They say patience is a virtue, so I must be virtuous. For over twenty years I had been patiently waiting to access some of the local Masonic lodge records. Well, the wait paid off. One of the treasures was an old album of various Masons, who each in their own way had an impact on the area, as well as their descendants. Take for instance Morris Asher, whose family still has a major influence in Hollywood. His grandson, William Asher either directed or produced and sometimes both, such TV classics as “I Love Lucy” and “Bewitched.” From time to time we be exploring these Masons.

Many a former county official or courthouse employee holds a belief that the courthouse is haunted. This is especially true when one of those individuals work in the building on weekends. I can safely attest, one does hear a lot of strange noises during such occasion. I am not sure if this attributed to Fred Brunhouse. Brunhouse came to Lassen County in the early 1890s as a school teacher. In 1914, he was elected Lassen County Superintendent of Schools. In the fall of 1917, he began to have health problems, that was taking a toll on him mentally, as well as physically. At noon, on March 13, 1918, when the courthouse is usually vacant for lunch, he shot himself twice in his office. It was not until two hours later when County Surveyor Thad McKay found Brunhouse’s body. Brunhouse left a detailed note with instructions to carry on the operations of the Superintendent of Schools, as well as his personal affairs.

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This mountain, for those not familiar is located a short distance northeast of Westwood. In 1864, David Johnson (1815-1904), who was better known as “Peg leg”, came to California. While en-route to the Sacramento Valley, his wife, Martha, aged 35, died on October 12, 1864, at Devils Corral, Lassen County. Johnson transported her body to Mountain Meadows where he buried her, which is known as the small cemetery at the 101 Ranch.

Peg leg was known as an old time mountain man who spent his summers in this region and wintered with his family at Red Bluff. In March 1903, his son, John W. Johnson was granted guardianship of Peg leg, who had been declared insane by the Court. Peg leg had two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Howard and Mrs. Mary Heckle. John had filed a request to sell the Mountain Meadows property for $800. The sisters contested the sale, as they cited the land was worth at least $1,400. The court approved John’s petition. Peg leg’s property was sold to W.C. Lucas and J.A. Virden for $800. On April 5, 1904, David “Peg Leg” Johnson died at the Napa Asylum for the Insane. His family brought his remains to Mountain Meadows in June and interred them next to his wife, Martha, and their twenty-nine year old son, Ralph, who died in 1884.

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The Lassen County Courthouse dedication was not the only event to occur at the same time. For over a year, Susanville resident, Jules Alexander spear headed a fundraising drive for a new Peter Lassen’s Monument. The day before the courthouse ceremony several hundred people gathered at Peter Lassen’s grave. When the attendees arrived the new granite marker was draped in a large American flag. A supposed relation of Lassen’s, Mrs. May Lassen, who it was said was the wife of Lassen’s nephew, did the unveiling. This was followed by the obligatory speeches of local dignitaries.

Robert M. Cook, of the Lassen Weekly Mail wrote that more was needed to be done with the new monument: “The location is one of great scenic beauty and it is hoped that it can be made an official cemetery and thus secure the care of the county in keeping the grounds in first-class condition. There is no fund at present for this purpose and it will be a shame to allow the beautiful stone that has been erected to become the center of unkempt and neglected grounds.”

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