In 1898, Albert Ross sold his well known Long Valley Ranch to Henry Butters Constantia named. Henry Butters for $15,480. Ross sold the property at a loss. In 1884, he constructed a 17-room mansion there at a cost of $14,000, that many referred to as the White House.*
Butters, then, was the president of the Northern Electric Railroad. It was Butters who christened the place Constantia, named for a city in South Africa noted for its vineyards. Butters transformed the ranch into a small village—complete with a general store, Wells Fargo Office, dwellings for the employees and he had a Catholic Church constructed, St. Mary’s Chapel.[1]
*One of the Ross descendants is none other than famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
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The Shinn Ranch in remote eastern Lassen County is not a place one just happens upon. It has been close to twenty years since I was last there with a film crew doing an episode of Off Road California. I have been curious as to what damage it sustained in the 2013 Rush Fire.
It was in 1870, when fifty-year old Oliver Shinn located there with his family of five children from Baker, Oregon. He remained there until his sudden death in 1883. According to his obituary, “Mr. Shinn was awakened from a sound sleep at about 10 o’clock Thursday night by coughing and upon getting out of bed, dropped dead on the floor. It seems that he troubled an aneurism of the pulmonary artery and in his efforts to clear his throat this was ruptured, causing instant death.” The following year, his widow, Louisa Shinn sold the 640-acre ranch to George D. Winters for at that time a substantial sum of $6,000. The Winters family had extensive holdings, which included the nearby Smoke Creek Ranch.
One of the interesting features found there was a grove of cottonwood trees that encompassed some fifteen acres. The trees were planted by Winters in 1889 in order to increase his property holdings there. On April 3, 1893, Winters was issued a 160-acre land patent that he filed under a section of the Timber Culture Act “to encourage growth of timber on the Western Prairie.”
While Oliver and Louisa Shinn kept a low profile, their children did not. More about that in the near future.
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This time around the posts for this month should appear as scheduled, since I do not have as many challenges getting around as I did in September and October.
The Gift of Local History
11/1/15
Shinn Ranch
11/2/15
Constantia Established
11/3/15
Eagle Lake Biological Field Station
11/4/15
Bieber
11/5/15
Going Places
11/6/15
Knoch Building – The Fire
11/7/15
Susanville – 200 S. Roop St.
11/8/15
Amedee
11/9/15
Desert Homesteaders
11/10/15
Bassett Hot Springs
11/11/15
Susanville Ranch Park, Part I
11/12/15
Susanville Ranch Park, Part II
11/13/15
Johnstonville
11/14/15
Sacco-Sergi Wedding
11/15/15
Soldier Bridge School Conclusion
11/16/15
Mark Haviland
11/17/15
Riverside Hospital
11/18/15
Something Special
11/19/15
Lassen County Cornish
11/20/15
The Other Susanville
11/21/15
Champs Flat
11/22/15
R.J. Scott
11/23/15
Hilt, California
11/24/15
Amedee School
11/25/15
Folsom Ranch Thanksgiving
11/26/15
Susanville Bordellos
11/27/15
High Rock Ranch
11/28/15
Grand Café
11/29/15
December Preview
11/30/15
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This 1931 gathering was held at the home of Blanche & Ike Knoch, frequent hosts of such events. Be sure to click on the photograph for a larger image. Courtesy of Hank Martinez
Back in the 1920s and 1930s certain segments of Susanville’s Society entertained in a variety of formats. While there were numerous card groups to pass the time, others craved something a bit more exciting. These, of course, were costume parties and the themes as varied as the host/hostess.
It is interesting to note that these “freak parties,” as they were called, were quite popular during prohibition and less so afterwards. Whether alcohol refreshments were served, is anyone’s guess, but Susanville residents enjoyed their libations during prohibition.
In any event, maybe there is some creative type who might like to host a freak party in the near future. If you do, be sure to send me an invite. It certainly appears to be enjoyable way to spend an evening versus other entertainment venues available.
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The J.A. Gilman Residence at 1913 Main Street was built in 1898. Today it is the office of Town & Country Real Estate.
Awhile back, when browsing through the Lassen County Times I noticed a local realtor’s display ad that stated the original First Baptist Church located on the corner of Nevada and South Gay Street was built in 1940. This ad appeared again in the October 27 issue, and now provides the correct date of construction of 1913-14.
This got me interested in what other erroneous material realtors have in their listings. According to the online listings 1940 was a banner year for both commercial and residential construction. The listing for 506 Cottage Street, where the Carver family has resided for many decades the realtor states it was built in 1940. However, it was built in 1889 for A.E. DeForest. Further down Cottage at 705, the current home of Iron Horse Gym the realtor states it was built in 1965. For many a seasoned resident can clearly dispute that, as it was built in 1946 for Williams Furniture.
