Category Archives: History

History

Lassen Park’s Inferno Ski Race

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1937 Ski Jump across the park highway. Courtesy of the National Park Service

In the 1920s, three sports became mainstream in the nation’s recreation sector—golf, snow skiing and tennis. By the 1930s, in the region there were nearly a half dozen ski clubs, that were very active and creative, too.

In 1936, the Mt. Lassen Ski Club of Mineral created a mid-summer ski tournament. It was held on Lassen Peak, Lake Helen being the base, during the Fourth of July weekend,. However,  depending on conditions, it was sometimes held a bit earlier or later than the patriotic date. The club introduced a new event, known as the Inferno Race. This was no ordinary race, and definitely not one for novice skiers. The course was interesting and required a great deal of stamina just to reach the starting point, the summit of Lassen Peak, a climb of 2,200 feet. Usually only a dozen or more skiers participated in this slalom race, which had four gates, and two turns and one jump across the park highway. The event continued through 1941, but conditions created by World War II brought an abrupt halt. This is one of many prime examples that after World War II was never resurrected.

It should be noted that there some individuals who climb the peak to the top and ski down during the summer months.

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History

Susanville’s Edsel Dealership

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80 N. Roop St.
80 N. Roop Street, Susanville, May 3, 2015

For a brief time, Susanville had its own Edsel Dealership though it did not last long. In 1957 it was housed in a brand new building at 80 North Roop Street.  Of course, Ford’s Edsel automobile was a failure and the model soon abandoned. Many seasoned residents will recall this building housed the California Department of Motor Vehicles for many years. It is now the home to Lasco and Rooptown Bicycles.

Tim

History

Gov. Brown Opens New Facility at Susanville

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Humboldt Times, July 14, 1963

Supposedly, today marks the closure of the California Correctional Center on the eve of its dedication sixty years ago. The following is an extract from the Humboldt Times of Eureka California about the dedication:

”Before a throng of enthusiastic home townsmen, plus scores of interested correction officials. from other Western States, Governor Edmund G. Brown Saturday [July 13, 1963] dedicated the California Correctional Center the nation’s newest concept in corrections.

The $9 million institution for 1200 inmates is a pioneering idea, the first of four such centers to be built in California.

”In a former timber economy now reverting to agricultural and recreation, business leaders of Susanville and Lassen County look upon the new facility as their own. They threw a banquet for state Senator Stanley Arnold of Susanville, author of the enabling legislation for the entire program, and the laurels were almost unprecedent.

”Besides the stimulus of actual construction, the new facility has 260 Department of Corrections employees and 30 from the Division of Forestry. These are permanent, mostly with families, and their annual payroll is more than $1,750,000”

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History

Susanville’s Fruit Growers’ Subdivision

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Sunkist Street, 1921. Courtesy of Ed Standard
Sunkist Street, 1921. Courtesy of Ed Standard

In 1919, when the Fruit Growers Supply Company decided to locate its second lumber mill at Susanville, they thought that community would come forth to provide housing for its workforce.  It kind of happen. Yet, Fruit Growers with over 1,000 employees for its Susanville operation, was too much for the community to handle. To be able to attract a stable workforce, Fruit Growers only option was to develop its own residential district next to the mill. Those streets all have names associated with the citrus industry, such as Sunkist.

For those not familiar with Fruit Growers, it is a purchasing agent for co-operative then known as the California Fruit Growers Exchange comprised of citrus growers. In 1907, the Exchange coined the brand Sunkist and in 1952, they renamed the Exchange to Sunkist.

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History

Northern Counties Utility Company

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Birch Street, Westwood. Courtesy of Hank Martinez

In 1945, when Fruit Growers Supply Company took over the town of Westwood from the Red River Lumber Company it presented all kinds of problems. It should be noted for the record, Fruit Growers did not want Westwood or its mill, but it was packaged deal to obtain Burney Tract which contained a billion board feet of timber.

Westwood provided all kinds of challenges for Fruit Growers. What worked for Red River, did not for Fruit Growers. To provide water, telephone and electrical service to the community Fruit Growers formed the Northern Counties Utility Company. It was necessary for the company to avoid the involvement with its lumber and timber operations.  The residents were not happy with any change, and in the past their utility cost were included in the rent. Fruit Growers did not initially charge a separate utility bill. This, of course, was an accounting nightmare for Fruit Growers. In 1945, the utility company lost $35,549.65. Fruit Growers covered the loss from revenues from rental properties, but it was still a out-of-pocket loss for Fruit Growers. In 1956, when Fruit Growers sold Westwoof it was no longer their problem.

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History

Tuesday Tidbit—A Railroad Question

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Southern Pacific train, Secret Valley, 1936—C.H. Bennett Collection

Secret Valley CCC Company Clerk, C.H.Bennett provided the following caption of this photograph, “It would happen.”

