July – Lassen County Fish & Game Warden C.O. Fisher had some terse words to the farmers along the Susan River watershed. Fish & Game wanted plant some 300,000 trout into the river. Before the planting could be done the farmers needed that there diversion dams and ditches to become into compliance since many were in violation of California Penal Code Sections 629, 636 and 637.

August – On August 26, California Governor William Richardson paid Susanville a visit. It was his twenty county tour to inspect the state highway construction projects.

September – Susanville was chosen to host of the State American Legion Convention in 1926. It was estimated that it would bring 2,500 people for the week long event.

October -One consistent theme throughout the year was the prevalence of bootleggers. In October. Lassen County Sheriff Carter  paid a visit to Ravendale resident Jim Ingram. The sheriff and his deputies confiscated a still and 80 gallons of whiskey. Ingram pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $500 or spend 500 days in the county jail. Ingram choose  jail time.

November – The Lassen County Board of Supervisors approved the construction of a Veterans Memorial building. It would be a multi-purpose facility, not only provided a much needed auditorium, but it would house  the offices of the chamber of commerce, farm bureau and horticultural agent.

December – On December 4  the organization meeting of the Susanville Rotary Club was held. The initial officers were: John B. Spalding, President; J.A. Pardee, Vice zPresident; C.H. Bridges, Treasurer; E.L. Shirley, Secretary and Harry Coleman Sergeant at Arms. It was decided upon weekly luncheon meetings to be held on Wednesday. They selected the Hotel Mt. Lassen as the meeting location, yet it still was under construction. It should noted that the local Rotary Club did not receive its charter until the spring of 1926.

Tim

When I scanned this image back in September, in my mind I had drafted out the article. Disruptions occurred and I lost that train of thought.

For small towns, the general store was the lifeblood of the community. Many doubled as a post office, so it was one more factor that the store was the social hub. Amedee owed its existence to the NCO Railroad. In 1922, the last train rolled through there. In 1924, J.H. Peffley shuttered the town’s general store, along with the post office. Peffley chose not to remain at Amedee and moved to Fresno where he died in 1931.

Tim

This was the Christmas gathering of the home Charles and Sarah Hartson, South Pine Street, Susanville, 1916. Fortunately, nearly everyone is identified. The identification is from left to right;

Front Row: Ethel Hartson, Vesta Holmes, Kenneth Cain, Dorothy Hartson, Donald Hartson, Lois Hartson, Willa Hartson, Jud Theodore and Kittie Holmes.

Second Row: Bernard Holmes, Elmer Hartson, Roland Holmes, Leota Dakin, Merle Hartson, Mona Hartson, Rhea Hartson, Beryl Holmes, Naomi Hartson, Catherine Hartson, Carrie Hartson, Edith Hartson and George Hartson,

Third Row: Laura Hartson, Frank Hartson, Myra Brownell, Eva Cain, Charles Hartson, Sarah Hartson, Elsie Dakin, Hattie Theodore, Rose Hartson, George Cain and Annie Theodore.

Fred McClellan, Burta McClellan, Mardis Barry, Mabel Brownell Barry, unknown and Walter Dakin.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Tim

Lassen Advocate – 9 March 1899 – Milford Murmurs. Gus Grunt and Capt. John Hansen are a building a sail boat for hauling wood across the lake to Amedee, and while we appreciate their enterprise, we can predict but failure, since the winds upon the lake are not reliable upon, and we advise that they take a small tug along in case of adverse winds or a calm.

Tim

Lassen Advocate, 31 January 1927 – Jack Rabbit Drives. We had never given the jack rabbit drives that have been held in Lassen County lately much thought until last Sunday, other to realize that killing the number of rabbits that they were of value to the county and the farmer.

“Last Sunday the drive at Milford brought out between 400 to 500 people, men, women and children and each and every one not only helped the agricultural interest of the county by their presence and assistance, but had a good day’s sport to boot. Many of those at the Milford drive Sunday stated then and their intention of taking in the drive at Wendel the coming Sunday.

“Try and make arrangements to attend the Wendel drive, we our assuring that you will have a good day’s sport, you will be of service to your county and the farmers, and they will be glad to see you. No guns are allowed. All you need to bring is a good stout club, pick handle etc. No need to bring a lunch as “hot dogs” cooked in the hot springs will be served to all.”

Note: The organizers of the Wendel drive were overwhelmed when 1200 people showed up, out numbering the rabbits.

Tim

During the Civil War of the 1860s, communities in support of the North, applied Union to street names, squares, etc. Susanville was a perfect textbook example.

Typical of the era, map makers were one dimensional. Susanville’s original plat, shows Union Street extending beyond Cottage and connecting Weatherlow Street at the Richmond Road bridge.  There were two problems. First the proposed street would dissect the block that was home to the Susanville School District. The other was the physical restraint of the hillside for Union to connect with Weatherlow. During the messy title problems of the 1870s, caused by  the town’s founder, to rectify this particular situation, that segment of Union to Weatherlow was abandoned.

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Unfortunately, life is full of tragedies, and that was in the case of Miss Maud Bentel. At the age of seventeen, she was a telegraph operator at the Hotel Amedee when she committed suicide on June 8, 1894, Charles Ball who was drunk at the hotel had became a big nuisance towards her. He called Maud a various assortment of obscenities with some vile threats. This upset her terribly and she left the hotel and went to the drug store of Mrs. B.A. Keser.

Mrs. Keser talked with Maud, attempting to console her. Maud remarked “you don’t know what you are talking about. I can never look at a man in the face in this town. I’d rather be dead than do it.”

When Frank Fischer, came into the front room to the store, Mrs. Keser left Maud alone, so she could attend to her customer. When she returned she found Maud in a spasm and Maud told her she had taken strychnine. Maud had second thoughts now and pleaded to be saved. Mrs. Keser gave her some  syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting but it was too late and Maud died shortly thereafter.

It was believed the actions of Charles Ball at the hotel provoked the whole incident. Ball could only be charged with a misdemeanor and was fined the maximum of $200 for his actions. District Attorney N.J. Barry implemented criminal actions against Lewis Brubeck in the matter for keeping an inn in a disorderly manner. It was thought if Brubeck had stopped Ball from harassing Maud, she would not have killed herself. Brubeck was found guilty of a misdemeanor and he too was fined $200.

Maud was buried in the Susanville Cemetery, and there is a small marker for her grave. It was my intention to photograph her grave,. Alas, the cemetery is still closed due to the damage of the horrendous windstorm in November.

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