The list goes on and there are some real extreme ones out there. As the old saying goes, “buyer beware.”
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As its name implies it was a real junction. The railroad constructed a spur to the south to Westwood. The Southern Pacific’s real goal was to extend the line north to Klamath Falls, Oregon. It was after all, the Red River Lumber Company’s intent to build several mills, the next one scheduled for near Lookout. By 1917, the Southern Pacific was anxious to extend the line north, but Red River was not ready. The mammoth mill at Westwood was more than it could handle. In the meantime, the Southern Pacific was nervous that its competitor the Western Pacific might extend a branch to Westwood and siphon off traffic, since Southern Pacific’s five-year all inclusive freight deal with Red River was about to expire.
Then came along World War I and that changed everyone’s plan. When the war ended, the nation went into a severe recession, so expansion was off the table for many. Red River kept adding more divisions to its lumber manufacturing plant. In the meantime, the Southern Pacific focused on the troubled Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad, as an alternative route north of Oregon, which it eventually did.
The site, it should be noted, also served as a junction for the railroad logging operations of the Fruit Growers Supply Company and the Lassen Lumber & Box Company.
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Just an update, and it is not my intent to do this as teaser! The text is ready, but I need to photograph two locations, one a grave and the other the oldest house of prostitution still standing. The latter is not where one would think. My ability to get around improves, and if all goes well this weekend, I will have an assistant to photograph the above, plus more, like the original location of Soldier’s Bridge, the 1860 military encampment.
The location of the above photograph has some significance to Susanville’s early brothel history for an event that occurred there in 1908. Stay tuned.
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World War II ushered in a new architectural style, that after the War was adopted by the civilian population.
The two most notables one was the old Naef Electric building in the 1800 block of Main Street. After it closed its doors circa 1977, it has been home to numerous enterprises. In the fall of 1978, it is where the Lassen County Times made its debut.
The other is Poulsen Welding Shop located on Richmond Road and Riverside Drive, and carries with it, an important historic significance.
In the 1930s, Bigelow and Poulsen operated a blacksmith shop at this location, in which Poulsen would take over the business and branching out into welding. On July 11, 1946 a fire destroyed Poulsen’s shop and provided the catalyst for city annexation. The City was unable to respond to the fire as the city limits stopped on the north side of the Susan River, while Poulsen’s was on the south side, and outside the City. Efforts over the years to annex areas to the east of Weatherlow and south of Susan River had failed. The Red River Lumber Company which owned the Milwood subdivision fought efforts for fear of property tax hikes. Residents of the outlying areas wanted services such as fire protection.
Thus, the movement for “unification” was born. On April 8, 1947 a special annexation was approved by the voters. Susanville’s Main Street now extended from Weatherlow to Fairfield Avenue. The City’s land mass quadrupled in size.
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Queen Lena the first, September 24, 1902. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
As promised, here is the story behind the coronation.
On September 24, 1902, Miss Lena Long won a lively contest to be crowned Queen, which was part of the festivities of the first Lassen County Fair to be held in ten years.
The coronation was a highlight of the fair, which began at 10:00 a.m. Queen Lena I and her attendants rode in decorated carriages from South Gay Street to Main and then to the head of Main Street where the new bandstand had been erected. When she arrived at her throne the Lord Mayor, E.V. Spencer performed the Crowning Ceremony. It was reported that, “Queen Lena as she sat on her throne looked the ideal Queen. Her robe, one of the most handsome money could procure, could not have been worn by a more lovely woman. Tall, stately, of the brunette type of beauty, Queen Lena is one of the most handsome of California’s fair daughters and as every one knows, California contains more lovely women than any spot on earth. “
The conclusion of the coronation was followed by a street parade. In the evening a reception and dance was held at the Emerson in honor of Queen Lena.
Lena later married Fred D. Hall and spent most of her life on their ranch near Standish. She passed away in Susanville in 1946.
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Only two structures were built on this lot. The first was the residence built in the mid-1870s, and that structure stands today at 250 South Roop Street.
In the 1920s saw the invasion of chain stores to Susanville. They were met with mixed reaction. No matter what your opinion they were here to stay.
In 1939 the residence was moved to its current location to 250 South Roop Street. It was replaced with the current structure which when completed housed Susanville’s first Western Auto. Business was so good it had to move to larger quarters on Main Street. Since then it has a few different occupants. For many years, it was the office of Dr. C.I. Burnett. It was also the dentist office of Dr. Frank Packwood. In 1979 for a brief period it was the home of the Lassen County Times. Since then it has been the office of Carol Curry, CPA.
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