Earlier this month , the Sierra Theater closed its doors. Its future is uncertain. The Susanville Symphony Society would like to see it converted into a performing arts center. That group has a request before the City of Susanville to appropriate a portion of the unallocated American Rescue Plan Act funds. No decision has been made by City officials pending a review of the Society’s plans.

In 1934  the Liberty Theater was condemned as state inspectors deemed it unsafe. The building was demolished. T&D Enterprises owner of the facility announced a new theater would be built on the site of the old one, to be named Sierra Theater. Construction on the concrete re-inforced theater began in October, and the owners noted it was earthquake proof, the first of its kind in Susanville. On Friday, March 8, 1935 a grand opening was held for $75,000 theater. The first showing was appropriately a film named, “The Whole Town’s Talking.”

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Yesterday, we explored how the taps ran dry on alcohol beverages. Even with the passage of the Volstead Act aka Prohibition, bootlegging was prevalent and the social experiment would eventually be doomed.

On April 7, 1933 beer was again was flowing in California as chipping away of the Volstead Act aka prohibition continued. There was a catch, however. Only establishments that served meals were eligible to serve beer. Many a former bar, installed lunch counters. In Susanville, it was debated what constituted a meal? Did a sandwich constitute a meal, to allow a person to drink beer all day if they wanted to? Whatever the case may be, that is why bar and restaurants go hand in hand.

Tim

The temperance movement locally gained a foothold in the early 1880s, but never could gain any traction. In the late 1910s everything was about to change.

The first two times the town went dry were unusual circumstances. The first time was on August 7, 1917, at the request of the United States Army Draft Board. This was to accommodate the examining physicians. The doctors experienced a number of difficulties in examining inductees, since the majority of them arrived for physicals heavily intoxicated!

A year later the saloons were closed again, but this time by City of Susanville. The Spanish Influenza epidemic was the cause. There were over 300 cases of the flu in Susanville alone–roughly one-third of the population. The City held a special meeting on November 11, 1918, and it was voted three-to-two to close the saloons. The ban was effective immediately. On November 19, the City met again in special session to discuss the ban and it was lifted. It had been noted that there had been a decrease in flu cases

In 1919 witnessed the passage of the Volstead Act, also known as the Prohibition Act or the Eighteenth Amendment. June 30, 1919, was the last official day for the saloons to operate in Susanville. The Lassen Weekly Mail noted its observance; “The final obsequies for John Barleycorn in Susanville last Monday night was a very tame affair when compared with the scenes in other parts of the country. The saloons had disposed of practically  all their stock before Monday and the supply of liquid refreshments was not very plentiful at the close. The doors were closed promptly at 12 o’clock.”

The saloon business was big business in Susanville. The city treasury was hit hard. The closing of these businesses city lost one-quarter of its revenue from licensing fees.

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No doubt exciting times were on the horizon. The Lassen Lumber & Box Company was in full operation. Fruit Growers Supply Company’s mill was under construction. When completed Fruit Growers would employ some 1,500 people. Many of Fruit Growers new hires would be bringing their families, so the area was about to witness a huge population explosion. A lot of growing pains to contend with.

The City of Susanville continued with its progressive plan to continue to make improvements for the betterment of the community. The City Council held many special meetings to figure out a way to pave the streets, put in gutters and sidewalks. The paving of Main Street was a number one priority. The street was costly to maintain, especially on the city’s meager budget. A bond measure was out of the question at this time. The city deemed  a special tax assessment to be levied over a period of years as the best method to proceed. On October 22,1920 the city awarded a contract to pave Main Street and build sidewalks to the Warren Construction Company for $191,256.20.

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In 1922, Susanville’s  Milwood Tract subdivision was created. There was one street that was somewhat of an after thought and evolved over the years—River Street. Even before Milwood Tract and that of River Street it was the location of Riverside Hospital and Fruit Growers Supply Company’s Resident Manager’s residence. River Street, initially began from Main Street, headed one block south, then made a hard right and at the intersection of South Fairfield merged with Riverside Drive. Later it was modified at the initial one block starting point became South Gilman Street. River Street at that intersection then extended west to McDow Street. It would even later be extended again to connect with South Ash Street.

Tim