In 1929, some one had high hopes for Wendel. Nearly sixty years later, some one in Germany thought it had occurred. At that time I had received a call about wanting to know the nearest international airport was for Wendel. In addition, what kind of accommodations were available and did Wendel have a Holiday Inn Hotel. Alas, I had to explain to Armin deWendel current state of affairs. Armin’s interest in Wendel was due to the fact it was named after his family who were investors in the NCO Railroad. Needless to say, after I sent him some photographs of the town, his interest to visit the place went by the wayside.
The proposed Lassen Shopping CenterIn February 1976, L & H International Development of Alameda announced plans to construct a new shopping center, to be known as Lassen, at the east end of Susanville on land located between Main Street and Fair Drive. At that time the property was occupied by Susanville Auto Wreckers and Langslet Mobile Homes. One of the biggest hurdles in the project was the acquisition of a small segment of the Paul Bunyan Logging Road. When the shopping center opened, its anchor store was Holiday Market. The Round Table Pizza Parlor is only business that has remained since the Lassen Shopping Center opened.
Leonard Clark was one of those interesting Never Sweats who went on to live a very colorful life. Clark was born in 1907 in British Columbia, but was raised in the Honey Lake Valley, as his mother was a member of the pioneer Brubeck-Grass-Litch families of the same place. After he graduated from Lassen High School in 1925, he was struck with wanderlust. By the early 1930s he had explored Asia extensively and wrote his first book, A Wanderer Until I Die. The book published in 1937, as one review began, “Aviator, soldier of fortune, mountain climber this young American has adventure in his blood. From tiger and python hunting in China, treasure hunting in Malaysia . . .” The following year he married Jean Wingfield, daughter of Nevada tycoon George Wingfield.
Because of his vast knowledge and contacts in China and Mongolia, during the early stages of World War II, he was recruited by the American OSS, the forerunner of today’s CIA to conduct espionage and guerrilla warfare in those two countries. After the war, he continued with his adventures and now focused on South America. In 1952, his most popular book, The Rivers Ran East was published, which is his account for the search of the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola in the Peruvian Andes. It was also in South America where he met his demise. On May 4, 1957, Clark drowned in the Caroni River, Venezuela while on a diamond mine expedition.
The site of the original McKissick Ranch on the Madeline Plains.
The desert homesteaders of eastern Lassen County encountered numerous problems in their quest to make their land there productive. One unassuming predator they had to deal with was the rabbit. In 1920, the residents of the Madeline Plains requested aid from their Congressman, John E. Raker, to help them with this particular problem. A study sent to Raker reported: “As soon as the crops are up and making good progress the rabbits begin work on them. The heaviest damage is done during August. One rancher reported losing 100 acres of wheat last summer. They take this crop in preference to oats and rye. It was reported that 70 tons of rabbit meat [to make tamales] had been shipped last season to the San Francisco market. It appears that the animals cannot be killed fast enough in this region to furnish relief to the ranches.”
In 1976, the Lassen Advocate had a feature article on the development of the youth camp.
It is officially known as the Lassen County Youth Camp, but its location on the east shore of Eagle Lake and just north of Chico State Biological Field Station, it received the unofficial lake moniker. On November 6, 1962, the County of Lassen received a land patent from the Bureau of Land Management to establish the camp. By 1965, various fund raising drives began and work was done with volunteer labor. In 1974 a restroom and shower facility was completed. It should be noted that a portion of that money came from left over funds from the Save Our Center campaign, which was the result when the state had intentions to close down the California Correctional Center at Susanville. In 1976, the kitchen and dining hall was constructed.
The Lassen Flouring Mill, 1901. Courtesy of the A.J. Mathews family.
