Category Archives: History

History

Those Pesky Cemetery Issues

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John A. Slater’s grave. Janesville Cemetery, November 19, 2015

It is the merry month of May, and it means many things to many people. For me it is Memorial Day month. When I was growing up in the day it was a  big family gathering. After we cleaned the family plots, place flowers in the Diamond Crest, Janesville, Lassen and Susanville cemeteries the family adjourned for sit down lunch in Pinto Room in Hotel Mt. Lassen.

While those days are. long gone, over the years I have worked in the various cemeteries. I researched the property titles when Lassen County acquired them and have assisted with countless people navigating cemetery plots,  assist with inurnments etc. Needless to say there are individuals who think I am in the charge of the Lassen County cemeteries. I am not. That responsibility is the Lassen County Public Works Department. However, I still receive calls and I assist when I can.

I do have an assortment of cemetery stories. One in particular is a stand out. This happened twenty years ago, when I was working in the Janesville Cemetery. A couple approached me, since I knew by their look they were confused and lost. They were lost. When I inquired whose grave they were looking for, I explained that person was buried in the Lassen Cemetery and gave them approximate location of where that was grave was located. Upon leaving, the woman exclaimed, “Why don’t they bury people in alphabetical order?”

History

Susanville, 1880

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The intersection of Main and Gay Streets, Susanville, 1878

In 1880, Edward W. Hayden, a newspaper man arrived in Susanville, and worked for the Lassen Advocate. He would eventually own the newspaper in 1892 and sold it 1921. In 1927, he wrote some memoirs about what Susanville was like in 1880. There were two observations that peaked my interest. One was the water tank on Main Street, that there is very little documentation. The other has me befuddle and may be readers can assist. My interpretation according to Hayden was that there was a bandstand on Inspiration Point. At that time, the locals just called it the bluff and it was not named Inspiration until 1918.

Hayden wrote: “In the center of the intersection of Main and Gay Streets was a water tank four feet high about as wide and eight or ten feet long., a lofty flag pole at is western end. [The flag pole was erected in 1861 by Union sympathizers.]

“Two private residences were in the space between Roop and Pine Streets and the space occupied by the Elk’s Home was vacant. There was a rudely constructed stairway leading up to the bluff to a band stand high above the town.”

Tim

History

The Legacy of James Bagwell

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Bagwell’s Coroner’s Verdict

If you reside in northwest Susanville and you turn on the water faucet for drink of water, its source Bagwell Springs. That is good thing, as it is pure spring water. It was not until 1935, that it was tapped for domestic water supply.

So who was Bagwell that is spring named, which is located north of Susanville Ranch Park, one may ponder.A  native of Missouri, James Washington Bagwell (1835-1898) came to Lassen County in 1871. He eventually settled on a 160-acre homestead, north of Susanville, and a portion is now Susanville Ranch Park. Bagwell made a living working odd jobs, primarily selling firewood. In 1893, he sold his homestead for $300. Bagwell moved into Susanville where he was employed as the Lassen Courthouse janitor, earning $20 a month, until his death in 1898. He committed suicide from an overdose of strychnine. Bagwell was known for his interesting wit. In one instance he spoke of the stray horses grazing on the Courthouse lawn, “They got to go, if they continue to browse much longer, they will be applying admission to the bar.”

On a final note, it was not until 1901 when W.B. Long claimed rights to this spring that he designated as Bagwell.

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History

Lassen College Turns 100!

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Lassen Union High School & Lassen Junior College

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Lassen Junior College Initially, it was a separate department of Lassen Union High School and classes were held at the high school. In 1941, a separate facility was created. In 1946, with increased enrollment a new college building was built to the west of the high school. In 1965, the college separated from the high school to be known as Lassen Community College. In 1970, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the initial construction of the current campus on Highway 139. Each week will explore the many facets of its history.

Tim

P.S. – If you have a Lassen College story to share, please by all means to do so, to preserve its history.

 

History

The Northern Maidu

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Big Meadows Maidu Camp, 1887. Courtesy of the National Park Service

As I slowly compile a list of books pertaining to regional Native Americans this is my first recommendation. The Northern Maidu by Marie Potts. Marie (1895-1978) was born at Big Meadows, now Lake Almanor, Plumas County. She recounts her childhood and the ways of the Northern Maidu. I highly recommend this slim volume.

In 2022, KQED published an article about Marie’s life. You can read it here

While the Northern Maidu is out of print, it is widely available at used book outlets. Personally, I use Bookbinder.com.

