Category Archives: History

Susanville – A Celery Capital?

June 8, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Produce exhibit Lassen County Fair, 1926.

With the impending arrival of the Fernley & Lassen Railroad in the early 1910s, there were a lot of promotional materials produced to extol the virtues of the region. In a 1909, Sunset booklet, it noted that Susanville could be a major player in celery production. They cited one case of Frederick Borgwardt, a Susanville resident, who planted a small plot of thirty by fifty feet with choice variety of celery, from which he gathered eight hundred bunches. When you consider that this plot could be contained a hundred and thirty-five times in an acre, and that the celery sold at five cents a bunch right in Susanville, the profit may be readily seen.

As a friendly reminder, tomorrow is the beginning of Susanville’s Farmer’s Market for the season. Hope to see you there!

History

Rice Canyon, Lassen County

June 7, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Today, I am out for a little adventure to Rice Canyon and Fort Sage Mountain, and all points inbetween. Many folks may not realize that the route through Rice Canyon, was the main road north leaving Honey Lake Valley. All the equipment and machinery used in the construction of the Bly Tunnel at Eagle Lake came this route. It was not until 1947, when the current Antelope Grade on what would eventually become Highway 139 was completed. By the way, it was named for Ed Rice who settled near there in 1857. The best known resident back in the day was the family of Charlie Piute whose family cemetery is located near there.

History

The Lassen County Seat Question

June 5, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Lassen County Courthouse and Hall of Records, 1907. Courtesy of Gil Morrill

This being Election Day, I thought I pass along some local election folklore. One of which that at one time, Hayden Hill was in contention to become the county seat. Only once was there was some rumbling of moving the county seat from Susanville. In 1893, after the town’s business district was destroyed by fire, there was some talk to relocate the county seat to Amedee.

In 1864, when the election was held to organize Lassen County, the county seat question was on the ballot—Janesville or Susanville. That was a tricky election and it took some time to count the ballots. After all, the county had a polling precinct at Fort Crook (Shasta County) and one for all of Surprise Valley (Siskiyou County). Those votes were finally rejected and Susanville won the county seat by seventy-one votes.

History

Juniper Lake

June 3, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

A follow up on yesterday’s topic of exploring if you have not visited Juniper Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, you might want to add it your list. The road is a bit rough, but worth the drive. The lake covers 592 acres and is the largest lake in the park. In the 1870s, it was originally designated Lake Louise, but along the way it became known as Juniper. As remote as it is, it does have an interesting history, especially with the antics of C.P. Snell and his varied attempts to develop a resort. Snell had purchased 475 acres there, and it was not until the 1950s when the park acquired the property.

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History

Eagle Lake Nessie

June 1, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Native American mythology of the western Great Basin has that a serpent lurks in the waters of the various lakes, whether it be Eagle, Pyramid or Tahoe. Some versions assert the lakes are connected by underground channel, and this is why sightings of the serpent are rare as the serpent is constantly traveling from lake to lake.

According to the Lassen Advocate of August 13, 1976: “Suspicions of a possible Loch Ness monster in Eagle Lake were aroused Tuesday, Aug. 10, at about dusk when a group of people apparently saw a mysterious creature twice surface near the Eagle Lake marina. According to Gene Moore of Hemet, California who was fishing from shore, it looked like a 15 to 20 foot creature that almost looked like a big eel.

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History

Memorial Day

May 30, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

The grave of Daniel Cramer, who was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg.

How Memorial Day is celebrated locally has changed over the years. In the early 1900s, a service was held at the Methodist Church. Then a procession led by school children, followed by members of the Benton Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (Union Civil War veterans). At the cemetery the children would assist in the decorating graves. Actually, it was the G.A.R. that started the movement to decorate graves and for many decades it was known as Decoration Day.

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History

It can happen anywhere

May 29, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Fruit Growers log train, Pine Creek Valley, 1940.

“Dishes rattled, stove pipes were disjointed, cabinets and beds danced to a merry tune Sunday night [March 9, 1930]” from an earthquake according to the reported call of the caretaker at Camp 7 of the Fruit Growers Supply Company. Camp 7, it should be duly noted was located at Bridge Creek Springs, located between McCoy Flat Reservoir and Pine Creek Valley.

The whole region is earthquake country, though not as volatile as other places, one never knows where they may occur.

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History

Uniform Holiday Act

May 28, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Say What? In 1968 this Act was approved by Congress which moved certain holidays from when traditionally observed, to a Monday to create three-day weekends. One of the victims was Memorial Day in my opinion. Prior to this everyone observed Memorial Day on May 30, with the ritual of going to the cemeteries placing flowers, etc. Over time, people began to spread out going to the cemeteries over a three week period, if it all. And that is my two-cents worth!

History

Those Little Things

May 27, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

One just never knows what will rise to the surface. This brass marker was used to indicate the room number at the Amedee Hotel. The hotel had twenty-seven guest rooms, a bar and billiard room, two dining rooms and two kitchens. The expansive second floor balcony afforded not only views of the Honey Lake Valley, but that of Lassen Peak.

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History

Loomis Museum

May 24, 2018 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

In 1914-15, B.F. Loomis became a widely known photographer for his stunning photographs of the Lassen Peak volcanic eruptions. Loomis was fortunate since he operated a hotel at nearby Viola, a short distance from the peak. Loomis would become an ardent supporter of Lassen Volcanic National Park. In 1926, Loomis purchased 40-acres near Reflection Lake, which at that time was not inside the park. In 1927, he built a museum of native stone and reinforced concrete. The museum served two purposes. One, it allowed him to showcase his famed photographic collection of the Lassen Peak eruptions, previously on display at his hotel at Viola. The second it served as a memorial to his only child Louise Mae, who died in 1920. In 1929, he donated the property to the park, which in turn the park gave him a life estate to the museum property. So if you find yourself at the north end of the park, stop by and check out the museum.

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