Lassen National Forest Service Supervisor, A. G. Brenneis, penned several different articles about the region.  He wrote whether earthquakes could have effect on lake levels  Today, we focus on an article he wrote about the origin of  Hogs Flat and why it was so named that was published in the California Ranger, August 1938: “Many years ago the residents of Honey Lake Valley joined together to start the Susan River Irrigation District and, as a first step, began the construction of the dams at the present sites of Hog Flat and McCoy Flat Reservoirs. The first winter this country received heavy storms and as a result the dam at Hog Flat was destroyed. The entire meadow, which should have been a lake was covered with a rank growth of vegetation and in order to salvage something from the reservoir, the farmers of the district banded together, placed a huge herd of hogs on the meadow, fattened them, and made some money to repay them for the loss of the dam. Ever since then the reservoir has carried its name of Hog Flat.”

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Lassen County has over 1,000 topographical features whether it be a spring, flat or mountain. Most of these features are unknown by the public at large. Researching those places presented a challenge such as today’s featured topic Jesus Spring. Since this spring is located on the west side of Fort Sage Mountains.  I turned to my trusty source Phil Hall who was born at Constantia in 1909 and was a Long Valley resident until 1974. According to Phil, this spring  was named for a Spaniard who lived at Dry Valley. He built a hand hewn pine water trough at the spring. For many years the spring was referred to as “Kasuth” or “Casuth” spring. When the Taylor Grazing Act in 1937 (now known as the Bureau of Land Management)  was established, the local officials of that agency thought the name must be Jesus in Spanish and so they named it Jesus Spring.

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There were a lot variables, some stage routes had a short life span. For example, there were several different routes to Surprise Valley from the Susanvile. Time would be a factor when one route was feasible over another.

Time could also be a factor how a stage stop evolved or just went by the wayside. Case in the point was the Antelope Station, located Long Valley across the county line in Sierra.  It was established in the mid-1860s by Jonathon  C. Roberts. In 1873, Roberts sold to David F. Evans and for many years it was known as the Evans Ranch. In 1882, when the Nevada-California-Oregon (NCO) constructed its railroad there, they established a station named Oneida, for the Sierra County Township of Oneida. On June 6, 1889, a post office was established there named Purdy—for Solomon Purdy who came to Sierra County in 1852, from Oneida, New York and eventually sold to David F. Evans. In 1891, the Purdy Post Office was moved to a site known today as Bordertown. Travelers of U.S. Highway 395 between 1931 and 1976 will know the location of the old Antelope Station as the first site of the California Agricultural Inspection “Bug” Station.

Tim

In the late spring of 1916, two men, Clarence Williams and Dan McClane set off on horseback on a prospecting trip. It does not appear on the face that remarkable, until you examine the ages of two men–Williams, 36 and McClane 101. That is correct a hundred year old man prospecting on horseback. The duo left the Williams Ranch in Willow Creek Valley, now owned by Five Dot and first ventured to look at the abandoned mines of adjacent Round Valley. From there they went all the way to the top of Green’s Peak looking for the fabled “Grabel’s hole.” The Grabel was a rich lode, that falls into the category of the lost mine tales.  They then ventured down to Rongstock Canyon, back up and over to Papoose Meadows and numerous crooks and crannies along the way. Then back over Gallatin Peak and back to Willow Creek Valley. In all, Williams estimated they traveled nearly forty miles that day. McClane it should be noted came to Lassen County in 1872, where he mined there for over forty years.

McClane’s advice for longevity, “Don’t worry about anything, don’t think about getting old, eat plenty of food, but not too much, take regular sleep four times a week and work like the devil at all times.” McClane died at the age of 105 in 1920.

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When the Lucerne School District was established in 1916, it was a turning point of the future of small rural school districts in Lassen County. The homestead era was in its waning stage, coupled with good roads and the automobile were principal reasons of shift in education. This was a small district, territory wise, sandwiched in between Long Valley to the south and Bird Flat to the north.It should be noted that a school house was built three miles north of Doyle. In 1925, the school was closed due to lack of students.  At that time the Board of Supervisors authorized the sale of the building—asking price $50. But no buyers came forward. The school house was destroyed in a August 1926 forest fire that also destroyed the ranches of Arent, Downing and Wagner.

Tim

One business endeavor that was slow to take off was creameries. First there was a shortage of skilled laborers to operate one, It was also hampered by a lack of dairy cows. This did not deter the Wemple brothers of Milford to establish the Lakeshore Creamery. A substantial amount money was invested in the buildings and machinery. One family member stated that the brothers’ father, Joseph C. Wemple (1830-1921) that  subsidized it. This was a short lived operation that operated from 1903-04. As David Wemple stated about the venture was too many bosses between the brothers and no one to do the work.

Tim

Since it is an Election Day, I thought some might be interested Peter Gerig’s Application to Serve as Election Officer. Pete was first elected as a Lassen County Board of Supervisor in 1920. He ran every four years through 1944. He retired at the end of his term in 1948.

Tim

Pearson Massacre was conflict between the Pearson family and the Paiutes. In occurred in 1868, to the southeast of Amedee Hot Springs. You can read more about it here.

It was a mystery to me why the  site appeared on old maps. In normal instances there would be a sign or marker indicating such. Recently, Dan Dragan wrote: “I graduated from Herlong High School in 1965. I remember riding my Honda Super Cub along the east side of Honey Lake toward the hot springs and the old site of Amadee. I came across an old, battered sign that, as I recall said “site of Pearson Indian Massacre.” I wonder if it is still there.” After numerous searches I can safely say that it is no longer there.

In 1985, Clara Osborne wrote to me that about an old monument on her property indicating the Pearson Massacre.  Her property was located to the west of Stacy. She did grant me permission to enter her property to locate the same, but alas I never did. It just goes to show you never what surfaces.

Tim