burst into flames. Even neighboring buildings from across the street were smoking, on the verge of spontaneous combustion, which with quick action by the fire department prevented the same.

The J.R. Bartlett Company were the concessionaire of the Westwood Club, which included the clubhouse, cafe, pool hall, bar and lounge. There were four other tenants in the building—Ehorn’s Pharmacy, Quitman’s Apparel, Westwood Market and Kilpatric’s Used Furniture department. Estimated loss for all parties was placed at $125,000.

History

A Church Revival

March 30, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Standish Methodist Church, 1908. Courtesy of Prentice Holmes

The Standish Methodist Church was established in 1904. For a number of years, all was well. By the early 1930s, attendance was so low, that services were discontinued. In the fall of 1938, Rev. E.N. Dabritz, pastor of the Susanville Methodist Church attempted to rectify the situation. By November the average attendance of the congregation was 70. In the meantime, the church had fallen into disrepair and needed a new roof. The Rev. Dabritz issued a plea for funds throughout the Honey Lake Valley and enough donations were received to replace the roof.

How long the church continued or when the Methodist Church abandoned it, I do not know. For over the last four decades and probably more it is known as the Standish Bible Church.

History

Cottage Street, Susanville, 1885

March 29, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

First of all, I have to admit that I have a special affinity for this town’s particular street. After all, I grew up on this street, and decades later I returned to reside on this street.

It was so named back in 1863, when the town was surveyed, because in essence it contained numerous “cottages” and became the town’s first residential district. In the 1870s, one could call the street, the town’s religious row. The town’s first two churches were built there, and depicted in the above photograph. The first church built was the Congregational Church, followed shortly thereafter by the Methodist Church.

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History

An Answer to a Question

March 28, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

The Emerson Hotel ruins. Courtesy of Vivian Hansen

Someone recently wanted to know how the Emerson Hotel, a three-story brick building caught fire. First, a little background. The reason why Susanville came into existence as a municipality, had to do with the lack of fire protection. Its business district had been devastated by fire too many times.

In 1902, the City of Susanville introduced Ordinance No. 17 that structures in the business district be constructed of fire resistant materials, such as brick, native stone and concrete. The roofs of these buildings would use fire resistant material as well.

The Emerson Hotel was built in 1900-01. The one feature the brick building did not possess was a fire resistant roof. At around midnight on August 5, 1915, Emerson’s warehouse located on nearby Cottage Street caught fire. The wooden structure, built in 1873 originally housed the Congregational Church. By the time the fire was discovered, the building was engulfed in flames, with erratic winds sending embers into the air. In no time, the roof of the Emerson Hotel was on fire and containment was impossible, for now the fire had spread to two nearby structures the Hyer House Hotel and the Methodist Church, the latter a brick building. It should be noted the Methodist Church was built at the same time as the Emerson Hotel, and lacked a fire resistant roof.

Methodist Church — The aftermath of the 1915 fire.

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History

A Name Dispute

March 27, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

In June 1931 progress was in earnest with the Inside Gateway link between the Great Northern and Western Pacific Railroads. The two railroads would connect with each other just west of the Big Valley community of Bieber. Byron Greenwood saw an opportunity and had a townsite laid out where the railroads would connect. He named his new enterprise Big Valley City. However, when Greenwood applied for the establishment of a post office there, postal authorities were not impressed as they frowned on three word names for post offices.

The Great Northern was not pleased and intended to name their new station, Bieber. Some one came up with a compromised name of West Bieber, but it fell flat. While it took some time to resolve the dispute, everyone, but the railroad, finally agreed to the name of Nubieber.

History

L.D.S. Church Dedication

March 26, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

November 3, 1929 was a big day for members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. The big event was the dedication of their new church in Susanville. According church officials, before it could be dedicated that it had to be paid for in full and the cost of the local church as $19,975.50.

Numerous church dignitaries were on hand including the President of the church, Heber J. Grant who made the journey from Salt Lake City. In addition, non-members from Susanville and Westwood were invited.

History

The Doyle Revival

March 25, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Doyle, 1949- Eastman Collection, UC Davis

Doyle was the biggest beneficiary when the Sierra Ordnance Depot was established in the early 1940s. It was a much needed boost as the town struggled during the 1930s, like so many rural communities.

There was a tremendous amount business activity for the small community could boast of three grocery stores, along with other such amenities as two bars that also had restaurants, however, it should be noted after prohibition, a requirement for bars was to provide food service.

Another aspect of the Depot’s effect on the region, was with highway improvements, it created the area’s first commuters. The Janesville and Milford vicinities were popular for Depot employees to make their homes there and make the commute to Herlong.

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History

Calneva Post Office

March 23, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Calneva located in eastern Honey Lake Valley near the state borderline, was a small station on the Western Pacific Railroad. The station operated from 1910-1921. The Calneva Post Office was established on July 8, 1911, with Charles Ammons, as first postmaster. The post office closed briefly during 1919-20. On November 30, 1933, it was discontinued, its operations moved to Flanigan, Nevada. It is interesting to note that Calneva was located six miles east of Herlong and six miles south of Flanigan. However, when the post office closed it would be several years before Herlong was established.

The 1982 expedition in search of Nowhere at Calneva Lake.

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History

Susanville’s Town Hall Crisis

March 22, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

The aftermath of the August 9, 1898 fire.

During the 1880s and 1890s the residents of Susanville struggled with the issue of a much needed public hall. The Methodist Church was used for many public functions, including the annual community Christmas tree. On Decoration (Memorial) Day of 1898, after special ceremonies were held at the Susanville Cemetery, further presentations were then conducted at the Methodist Church. This time, church could not accommodate all those who attended. It was proposed that the community raise funds to enlarge the church. It gained momentum for awhile. Then on the evening of August 9, 1898 disaster struck when Susanville’s most prominent structure the Masonic Temple (better known today as the Knoch building) caught fire and the building entirely gutted. In the end, the Methodist Church was remodeled in the late fall of 1898, that allowed for extra seating, but the building was not enlarged.

In February 1899, the Susanville Town Hall Association was incorporated. It, too, was derailed by a fire the following year, but that event led to the formation of the City of Susanville.

History

March 1924

March 21, 2020 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

South Lassen Street, Susanville, March 1907 – Courtesy of Gil Morrill

There were several topics in the local news for March 1924. One was a constant raiding of bootleg joints during prohibition. Then, Lassen County issued a quarantine, not for humans, but livestock due to an outbreak of Hoof and Mouth disease in other parts of the State.

It was on March 24, 1924 that a snowstorm dumped 18 inches of snow in Susanville and a similar amount in Westwood. It melted rapidly. Such storms are not uncommon. What made this event remarkable, was it was the only storm for the winter of 1923-24, one of the driest since Anglo settlement.

Note: I am not sure what Big Valley received, because a portion of those archives are off site and currently not easy for me to access.