From time to time, someone will approach me about buried treasures.  Some stories have been embellished over the years, especially that of Harry Gordier’s gold and the Holden Dick Mine.

Then there are the lesser known tales, which are actually true,and not folklore. In the book Untold Stories, I relate the story of Chauncey Smith, since only a portion of his hidden cache of money was ever found.  There is, of course, the great Westwood bank robbery, that to this day the money has never been recovered. In August, 1926 a portion of Red River’s monthly payroll shipment consisting of $45,000 never made it Westwood from the Reno bank. One theory was the money was stashed along the mountainside between Doyle and Milford. In June 1927, Red River thought they had found thief, in one A.A. Bruce who formerly worked for the railway express offices in Reno and Westwood. Bruce was arrested and his Reno home searched. However, when a preliminary hearing was held in Susanville, Bruce was released from custody as there was insufficient evidence to charge him with the crime. No one was ever charged, and the money never found.

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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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