Category Archives: History

Susanville’s Browntown

December 27, 2015 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

This plot of land today is Lassen High's Arnold Field. In 1916, when this photograph was taken it was part of Lassen High's Agricultural Department. Originally, this was part of Browntown — This plot of land today is Lassen High’s Arnold Field. In 1916, when this photograph was taken it was part of Lassen High’s Agricultural Department. Originally, this was part of Browntown

In 1860, Zenas J. Brown (1812-1895), a pharmacist, received the nickname of Dr. Eight Square when he constructed an octagonal building in Susanville. Brown, in the scheme of things is known for a lot of things. In 1861, Brown created Susanville’s first subdivision, located in the vicinity of Lassen High School and aptly named Browntown. More importantly he credited with the planting of the area’s first orchard of apple and peach trees. In 1863, one of Brown’s peach trees produced the area’s first peach crop —four peaches devoured by Susan Roop and Mrs. C.W. Fuller. In the fall of 1864, Brown sold his subdivision and left the region.

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History

High Rock Springs

December 26, 2015 Tim Purdy 1 Comment

These springs in eastern Honey Lake Valley and near the Nevada border are quite unique. They are an ancient spring dating back to the time when the area was covered by Lake Lahontan in the Pleistocene epoch.

The second reason is it is a warm water spring with a constant temperature of 86F. The springs supports two kinds of fish. First is the Lahontan tui chubs. This, of course, is rather remarkable that the fish have adapted over the years to thrive in constant warm water in a confined space. Water from the spring then goes underground and re-surfaces 100 yards distant, maintaining a constant cooler temperature at 76F. At this point, again,which is also unusual, is found the Lahontan speckle dace.

It should be noted that in the 1920s, William Dicting was hired by the Jenkins to develop the springs. He spent eight years to hand drill through the rock to develop the water tunnel to increase water flow.

A portion of the tunnel outlet of High Rock Springs. April, 1975

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History

Christmas Trees

December 25, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Christmas, 1917, in the Swain home, better known today as the Susanville Elks Lodge. Pictured are the Swain Children: Fitzhugh, Nellie, Blanche and Frances. Courtesy of Frances Swain

Christmas trees had a slow start around these parts. During the 1860s and 1870s the Susanville Methodist Church would put up a community Christmas tree. By 1900, the area no longer a pioneer outpost and with more prosperous times some of the local populous would adorn their home with a tree.

After World War II Christmas trees became a regular holiday adornment in most homes. It also started to become big business. In 1950, Fruit Growers Supply Company implemented a Christmas tree farming lease program. In 1966, they sold over 70,000 Christmas trees for just over $100,000. Between 1950 and 1996 Fruit Growers sold 1,422,158 Christmas trees at an average price of $1.51 per tree.

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History

Main Street – Then & Now

December 24, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Looking east on Main Street, from Lassen High School, 1908.

Back in June I wrote about A Main Street Problem that involved filling in the gully area of Piute Creek. Since that time, I came across the above photograph, as the original post was taken on the knoll looking west. In an attempt to show the difference on Thanksgiving Day 2015 I took the below image for comparisons sake. For safety reasons, and my mobility a bit limited, I did not take the view from the center of the street for comparisons purposes. However, the 1908 photograph was taken in front of the high school, and I did the same.

Main Street, Susanville. November 26, 2015

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History

Honey Lake Heaven

December 23, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

The first wave of Honey Lake pioneer retirees, which has something in common with those “snow birds” of today who flock to warmer climes such as Arizona for the winter, also sought the same.

By the early 1900s, Honey Lake’s grey hair crowd flocked to Pacific Grove on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Why the attraction? Methodism. Pacific Grove was founded as a Methodist retreat. By 1900, the Methodist Church was the predominat religion of the Honey Lake Valley, with churches at Janesville, Johnstonville, Standish and Susanville.

With so many old timers taking up residence there, some seasonal and some year round, Pacific Grove was dubbed “Honey Lake Heaven,” their last journey in life. Yet, it was not exclusive to the older crowd, as members of the DeWitt and Spoon families to name a few, found Pacific Grove more appealing than the Honey Lake Valley and raised their families there.

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History

Winter Solstice

December 22, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Arnold Planing Mill, Richmond Road, Susanville, 1913. B.R. Zimmerman collection.

Today brings a smile to face, for it marks at least one turning point of the winter season, even though it takes a few weeks to actually see it progress. One of the things I dread about winter are the short daylight hours and now knowing that the pendulum will start working its way to bring more daylight. Actually, for those serious folks, on December 15, the sunset locally not starts to get later, by a minute on that date. However, the sunrise keeps getting later, and does not reverse the trend until January 9.

Around these parts, historically the coldest and snowiest months are just ahead in January and February. Nearly all the record breaking snowfalls occur in mid-January. For those interested in forthcoming storms and especially the snow conditions I recommend The Tahoe Daily Snow. On a final note, most forecasters call for the first El Nino storms to begin sometime in the week of January 11.

Finally, those interested in Eagle Lake conditions can see the web cam at Spauldings here.

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History

Soldier’s Bridge Military Camp

December 21, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Susan River, near the Soldier Bridge military site. November 19, 2015

During the late 1850s and early 1860s residents of the Honey Lake Valley requested military presence for their protection with the conflicts with the Indians. Most of the times, their requests were ignored. However, when Horace Adams was killed by the Indians on June 18, 1860, at Honey Lake Valley, this time their requested was granted. Continue reading Soldier’s Bridge Military Camp →

History

Susanville Roundhouse

December 17, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

The Southern Pacific Roundhouse, Susanville, 1947. G. Dunscomb Collection

Yes, I must confess my ignorance on this topic. This railroad’s roundhouse is unique in the sense it was isolated. It was not something a person would drive by, and it went relatively unnoticed unless you worked for the railroad or was involved with the nearby lumber mills.

Equally, puzzling is the rarity of photographs of trains along the Fernley & Lassen line. What makes that peculiar when one takes into consideration the large amount of tonnage shipped. During its existence, I would safely estimate some three billion board feet of manufactured lumber was shipped across these rails, that with the exception of the rails left at the Susanville Depot are all gone.

If anyone has information that they would like to share about the roundhouse, it would be greatly appeciated.

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History

Swamp Angel

December 16, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

No this has nothing to done with some foul, slimy creature crawling out of a lagoon. There are a lot of localized place names that over the years have been forgotten and abandoned. One example is Murphy field, where Bob Murphy and Finn Barry after graduating from college tried their hand at farming in 1916. It did not take long for Finn to give up the farm and went on to become an attorney. Continue reading Swamp Angel →

History

Susanville’s Thompson’s Photography Studio

December 15, 2015 Tim Purdy 3 Comments

Thompson Studio, 1921. Courtesy of Frances Wier

It has been awhile since I wrote about the professional photographers of the area who left a valuable historical record behind.

In September 1912, Peter Julian “Jack” Thompson announced he was going to relocate his photography studio from Loyalton, which had been in operation there for ten years, to Susanville. However, due to some delays he did not open for business here until February 1913. Continue reading Susanville’s Thompson’s Photography Studio →