Lassen Volcanic National Park has a complex early history. Of course, funding was a barrier. Nearly a decade after the park’s inception, progress was made. Since the park was  virgin territory,  planners, such as George Goodwin, Civil Engineer of the National Park Service had a grandiose plans. There was a problem which I labeled it the three “S” dilemma. Many of key attractions inside the park boundary were privately owned, i.e. – Sifford of Drakesbad; Snell of Juniper Lake and Supan the Sulphur Works.

Access to the park was extremely limited. There were three stub roads-Drakesbad, Juniper Lake and the Sulphur Works. Goodwin initially proposed a highway through the entire park, that would also encompass the three private properties. It was noble idea, but it had a major flaw. The road development of the three “S” properties would increase their values making difficult for the park to acquire them.

There was a silver lining. Goodwin had negotiated with the Supan family and was able to secure of right-of-away through their property for one-dollar. Back to the drawing board for a park road.  It was a scaled back  grandiose plan from Goodwin. The route would be a north/south venue. The highlights were access to Lassen Peak and Bumpass Hell. It should be noted before the Park’s Highway, the easiest way to access Bumpass Hell and Lassen Peak was via Drakesbad where one had to pay to entrance fee.

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Last fall, the Los Angeles Times asked its readers who they would like to have dinner with a famous or infamous Californian, whether dead or alive. I contemplated that question but on a local level of a Lassenite. I was in a contemplative state for long time. So many interesting individuals to choose from. I strolled various cemeteries for inspiration. Roop or Lassen was not on even the radar due to fact their lives were cut short, and so their association was only for a short span.

The runner-up was Jules Alexander. In certain ways, one could say that Jules and Susanville grew up together. This plucky Frenchmen was only seventeen years old when he came to Susanville in May of 1877. He went to work as a clerk for Greehn & Asher one of the larger mercantile stores in town. He would follow this trade for decades to come. Jules was a member of Susanville Jewish community, so he could provide with an insight. He married Rae Knoch, daughter of David Knoch, a prominent Susanville merchant. In 1892, Jules and his brother-in-law, formed Alexander & Knoch and took over David Knoch’s business.

With the prosperous times approaching with the Fernley & Lassen Railroad Alexander & Knoch wanted to expand their horizons. At the end of 1911 the store was turned over to Alexander’s two sons-in-law, Jess Worley and Emil Fehr. In 1912, Jules and Ike formed the Lassen Industrial Bank and in 1922 constructed the former iconic building at the corner of Main and North Gay Streets., that was known as Bank of America. From that vantage point, the bank, known for its liberal loan policies, believed in Leon Bly’s enterprise to tap Eagle Lake for irrigation. The bank loaned a substantial amount of money to the farmers involved, only to see many of the bankrupt, and nearly caused the bank’s failure.

Prior to the banking business, Jules had become involved other business enterprises. For fifteen years he owned a ranch at Horse Lake. He was a director/investor in the California & Oregon Telegraph Company, the Susanville Creamery and later the Lassen Townsite Company, the former remains the largest Susanville subdivision.

Jules was a firm believer in civic engagement and pride. Just one example, of his many contributions was the placement of a new Lassen Monument, as the original one had been neglected all these years. In the fall of 1916, Jules launched a campaign to correct it and with a new monument. In September 1917, Jules hard fundraising work paid off and the new Lassen Monument was dedicated. Jules was certainly a multi-faceted individual.

In a few days, I will reveal my special interest. In the meantime, I encourage readers to chime in.

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Awhile ago, we explored the topic of recipe of desert boomtown, i.e. Amedee.  Boomtowns are fascinating creatures, no two are alike. While Amedee’s heyday peaked in 1892. its downward spiral was slow. The country’s financial panic of 1893  was front and center. The regional reclamation projects had over extended credit and were forced into bankruptcy. Along the same lines, the nations railroads over expanded, and in 1893, and new railroad construction in the mid-1890s was kept to a minimum.

There was silver lining for Amedee about the railroad’s doldrums. The NCO Railway had no financial means to extend its line beyond Amedee, thus, the town had a major draw of the railroad’s terminus. In 1899, that came to an end as NCO extended its line north to the Madeline Plains.  At Amedee’s height it had a population to between 300 to 400. In 1900 the population dwindled to 49.  In 1905 the Amedee School closed for a  lack of students. There was a hope on on the horizon, and Amedee would go through a revival.

Tim