Guess what folks, there are a lot of things that I do not know. Every day is a new learning experience, or at least it should be. Now, with that aside, I know absolutely nothing about the former establishment known as The Gables, located near Johnstonville. It should noted, Johnstonville Road, was Highway 36 at the same time. The property recently sold and there is a sign in the window, CM Cottages. Anyhow, if someone can enlighten me about when it was built or the some of the owners that would be appreciated.
It amazes me at times, how early some remote places were settled. Take for instance the Drakesbad Guest Ranch in Lassen Volcanic National Park. In 1874, a sheepman, Thomas Malgin located there to establish a summer camp. The following year, by taking advantage of Hot Springs Creekm he built a bathhouse. While it was rather primitive, it was available free to the public. When time permitted Malgin provided guide service to nearby points of interest. In 1880, Malgin abandoned the property. In 1885, E.R. Drake took possession of Malgin’s claim. Drake was not aware, that back property taxes were due and in 1887 Quincy resident F.B. Whiting bought the eighty acres there in a delinquent tax sale for $8.11. The following year, Drake purchased it from Whiting for $50 and the foundation was in place for the development of the property.
The dairy industry played an important role in the region’s history. After all, before grocery stores and transportation, one needed to be self sufficient. In the late 1800s, butter was a major product. For example, A.L. Tunison who resided in Willow Creek Valley wrote in his diary: October 21, 1880 – Started for Oroville with 3200# of butter.
Virginia City, Nevada during its boom times was another big market. It was not until the late 1890s, that saw the development of creameries. Then by the early 1920s, with a huge population increase in Lassen County caused the establishment of the large lumber mills, saw the establishment of numerous dairies to produce milk. In future posts I will be exploring the history of those dairies. Of course, if you happen to have knowledge of any of these, I would like to hear from you, as very little has been documented on this topic.
The Round Barn, Little Valley, Lassen County, prior to it being moved to Fall River Mills. Courtesy of Tom Glunt
Little Valley tucked away in the northwest section of Lassen County was first settled in 1870. In 1916, R.L. “Bob” Johnson constructed the area’s most notable landmark, referred to as the “Round Barn.” Johnson needed a structure where he could train horses during the winter months, as they were in great demand in World War I. Over the years, the elements, etc., took a toll on the building. By 2004, the Fort Crook Historical Society had started a movement to relocate the barn to their museum complex at Fall River Mills. It was a slow process, but they succeeded, and is now restored to its glory.
Cone Lake is situated in far western Lassen County, next to the Caribou Wilderness. In 1850, Joseph Spencer Cone (1822-1894), a native of Ohio, came to California, arriving in Tehama County in 1857. Originally, Cone was a cattle rancher who sold beef to the Nome Lacke Indian Reservation. When that enterprise failed, Cone turned to raising sheep and continued with that endeavor for the remainder of his life. In the early 1870s, Cone, like of many Tehama outfits, incorporated western Lassen County for grazing stock during the summer. It took nine days for the Cone outfit to herd some 20,000 head of sheep from Paynes Creek, Tehama County to Harvey Valley, Lassen County. At the time of his death, Cone owned nearly 100,000 acres of land—4,636 of these acres were located in Lassen County. The Lassen County property remained in family ownership until November 10, 1934, when Marie Cone sold to the Lyon Cattle Company. Marie Cone had disposed of some parcels earlier to the Red River Lumber Company. One of Cone’s legacies was his impact on the geographical names of western Lassen County. Cone’s many sheep herders filed rights to strategic springs and grazing lands—Logan Mountain, Pat Morris Spring, Norvell Flat and Puls Camp, to name a few.
Back in April, quite a few readers responded about items they wanted to learn more about. One topic was Lake Lahontan. Now, you are probably wondering why today’s featured photograph has anything to do with an ancient inland sea. Some 10,000 years ago, the lake was at its peak, then slowly began to recede leaving such remnant lakes as Honey and Pyramid. Had Susanville’s Elk Lodge existed back then, it would have been lakefront property.
When Lassen Peak came to life as an active volcano in the spring of 1914, it brought an avalanche of curisoity seekers to examine the mountain. At this time, the peak fell under the jurisdiction of the forest service. Attempts to discourage climbers were fruitless, after all there was only one ranger for the vast territory. What was rather remarkable there was one serious injury from a climber during a volcanic blast.
The photograph is a little bit deceptive, since the lake went dry or as one of my companions on this excursion, noted someone must have pulled the plug. It was named for a prominent Tehama sheepman of the 19th century. There is also a mountain and spring in western Lassen County that bears his name.
With the passing of former Nevada Governor and U.S. Senator, Paul Laxalt on Monday August 6, 2018, many may not realize that family is part of the heritage of the Madeline Plains. Dominique was the youngest of the three Laxalt brothers who had various interactions on the Madeline Plains. Unlike his brothers, Dominique was a true tramp sheepman (though many today use the term itinerant instead of tramp). Dominique would take his band of sheep and move them place to place in search of feed and water. Other Basque sheepman, like his brother, Pete, eventually acquired a home place. During World War I when sheep and wool price went soaring, Dominique and fellow Basque sheepman, Pete Etchecopar formed a partnership. It was during this time when Dominique married Therese Alphetche in Reno, where he moved. In the early 1920s, when wool prices crashed Dominique, Therese and their infant son, Paul, returned to the Madeline Plains. While residing there, the second son, was born, Robert, who became the well known author of Sweet Promised Land. Things did not work out well on the Madeline Plains and Dominique moved his family to Carson City, and started a new chapter in his life.
John Hamlin was a frequent visitor to the Lonkey Ranch, known today as Five Dot in Willow Creek Valley. Of course, it should be noted that he was a brother to Georgianna Lonkey. Hamlin was a writer and his stays in the area provided him with lots of material for several novels. In 1925, Beloved Acres was published about the saga of the Hill Ranch in Willow Creek Valley, though he renamed it Clover Valley, after all it is a work of fiction. He published two other works borrowing on the local color namely Desert Dancer and Range Rivals.
