Category Archives: History

History

Bartlett Said, A Vagabond’s Journey

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Said Valley Reservoir, 1921. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner
Said Valley Reservoir, 1921. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

Approximately some 40 miles north of Susanville, along Highway 139, there lies a small, non-descript place known as Said Valley, or when there is water Said Valley Reservoir, the latter was actually good fishing when it retained water.

It was named for Bartlett Said, somewhat of a free spirit in his day. Born 1813 in Kentucky, Said with his family migrated to Placerville, California in 1850. From there they moved to Rich Bar, Plumas County. His wife, Mary, not fond of her husband, disposed of him. Bartlett, then took solace with his daughter’s family Nancy Jones, who operated Summit House in eastern Plumas County.

One of the reasons for Saids wonderlust was mining. When news circulated about the discovery of gold in northern Lassen County, Said went to check it out. He located in the northern extreme of Grasshopper Valley, that in time became known as Said Valley.  After several years, he ventured over to Horse Lake.  From there his prospecting adventures took him to Long Valley, in Lassen County, where various relations resided.

Said, like so many others, struggled to make a living at mining. In 1896, the family had the elderly patriarch committed to the Lassen County Hospital, which also served as a poor folks and old folks home. He died there in 1904, and lies buried in the Susanville Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

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History

Barry Reservoir

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Barry Reservoir from Skyline Drive, February 13, 2016.
Barry Reservoir from Skyline Drive, February 13, 2016.

Some people may and others may not know the name of this reservoir, which as rule goes dry by the end of summer. After all, it is an intermittent stream as its source of water. In 1902, Mary Jane Hall claimed rights to the stream, that is since known as Barry Creek, and had a small reservoir constructed at the site of the current one. In 1909, Mardis Barry purchased the property from Hall. The enlarged reservoir was constructed in the fall of 1940. It was the first such project of its kind in Lassen County that was constructed with funding from the United States Farm Security Administration.

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History

Pioneer Barbershop

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Pioneer Barber Shop 1903
The Pioneer Barbership, 1903. Pictured left to right: Harry Williams, owner of the Pioneer, Jake Cohn, Sam Dotson, barber, George Armstrong, the customer, Dr. W.E. Dozier, Fred Kingsbury and Frank Lane, bartender of the Pioneer. Courtesy of Joe Molter

For over a century a barbershop went hand-in-hand with the Pioneer Saloon.  Times change, the old fashioned barbershop is bordering upon extinction.

In Susanville, there is still Fred’s Barbershop at 20 North Lassen Street. It is a place that I not only patronize, but also stopped by from time to time to discuss the weather and any other topic that suits our fancy. Fred Borghi,  has been doing business there since October 1958, a local institution.

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History

Westwood’s Paint Job?

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Fifth Street, Westwood, 1923
Fifth Street, Westwood, 1923

Company towns as a rule were a drab affair and Westwood was of no exception. After all paint cost money, and it was not a necessary expense.

In the 1930s, the Red River Lumber Company was in a major financial crisis.  When 1940 arrived, and not a moment to soon,  discussion of modernization of the lumber plant  was in earnest. It was not only their plans to make substantial upgrades to the plant, but the town, too. These improvements were necessary if they wanted to sell its operation, though not all family members of Red River’s Board of Directors were in agreement. However, the majority wanted to sell Westwood and get out from under it, so they were willing to figure out to make the improvements under the financial duress they were under.

The unpainted residential district did not help matters in making the place look nice for prospective buyers. It needed sprucing up. One item discussed was to paint the houses. Clinton Walker, a family board member, was against the proposal unless the rents were raised to cover the costs.

While, the concept was shot down, it was also discussed to sale the houses and lots to employees for cash, the value would be the equivalent of four years rent. There would be one deed restriction, that the houses could only be used for residential purposes. Should someone attempt a business in a home the company would have the right to repossess it.