In spring of 1863, Dr. John Briceland of Cow Creek, Shasta County had a problem. The stream which his flour mill was located had begun to erode the foundation. He made an agreement with P.W. Cunningham and Fred Johnson to relocate the mill, or rather the equipment. For their efforts they received one-half ownership. They found a new location for their enterprise at Johnstonville in the Honey Lake Valley. The mill was located along the Susan River, which was needed for power. They built two small reservoirs and at night they would dam the river and fill the ponds. The two ponds held enough water to power the mill until the next night.
During the late 1860s through the early 1870s, mill changed hands numerous times. In 1875, William H. Hall and Henry Snyder took possession and would operate it for thirty plus years. In 1907, Snyder sold his interest in the mill to Hall, as he desired to retire and move to a warmer climate. Shortly thereafter the mill closed and would remain idle for nearly a decade. In 1919, it was sold to M.A. Taylor of Oakland who dismantled it and took the machinery to the San Francisco Bay area. It should be noted that Standish resident, Sam Alexander purchased some of the lumber that he used to build a barn at his place. Finally, for the record the mill was located at the site of the Gables.
Main Street, Susanville, 1885. Courtesy of Betty Barry DealWhile searching for information on Dry Valley, Nevada, I came across my earthquake file, while looking for my East Lassen file. Anyhow, I came across this article from the Susanville correspondent to the Reno Evening Gazette, dateline February 6, 1885.
“Real estate in Honey Lake Valley for the past week has been decidedly shaky, and when things are to get settled down to a firm and reliable basis it is hard to determine. Since last Friday night there have been no doubt at least 50 shocks of earthquakes felt in the valley. Today something like a dozen have been felt here in town. One at seven o’clock this morning was quite lively. The shocks seem to be more frequent and harder around Janesville. It is a well established fact that below Buntingville, crossing the Epley Ranch, is a place that “sounds hollow” when being crossed and at intervals rumbling sounds are heard traveling along this place. The sounds seem to come from the mountains to the west and travel toward the lake. Horses when plowing over this place have become frightened at the sounds beneath their feet. This has been repeated for years. The occurrence of so many earthquakes in this locality seems remarkable and how ad when they will cease seems to be a hard conundrum to answer just now.
“Not the earthquakes alone but the weather is phenomenal. Yesterday the thermometer reached 68 degrees in the shade, while for a week or more there has been no frosts at night. Last night and today we had quite heavy showers of rain and the snow is fast disappearing from the mountains.”
The intersection of Cottage and Lassen Streets, January 2005.Today’s post will be rather brief, since so many folks attention is focused on a singular event. Why, I do not understand all the hype that goes with that. Anyhow, if you recall last Sunday, I wrote about snow berms and Main Street. This is just one of those tidbits to leave behind a record when the City of Susanville changed their snow removal policy. It was the winter of 2004-05 was the last year the city plowed the snow to the center of street creating berms. The current practice is to plow the snow to the gutter. While the streets maybe clear, it is a challenge to reach the sidewalk without injury.
Fairview School District Map, 1910.In January 1910, east side residents of Honey Lake petitioned for the formation of a school. They cited that there were twenty-seven eligible students in the proposed district. The nearest school was at Amedee, and the majority of the petitioners resided some 12 miles distance. However, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors did not approve the new school until November. The residents built a schoolhouse in the center of the district, since there were no towns in the area. That would suddenly change with Calneva Station established by the Western Pacific Railroad and Stacy on the Southern Pacific. In 1915, Calneva experienced a boom of sorts, and separated from Fairview to form the Fort Sage School. Fairview continued on even as the population dwindled and in 1936 the school closed for a lack of students.
Early day Ravendale. Courtesy of Dorothy CapezzoliShould you happen to find yourself on the Madeline Plains today stop by the Ravendale Post Office and say hello to Nancy Rendel, Postmaster. On this date in 1910 the post office was established with William B. Edwards as its first postmaster. Times were tough on the Madeline Plains during World War I which depopulated the region. The Ravendale Post Office closed on November 15, 1920, though with good fortune it re-opened on May 19, 1921.
