Category Archives: History

History

Purity Grocery Store

1 Comment
Purity’s advertisement for February, 1935

In the early 1920s, chain stores slowly started making inroads at Susanville, though some thought them to be a menace. One of the first grocery chains was Purity, and they opened in the Star Hotel building on the northeast corner of Main and Gay Streets. In the summer of 1938, they purchased a vacant lot on the northeast corner of Cottage and Lassen Streets and shortly thereafter constructed a store, which the building still exists. Purity closed its Susanville store in the mid-1960s, and Food Lane took over the location. Food Lane lasted nearly a decade and then it closed. Taking its place was Chicago Title Company, who several years ago vacated the building and relocated to the east end of Susanville.

Subscribe

History

Another Big Tree

Leave a comment
The Plumas Champ.

Some may find this of interest. The forest service of yore, would occassionally release information concerning the discovery of extra-ordinary large trees. In 1974, John Bell, Engineer, came across a ponderosa pine deemed a National Champion. The tree located on the Oroville Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. The statistics: Height 223 feet; Circumference 23 feet, 11 inches and an Average Crown Spread of 68 feet. The American Forestry Association computed a total of 527 points. The previous record was on the Sierra National Forest with a score of 516 points.

Subscribe

History

The Toonerville Trolley

Leave a comment
1926 American Legion Convention delegates arriving at the Susanville Depot. Courtesy of Nellygrace Stoll.

Susanville’s Lassen Mail newspaper dubbed the Southern Pacific’s passenger train the “Toonerville Trolley.” The Mail was quick to report that the train “crawls in and out of Susanville.” One of the problem’s that plagued the railroad, especially on the Nevada segment was the train encountered stray livestock, thus causing a delay in its regular schedule. In 1933, that would not be a problem when the Southern Pacific abandoned passenger train service on its Fernley & Lassen Railroad, a move that upset a lot of people, and, of course, the Lassen Mail.

Subscribe

History

Mattie Jackson Ives

1 Comment
Mattie Jackson Ives

We do not know much about Mattie Jackson Ives. A Maidu, she was born circa 1878 in Susanville, the daughter of Sam Jackson and Chief Daughter. In 1900 she married Pete Ives and spent the majority of her life on the family ranch in Willow Creek Valley.  She died there on September 2, 1932 and is buried at the Indian Cemetery near the family home. What is remarkable and very rare is that she went to a professional photographer in the early 1890s  to have her picture taken.

Subscribe

History

Bizz Johnson Trail

Leave a comment
Susan River Canyon, 1920. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

Often just referred to as the “Bizz,” is a thirty-mile recreational trail that was converted from the abandoned Fernley & Lassen Railroad between Susanville and Westwood. There were a number of hurdles along the way, one which was to secure federal funding.  Name it after a well known congressman, would do the trick. In1983, Congress designated it as the Bizz Johnson Trail in recognition of Northern California Congressman Harold T. “Bizz” Johnson who served in the House of Representatives from 1958 to 1980. This an excellent time to enjoy the trail and the fall colors.

Subscribe

History

Typewriter Sale!

Leave a comment
Lassen Advocate advertisement, September 29, 1976

I could not pass up this 1976 advertisement from the Lassen Advocate. A year ago a colleague stopped by and visited the archive room. He snickered that I still use  a typewriter in this day and age of computers. However, it should also be noted that I do a bulk of my writing in long hand. After all, when the power goes off, I can still keep working. Finally, when I transcribe my handwritten material, it gives me an opportunity to do my first edit.

It should be duty noted that Carl and Catherine Cobel established Cobel’s Stationers in 1949. In 1976 they sold to Don Ashley and Jack Helsel, and things went south after that. The location today is that of Susanville Real Estate.

Subscribe

 

History

Little Valley School

1 Comment
Little Valley School, 1916.

In 1900, there were over seventy rural schools and post offices scattered throughout Lassen County. Little Valley, located south of Big Valley, was of no exception. Its school district was established in 1885, and in 1926, due to a decline in population the school was abolished. In 1929, Mary Gassaway purchased the abandoned schoolhouse from Lassen County for $75. What is rather peculiar the Little Valley Post Office was not established until 1948.

Subscribe

History

Shaffer Mountain, Lassen County

Leave a comment
Looking up towards the top on the east flank of the mountain. June 13, 2018

On September 8, 1862,  the Shaffer Brothers—James and Uriah- purchased George W. Lathrop’s 1,280-acre ranch and station, that he established in 1859, for $4,250.  The station did a brisk business as a major stop on the Nobles Trail/Humboldt Road. However, trade dropped off dramatically with the construction of the transcontinental railroad to the south.  In 1868, in conjunction with a depressed economy, the Shaffer Brothers were forced to file bankruptcy. The property was auctioned and purchased by their brother-in-law, Daniel Samis, for $5,347.  A month later, on May 19, 1868, Samis sold the property to Thomas J. French and Andrew Litch for $2,500, a substantial loss for Samis. Even though there stay in Lassen County was brief, the mountain that they resided near its base is named for them.

It should be noted that the location of the ranch and station is that of Mapes Ranch, east of Litchfield. In addition, the California Division of Forestry had a lookout on top of the mountain from 1931 to 1949.

Subscribe

History

The Big Tree – A Follow Up

1 Comment
The record load of 26,860 board feet being unloaded at the Fruit Growers millpond, Susanville, August 21, 1953. Courtesy of Hank Martinez

Yesterday, it was noted that the massive sugar pine tree felled by the Red River Lumber Company contained 27,570 board feet. To gain a better understanding, the above photograph is a massive truck load of logs being unloaded at Fruit Grower’s Susanville millpond that contained 26,860 board feet!

A question was raised about timber fallers. A good timber faller can determine precisely where the tree will fall. Well, a not so good faller, is another tale. I recall in one instance working in the woods with my Dad. My father gave the faller instruction as to where a particular tree was to land. Needless to say, it did not happen and some one was not happy with the final result.

Subscribe