Category Archives: History

History

Clinton Walker’s Correspondence

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Westwood, 1931

When Red River Lumber Company moved to California, its founder T.B. Walker, intention that this was to be his five sons operation: Gilbert, Willis, Clinton, Fletcher and Archie. Clinton, was at odds with his brother’s handling the affairs, and left the company in 1913, but was brought back into the fold during the company’s financial crisis of the 1930s.  The Minnesota Historical Society has a large collection of the company records and from time to time I will share some excerpts from the letters between the family members that provides some interesting insight in how the company operated. Continue reading Clinton Walker’s Correspondence →

History

Milford Creamery Update

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Lakeshore Creamery, Milford, 1903

Last month, I lost a dear friend David Wemple (1931-2017). While a contemporary of my mother, I had known David for forty years. The truth be known, I was probably still wearing diapers when I started researching.

Two years ago, I asked David, the story behind the Milford Creamery’s demise and he wrote:  “The main trouble with the creamery was too many bosses and too few laborers. They had to put a lot of money into both buildings, the creamery and the milking shed, that they built. This milking shed may still be standing. It could be that Joe, their father, helped monetarily with the venture. Anyway, the short of it is, the brothers simply didn’t get along that well. My great grandfather, Joseph C. Wemple was, according to Dad, [Claude Wemple] was generous to a fault and John, the oldest son told Dad on one occasion that it was not uncommon for Joe to have in excess of $10,000.00 in cash in his house. This was money from the flour mill located in Milford. I remember these mill stones. They were eventually broken up with a sledge hammer to rock up a spring with.”

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History

Fairfield’s Pioneer History of Lassen County

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As mentioned in yesterday’s post about Asa M. Fairfield, his epic tome on the early history of Lassen County was released in 1916. It is not the easiest read in the world. However, for the researcher and/or genealogist it is a true gem. Fairfield in his Forward states he did not begin his history until 1909, though he does also mention listening to the old timers while growing up. I mention this as he does cite several people who passed on way before 1909. Yet, there are people who have remarkable memories. I knew one such person, Philip S. Hall, who not only listened to all the banter around him growing up, but retained.

Fairfield’s History has been reprinted several times. It is still available and can be purchased locally at Margie’s Book Nook.

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History

The Mural Tour

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One of the panels on the LMUD building. December 26, 2016

It was my intention to conduct a Susanville Mural Tour today. However, due to other time constraints I have not had ample time to assemble the program. As I have previously mentioned that the tour not only gives background on each mural, but the building in which they adorn. For example, there is a bit of irony with the Purity Grocery mural on the LMUD building, since that building was constructed in 1940 for Safeway, Purity’s competitor. My goal now is sometime in July.

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History

Eagle Lake Cabins

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R.F. Pray’s Eagle Lake cabin. Courtesy of Wyn Wachhorst

While I have focused a lot on the Gallatins, there were a few other cabins built at the south shore of Eagle Lake, on the handful parcels the Gallatins did not own.  For the record, it should be duly noted that the Gallatins at one time gave consideration of providing cabin sites on a lease basis, but that never transpired. Continue reading Eagle Lake Cabins →

History

A Cornerstone Story

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W.H. Weeks rendering of the new high school.

With a lot of pomp and ceremony the local Masonic Lodge featured prominently in the laying of the cornerstone of the new Lassen County High School building on September 23, 1905. When the high school was formed it held its classes in the Susanville Grammar School, later renamed Washington. In 1904, the trustees purchased the Main Street campus for $2,000. The next step was to build the school. In July 1905, the Granite Rock Company was awarded to build the landmark building at a cost of $25,670. It was designed by W.H. Weeks of Watsonville, California.  Placed in the cornerstone were copies of Lassen Advocate, Lassen Weekly Mail, Big Valley Gazette, Programme of the Day, List of Town Trustees, Copy of Red Book, List of County Officers, and Rays from the Purple. Whether the cornerstone was saved when the school was torn down in 1968, is not known.

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History

A City is Born

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Susanville, 1938. Courtesy of Hank Martinez

On August 15, 1900 the voters inside proposed boundaries of Susanville voted to incorporate as a municipality.  Its status was regarded as a “Town.” In the spring of 1940, the citizens submitted a petition to change from “Town” to “City.” which the council obliged.

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History

Lost Gold Nuggets

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Spoonville Creamery
Moving the Spoonville Creamery building to the Mulroney Ranch and in this field some nuggets were found.

Subscribers may recall the post about Chicken Nuggets. There was one particular instant when gold nuggets surfaced in a field near Spoonville. It is also a tale of lost treasure, but many of those tales are based on fiction, whereas the following has some real substance.

One November morning in 1877 one of John Dunn’s daughters, (some say Arminta and others Mary) followed their father who had just plowed a field near the old location of Spoonville. The little girl picked what she thought was a piece of brass and on her way back home, tossed it aside. She mentioned this to her folks and they went back and retraced her steps and found the specimen. It turned out to be a 13 ounce gold nugget worth $220. The next day neighbors began examining the field, and more nuggets were found, but not as large as the first one. It was believed that the gold belonged to the Frenchman Henry Gordier who was murdered in 1858. There are some under the impression that there is more gold to be found, and others still search for clues as to where the gold came from.

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