Fratneral organizations once social fabric of many communities, both large and small have been waning. In Susanville, it came as shock to many residents that iconic Elks Lodge that has graced the west end of Susanville will be up for sale. A dwindling membership, maintenance costs  among other things  is cited for cause.

Way before the Elks organization, initial property ownership of this prime property is rather vague. It also happens, record wise, the earliest land transaction of Chinese in Lassen County.  On September 14, 1864  Chew Henry sold this lot in Susanville to fellow countryman Hoa for $266. How Chew Henry acquired it, is not known. Ditto, how Hoa disposed it.. In November 1865, Shong Lee sold it to Isaac Roop for $150. Eventually, Sarah Hosselkus bought the property. On March 22, 1884 she sold the lot J.G. Leonard for $450. Leonard in turn commissioned the structure that we know of Elks Lodge today.

Tim

Yesterday, we explored the history of the Spalding Drug Company. When Spalding Drug closed it went through various ownerships and occupants. Looks can be deceiving, yet the building straddles separate property lots. Long time residents will recall that the former Spalding Drug was replaced with The Bootery. On east side, the smaller parcel was occupied by The Smart Shop.

Anyhow, its hard to believe how time quickly marches on. It was on this date, twenty years ago, that this building was destroyed by fire. It could have devastating for me. I had moved out of the second floor  of the building only seven months before the fire. My photographic archives were stored there.

Today, it still remains a vacant lot. There have been proposals, even at least to turn it green space, but as I understand it, the property owners are unwilling to sale.

Tim

Seasoned residents of the area will have fond memories of a one time iconic local institution the Spalding Drug Company. .It was established in 1865, by Zetus N. Spalding and his brother-in-law, A.C.Neale. Spalding was the pharmacist and Neale tended store and its customers.  The partnership did not last long and two years Spalding bought out Neale. In 1886, Spalding formed another partnership with his son, John Bridger Spalding who was only 19 years old.  In the 1890s, John B. to give the business a more cosmopolitan flair, he renamed it the City Pharmacy. In 1898, Zetus Spalding died an accidental drowning while fishing the Susan River. John B. restored name to the Spalding Drug Company.

In 1906, J.B. Williams commenced work on a native stone building for his jewelry business. Spalding by coincidence was Williams neighbor. Spalding became intrigued and joined forces with Williams for construction of two-story native stone building to house both of their respective businesses.

Among other changes was in 1912,  when Spalding entered into partnership with his son, Wright and E.E. Bourne. In 1930, the Spaldings bought out Bourne. John B. Spalding passed away in 1934 and then store his operated by Wright’s family-his wife Ruth and son John. In 1967, the Spalding Drug Company closed its doors after a century in business. 

This, of course, is a brief outline. For an example, many will have fond memories of the soda fountain.

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I have addressed this unique property on the west end of Susanville’s Main Street, just below the Elk’s Lodge. While reviewing the Lassen Advocate of May 22, 1914, I came across this tidbit:

“J.A. Adams is circulating a petition for making of what he calls a ‘park’ at the head of Main Street in front of the J. Henry Swain’s residence, where the wagon-ways branch to north and west. A bit of landscape gardening in the triangle at that point might prove to be attractive, but those who remember the old bandstand abuses of twenty or more years ago, will doubt the merit of the proposal, as the town  can not afford to hire  a caretaker at present.”

Tim