Now, I am not sure what he meant. There are subscribers, who have a lot more knowledge about train movement, rolling stock, etc., than I will ever possess. It appears, that may be the train is stalled, though I am not sure what the activity is going on. Can anyone enlighten?

By the way, starting next week I will begin a series of articles concerning the varied activities of the Secret Valley CCC camp, which played an interesting role of the region’s history during the 1930s and I can attest there will be some surprising stories, including Lassen County’s first culinary school!

Tim

History

Where Are We—Cramer (Craemer) Reservoir

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Cramer ReservoirJune 3, 2023

Cramer Reservoir, though USGS maps misspell it as Craemer, is located a short distance to the southwest side of Horse Lake. Charles Cramer came to Lassen County in 1864. In time, Cramer would assemble several large ranches in Lassen County. On September 5, 1874 Cramer purchased 160 acres at Horse Lake from Joe Hale, co-owner of Susanville’s Pioneer Saloon, for $600 and would continue to acquire more property there. On May 21, 1900, his son, Daniel F. Cramer obtained the rights to construct the reservoir. On July 18, 1939 the Cramer family transferred the Horse Lake property to California Lands Incorporated.

Tim

History

The Restdale Cemetery Petition

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Honey Lake Cemetery, June 4, 1978

Most people never heard of this cemetery, and even fewer have ever been there. It is a remnant of the homestead era of eastern Honey Lake Valley. Known today as the Honey Lake Cemetery, it was originally named Restdale Cemetery.

In October 1914, Stacy resident Charles Baker died on his homestead and was buried near there on property owned by Mary Caudle. On November 3, 1914, Mary Caudle donated the property (1.1 acres) to Lassen County. At the same time, residents of the area presented a petition to the Lassen County Board of Supervisors to make it a public cemetery. The petitioned was signed by 16 residents of Stacy, 10 from Calneva and two from Amedee.  The petition stated: “We deem the establishment of said cemetery for the best interests of the public well-fare, and absolutely necessary. The nearest public cemetery for the residents of this district is days drive away.”  Later in November, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of the cemetery.

Honey Lake, Cemetery, 2018

An item of note included in the deed was the covenant that if the property was no longer used as a burial ground the property would revert back to Caudle.

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History

Susanville Bans Fireworks

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A 4th of July 1907 entry in the parade held in Susanville. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

Note:  This is a perennial post, because it has merit and in my opinion they should be banned permanently. In Susanville’s early years as an incorporated city, it was remarkable what the council did. One of their actions, I still support today, and that is the prohibition of fireworks. The first time they banned fireworks was in 1906, following the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. It was also a nod to the insurance companies who suffered tremendous loss from that event. It was their belief, as well as many other communities, that this preventive measure would reduce the risk of fires.

In 1912, the City once again banned fireworks. The Lassen Advocate applauded the city and wrote: 21 June 1912 – “No Fireworks on the Fourth. We desire to congratulate our Board of Town Trustees on their action in placing the ban on all kinds of fireworks on July 2, 3, and 4. This action has been taken by large and progressive cities for years past, and we are greatly pleased to note that the smaller places are falling into line. Fireworks do no good and may do a world of harm. Fires may be started that will blot out blocks of cities or towns; little boys and girls all over the United States have lost fingers, hands eyes and in many instances, their lives from the dangerous pinwheel and firecrackers. Let them yell all they will, let them spend their money for ice cream, candy—anything on earth but the fireworks.”

In 1916, the Monticola Club appeared before the Susanville City Council asking for a ban of fireworks for the 4th of July. Their answer was no. The council assured that the utmost care would be done, but they were not going to deprive children of the festivities. In 1926, due to the tinder dry conditions,  the City banned fireworks for fire, health and safety reasons.

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History

The NCO’s Proposed Abandonment

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Wendel Depot. Courtesy of Aldah Riesenman

The Nevada-California-Oregon Railway (NCO) was never a profitable enterprise, but somehow it found away to carry on.  Finally, the Moran family, owners of the beleaguered railroad had enough. On November 21, 1921, the N.CO. petitioned the Interstate Railroad Commission to abandon its entire line, due to substantial operation losses. After several public hearings the Commission denied the request. The Commission cited that the railroad could reduce its cost by operating a tri-weekly service, instead of a daily; eliminate the president’s $10,000 a year salary and close its New York City office.

At the same time, the Western Pacific Railroad had offered to buy the line for $1,100,000 the equivalent of $6,000 a mile. The NCO’s President, Charles Moran, insisted on a higher price of $10,000 a mile, an $800,000 difference. Moran, however, testified that the junk value of the railroad was $300,000.

The Commission did make one concession—it allowed for the abandonment of sixteen miles of the line between Wendel and Rayl (the latter to be known as Herlong). On October 31, 1922, the last NCO train left Rayl, passed through Amedee, and now Wendel was the terminus

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