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History

Skedaddle Creek

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Skedaddle Creek, 1922. Carl R. Caudle Collection
Skedaddle Creek, 1922. Carl R. Caudle Collection

This is an interesting stream which has a small drainage area of 32.1 square miles. In times of very wet years, it can be a raging to torrent. There were several proposals to dam the creek, which will be explored in a future column.

Skedaddle Dam, 1992. Courtesy of Ginger Martinez
Skedaddle Dam, 1992. Courtesy of Ginger Martinez

In 1994, the abandoned Skedaddle dam found a new use. It was used as tee-off for an unusual golf tournament. The one-hole course ended at Chalk Bluffs.  This is one those tales, that needs no further details, but a good time was had by all.

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History

Lake School – Then and Now

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Lake School
Lake School, 1886

Built in 1877, the second story was used as a hall for the Independent Order of Good Templars. In 1935, Francis Wilbur, a local carpenter, was hired to remove the second story from the school. In 1971, the school closed and annexed to Janesville. In 1975, the Janesville District declared the Lake School as surplus property and it was deeded to George and Jane Bailey. The schoolhouse has since been converted into a private residence.

Lake School as a private residence, February 7, 2016.
Lake School as a private residence, February 7, 2016.

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History

W.N. Davis, Jr.

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While I am not an autograph hound, I do seek those whose work I admire.
While I am not an autograph hound, I do seek those whose work I admire.

One astute subscriber wanted to know more about Mr. Davis. Hardly, a household name around these parts, but he made major contribution to the early history of Lassen and Modoc Counties. After receiving his teaching degree in 1938, his first job was Bieber High School. He boarded with the Jack family and was fascinated by their and others accounts of the history. After all, Davis graduated from Fresno with a degree in history. During his short stay in Bieber he penned articles about the history of the region in the Big Valley Gazette, which would be the foundation for his thesis. It was published in 1974, but covered the early history of both Lassen and Modoc.

Davis would later have a long career with the California State Archives. I first met him back in the late 1970s, when he appeared in the Lassen County Clerk’s Office. The county archives stored in metal canisters, and in one instance, he pulled one out which gashed his forehead. Not an event he wanted to be remembered for, but we laughed about the incident for many years.

His research was meticulous. When he released paper that Susan River was not named for the town’s founder, but another Susan prior to Roop’s arrival—the Defenders of Roop—our version of a wackodoodle militia group similar to the recent Bundy Malheur Refuge group, were not pleased with Davis. Blasphemy they thought.

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History

Susanville’s Loafer’s Society

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Susanville's Gem Saloon, circa 1905. B.R. Zimmerman Collection
Susanville’s Gem Saloon, circa 1905. B.R. Zimmerman Collection

In the annals of Susanville’s history, it has witnessed a wide variety of fraternal and social organizations. One of the more unusual and short-lived was the Loafer’s Society.

Organized in 1878, the Society recruited men to sacrifice themselves for the good of the community, to consumer all the intoxicating beverages, so as to prevent others from falling prey to demon rum and other concoctions. They also distributed themselves about the entrances of churches and other public gatherings to provide examples to the young not to follow in their foot steps.

The Loafer’s Society only membership requirements were for men of good immoral character, an easy flow of profane and vulgar language and a large capacity for whiskey. They also, only met on Sundays.

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History

David Rosas

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The grave of David Rosas, Westwood Cemetery, 2013.
The grave of David Rosas, Westwood Cemetery, 2013.

Just as Red River Lumber Company’s large manufacturing plant, its millpond was larger than average. Actually it was huge, it had a surface area of nearly 320 acres, though some segments were not used too much, certain areas being to shallow. In contrast, McCloud’s millpond was only eight acres and Fruit Growers was 20 acres.

This odd man made lake could be hazardous to one’s health. During the early years, swimming was common, as well as fishing. Of course, small children were attracted to the water, and that is the story of seven-year-old David Rosas of Old Town. Several of his companions were playing in the water on July 4, 1928, when David ventured out too far, and the depth of the water changed dramatically. He, nor his companions knew how to swim. His friends went to get help, and when help arrived it was too late. The grieving family buried him later that day.

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