For some thing a bit different some tales of my earlier days when I did lot of dumpster diving to salvage historical records from destruction. This involved both private and public records.

In 1984, Milford resident David Ross called me and stated he had a box of old books and photographs and wanted to know if I was interested. Of course, I paid Dave a visit, as one just never knows what treasures might exist. There were a few interesting items, and some well I tossed. I was intrigued with an old leather brand book that I had never seen before. Years later, I was working on a project with Alvin McClane of Desert Research Institute on a past and present photographic survey at Eagle Lake. He happened to spot the brand book on my bookshelf, and informed me that it was very rare and very valuable.

In another instance, in 1985 I received a telephone call from Fred Lendman, a forester for the Paul Bunyan Lumber Company in Anderson, Shasta County. Fred stated the company was going to toss a portfolio of some 300 8×10 photographs of that company when it was located in Susanville during 1940s and 1950s.. Needless to say, I quickly made arrangements and off to Anderson I went.

One now has a little glimpse as to how I have but together a unique archive collection of the region. More tales to follow.

Tim

On this date in 1850, California became the  thirty-first state to enter the union of the United States. Alas, it goes largely ignored. It used to be a state holiday, so schools, city, county and state offices were closed in observance. Today, that is no longer the case. In the  late 1970s or possibly 1980 there was a holiday switcheroo. Labor organizations lobbied and instead of having a paid holiday on Admission Day, they traded that date for the day after Thanksgiving. So a piece of trivia history, that depending on one’s age knew this, but if you are the younger set, now you know.

Tim

Today, Saturday September 7, 2024 there will be a celebration of life for Charles “Chuck” Dickens in Washington. While I am unable to attend, I will be thinking of him. Chuck left a lasting legacy to Lassen Union High School where he graduated in 1950. Some of his surviving classmates are Verna (Fraley) Wemple and Bernice (Taylor) Hagata.

I met Chuck at the Lassen Alumni picnic in 2005. We shared a common goal–we wanted to do something special for the centennial Lassen High graduating Class of 2007. A plan was hatched. We would locate and digitize every yearbook dating back to 1904. The  Class of 2007 would receive the final product on a DVD

It was a daunting task, since the high school never kept a set. My main task was to locate them, wherein Chuck did the “heavy lifting” of scanning. In the Acknowledgements we thanked those who shared their yearbooks. There was a subset group that really never received the praise they deserved. For Chuck it was truly a family affair, with many members assisting. For me, it was friends who gave me the helping hand when I needed it most.

Tim