Category Archives: History

History

Farmers Land Company

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On April 3, 1916, the McKissick Cattle Company purchased the holdings of George Callahan at Amedee, which included the hotel, hot springs and several hundred acres of land. Courtesy of Marie H. Gould.

The Farmers Land Company was a short-lived operation, in 1916, that tried to bring new life to the Standish Water Company east of Amedee. That company had to planned to reclaim at least 4,000 acres of sagebrush lands, by using a pumping plant to pump water out of Honey Lake for its water supply.

Its promotional literature, was rather refreshing and it did get my attention. Here is a sample: “Do the trees obstruct your view of the forest? Silly question, eh? But not so silly when you ponder over it. It is a well known fact that years of daily contact with the same surroundings dulls a person’s appreciation of the things about him.

“Honey Lake Valley furnishes a striking example. People who have lived here for years in the valley have lost sight of the immense fertility of the great area of untilled land south of Amedee. We realized the possibilities of this the moment we saw it. The result is that settlers are now flocking to Amedee from all parts of the country and not long we will have the greatest and most prosperous settlement in the entire county.

“Wake up man and get out of this rut and make something of the possibilities around you! While our new colony will be known as Rosendale, will essentially be a Scandavian settlement, we welcome any man who has energy and determination to succeed. Come down and see us today. We are ready to help any man who has made up his mind to help himself.”

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History

Another Era

Illustration by R. Herrera

While the vaccination debate rages on, I thought I would share this early day observation from Margaret “Peg” Woodrich of the by gone days on the Madeline Plains. She compiled a small history, “The Early Days of California’s Madeline Plains.”  She wrote: “The teaching methods of those times are long since forgotten. Each schoolroom had in its entry a bucket of water and a tin dipper from which all the youngsters drank, exchanging measles and whooping cough with democratic cordiality.”

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History

Susanville Country Club

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Courtesy of Alyce Bangham

In the early 1920s, after World War I, the nation was swept up with the golfing craze. The Susanville region was not immune. As a matter of fact the area, in 1923, could boast three golf courses! These were not the type of golf course we know today, but more of a glorified cow pasture.

In 1924 things were about to change when a group of Susanville businessmen formed the Susanville Country Club. They had an ideal location, whether they could purchase it was another thing. What they sought was George Wingfield’s summer home on Wingfield Road, known today as the Mountain Meadows Ranch. Wingfield had recently sold it to the Lassen Lumber & Box Company. The company’s interest in the property was 1100 acres to timberland behind the home. A deal was struck and in the fall of 1924 the Susanville Country Club purchased the house, surrounding area, including the meadows for $20,000. With a grand residence to serve as a club house, and in time the meadows would be converted into an 18-hole golf course.

The landscaped grounds of Wingfield’s Meadowbrook Ranch. Courtesy of Alphozene Terrill

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History

2020 Purdy’s Private Reserve Calendars

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It is that time to slowly focus on a new year that is quickly approaching. As usual I have put together a 2020 calendar with a wide variety of historic scenes that include Camp Harvey Cookhouse, the Volcano Room of the Hotel Mt. Lassen, the Lassen Monuments, Paul Bunyan Lumber Company, Bly Tunnel inlet, the Sierra Theater to name a few. One has three options to purchase calendars:

1) Locally, you can purchase them at Margie’s Book Nook.

2) You can purchase direct online by clicking  here

3) You can also email me to place your order, and it will be sent with an invoice.

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History

A City Limit/Fire Tale

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Susanville city/fire hall.

Some may recall that in the past I mentioned that the Susanville Fire Department was prohibited from leaving the city limits. The policy was adhered to, no matter what the circumstances. In case you are pondering why, it had to do with insurance rates.

On the evening of March 11, 1935 the Susanville City Council held a special meeting concerning the abandonment of a portion of Cornell Street. This was at the urging of Lassen High School, as part of their program to expand its athletic field between the school buildings and the Susan River. The meeting was interrupted when the fire alarm went off. It should be noted City Hall and its fire department were located in the same building. A brief recess ensued as Harry Riddell, served as City Clerk and Fire Chief. Before the firemen departed, Mayor E.P. Honsberger exclaimed, “Remember boys, the fire truck stays inside the city limits.” The fire was at the north end of Weatherlow Street, outside the city limits and the fire truck did not venture there. It was a house fire, and the building destroyed. The story does not end there. The house was owned by Mayor Honsberger who had it as a rental. When the news was relayed to Honsberger, he exclaimed, “What a life!”

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History

Fair Time in October!

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Lassen County Fair, 1891. Courtesy of Carl Illig

Believe it or not the first Lassen County Fair was held in the third week of October in 1878. It was sponsored by the Lassen County Agricultural Society as a venue to promote a fair to showcase livestock and farm commodities. It was an impressive five-day exposition. It was considered a success, with $2,750 in premiums paid out and receipts that totaled $3,728. The first fairgrounds was located in the vicinity of Grand Avenue and First Streets.

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History

Where are we — the Answer

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October 23, 1941–Courtesy of Hank Martinez

Piute Creek, upper, and Susan River, lower, just prior where the streams enter Susanville. Both canyon corridors had a railroad line at one time, though the Piute line was very brief. Personally, to me, it would have made better sense for the Southern Pacific Railroad to have selected to build its line to Westwood via Piute Creek. After all this would have eliminated the numerous trestles across the Susan River, plus two tunnels and would not had added any significant mileage increase.

Whatever the case may be, the two corridors today are popular with those who enjoy the scenery—whether by walking, running, biking, and horseback, or whatever means to explore nature.

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History

Time Capsules

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Thompson Studio. Courtesy of Frances Wier

On this date, 100 years ago, a discreet cornerstone ceremony was held to commemorate the Thompson Studio building, located at 60 South Lassen Street, Susanville. P.J. Thompson, a photographer was a creative person and his dream come true building was not to be ignored. To mark the special occasion, a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone. It had been twenty plus years since the last time a time capsule was placed with the OddFellows Building, known today as the offices of Susanville Real Estate at the corner of Main and North Lassen Streets. One of the more unusual ones, was the installation of a time capsule in 1939, in the Cone residence in the Fruit Growers District. The last time capsule that I am aware of, was installed in 1973 as part of the cornerstone laying ceremony at Lassen College. To date, as far as I am aware, none have ever been opened.

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History

The Apple Crop of 1891

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View of Richmond Road January 1916 from Winchester Hill. Susanville looking towards McClellands.

Many may not realize that at one time there was a large commercial apple crop being produced in the Honey Lake Valley. Locally, the apple growers benefited when the Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad extended its line into the Honey Lake Valley, thus providing a better access to markets. One of those growers was W.M. McClelland. He estimated that during the 1891 season that 20,000 boxes of Honey Lake apples had been shipped to markets in Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco. McClelland noted that the price received was one dollar for a fifty-pound box. In his opinion, the grower received one-half of that amount. That made for a nice tidy sum back then.

On a final note, in 1882 McClelland purchased sixty-five acres on the south side of the Susan River that was dissected by Richmond Road, the majority of which he planted an apple orchard.

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