History, News

A Preview

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Cover of the Hotel Mt. Lassen Brochure, 1981

Yesterday’s feature was Go Exploring. Today’s illustration is the cover a 1981 brochure of Susanville’s Hotel Mt. Lassen. It is standard chamber of commerce propaganda. There is usual description of Lassen County weather. It was the last sentence on that topic that caught my attention: “Although the surface is dry, the porous volcanic rock which underlies much of the county contains many underground streams, which feed lakes and rivers.”

Thanks to the late Francis “Fritz” Riddell, a well known archeologist,  we have an account of an underground stream and a bonus a petroglyph story as well. I am working on the finish touches so it should appear next week.

Tim

History

The NCO’s Slow Demise

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One of many NCO wrecks

The Nevada-California-Oregon Railway, the nation’s longest narrow gauge railroad of the 20th century had an illustrious history, depending on your viewpoint. From 1884 to 1925, the NCO was owned by the Moran family, New York bankers. Originating from Reno, Nevada its goal was the final destination  to The Dalles, Oregon on the Columbia River. It took the railroad 32 years just enter in Oregon, at Lakeview, the southern portion of that state, and  it did not go any farther. In 1914, the new general manager, Ramsey Cox,  remained optimistic of the NCO’s future and times were good. It did not last long. Three years later, the NCO sold a 63 mile segment from Hackstaff  (Herlong) to Reno to the Western Pacific.

In 1921, the NCO attempted to abandon  the railroad, but State Railroad Commission did not approve it. The NCO  limped along, as its 159 mile railroad went from to nowhere to nowhere. Eventually, the NCO had a suitor in the name of Southern Pacific Railroad  On April 30, 1925,  an agreement was reached wherein the Southern Pacific acquired the NCO. It was not publicly disclosed as to the purchase, price. It was noted the transfer included stocks and bonds, but again no valuation. It was not until 1926, the Southern Pacific gained physical control of the NCO. In 1927, the railroad bed was converted to standard gauge, and the narrow gauge railroad was officially over. However, the Moran’s operated the NCO as a shell company and it finally ceased in the fall of 1929.

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P.S. I did locate the Agreement of Sale between the NCO & Southern Pacific and will provide that information in forthcoming post.

History

Tuesday Tidbit – Caudle Homestead

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Caudle Famiily. Seated Alfred and Mary Caudle. Standing Carl, Mamie and Marvin Caudle Taken at Mamie Caudle’s homestead, June 1912.

In 1906, Marvin Caudle located on a homestead some ten miles east of Amedee. In time, his parents, brother and sister would locate there. This later became known as the community of Stacy. All five family members are buried in the nearby Honey Lake Cemetery.

Tim

History

Before the Round Up Room

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St. Francis Hotel, circa 1919. Courtesy of Art Almeda

For years, before the St. Francis was shuttered, the Round Up Room, the hotel’s bar, was a popular gathering place. When St. Francis opened it was denied a liquor license to operate a bar.

In the spring of 1914, St. Francis Hotel opened. Gus Steinhauser was hired as the manager. He applied for a liquor license from the City of Susanville. It did not go well. At the City of Council meeting of April 28, 1914, it  was the first item on the agenda. Councilman Emerson made the motion to deny the license. Councilman Rankin seconded it and the application was denied.

The protest began. First was Isaac Knoch, followed by Steinhauser. Bot the gentleman stated a hotel bar was not your typical saloon. Steinhauser stated it would not pay him to open a dining room if he could not serve guests wines or liquors with the diner’s meals. It was an exercise in futility. At the conclusion, Councilman Rankin suggested to amend the liquor license ordinance to be limited to seven, and when those licenses lapsed, they could not be renewed. Eventually, the St. Francis prevailed and the liquor license issued.

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History

The Approaching Lassen College Centennial

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Lassen College campus adjacent to Highway 139 under construction

Over the next few weeks we will explore some Lassen  College’s history as in May the institution will observe its centennial. Of course there will be features  such as gunsmithing, forestry, Paul Bunyan Days, Willard Hill and groundbreaking for the new campus.

My family has had a long association with the college. My great aunt Olive Farwell Murrer was a member of the first graduating class of 1927. My Aunt Irene Bengoa Purdy Trout was a Lassen College graduate and later was elected a college board trustee. In the mid-1980s I taught a course in Research Techniques in Local History at the college. I also served on the college board from 2011-2020.

If you have a Lassen College story to share let me know.

Tim