Category Archives: History

History

Roop’s Fort for sale

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Roop's Fort
Roop’s Fort, 1940s

The 1930s were a financially difficult time for Med Arnold, the grandson of the town’s founder, Isaac Roop. In a desperate need of funds, on October 8, 1936, Arnold put Roop’s iconic landmark up for sale. This in turn spurred a grass roots campaign movement to raise funds.  In May 1937, the City of Susanville purchased it. When the Shasta-Cascade Wonderland Association held its 1937 convention that fall in Susanville, one of its highlights of the meeting was the dedication ceremony of the landmark, with California Governor F.F. Merriam as the guest speaker. In 1974, Roop’s Fort was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.

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History

Honey Lake Oranges

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Wemple’s Pumpkin Patch

In the early 1890s, real estate promoters at Amedee proclaimed the region ideally suited for citrus trees. Of course, there were a lot of skeptics.

In 1911, Standish resident Frank McKay came up with a new marketing campaign to make one of this crops stand out from the others. McKay offered for sale Honey Lake oranges. As it turned out the large orange orbs he had for sale, were in fact the standard pumpkin.

This being the month of October, means Wemple’s Pumpkin Patch at Milford is open. So if you are out and about that way, it is worth the stop.

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History

Janesville School Sold

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Janesville School, circa 1911.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s witnessed numerous changes with the Lassen County schools. Not only there were numerous consolidation of school districts, but a lot of new schools were constructed then.  In 1948, the voters of the Janesville School District approved a bond measure for a new school and it was approved. On November 3, 1951, Al Row, with his high bid of $380, purchased the old schoolhouse and he moved it to his property.  However, the school trustees donated the old bronze bell that adorned the schoolhouse to the Janesville Fire Department.

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History

Lassen County, Nevada

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Honey Lake Valley, 1952

While there has always been a lot of talk over the years of dividing up California, there is lesser known movement of annexing parts of California to Nevada. This, of course, is much more realistic than splitting the Golden State.

In 1907, Nevada took the lead to attempt to annex Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Lassen and Modoc Counties. Measures in support of the annexation passed in both the Nevada Assembly and Senate.  It was their contention that the residents of those counties desired annexation to Nevada. In addition, they were tied to Nevada, geographicaly, socialy and politicaly, while they were ignored by California. Nevada requested that California allow the voters in the affected counties to vote on the annexation question. California said no.

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History

Purity Grocery Store

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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.

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History

Another Big Tree

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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.

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History

The Toonerville Trolley

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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.

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History

Mattie Jackson Ives

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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.

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History

Bizz Johnson Trail

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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.

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History

Typewriter Sale!

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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.

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