First of all, I hope everyone has relaxing Labor Day.. Some one posted this comment about the 1927 Milford Rabbit Drive: “Is there is going to be a 100 year anniversary run for this event.”  This I thought is an interesting concept for a  centennial event and with some creativity’s some intersting potential. Anyone, up to challenge to organize it?  I would be willing to assist where I can.

For those interested, I am working on the John Jay Casey article. It may be awhile, since my future post pile has a way increasing day by day.

Tim

 

I am still sorting through varied loose documents as it is a time consuming task.. Some of them I will cover. These include a Gentlemen’s Agreement between Fruit Growers and the Susanville business community, an explanation between a California homestead and a federal one, the 1937 inspection of the Westwood Jail (which does anyone have photograph of it that was next the fire hall) and a assortment of other topics.

I have two newspaper articles from the 1980s, One is from Reno Gazette Journal about Franklyn Jeans and his Fish Springs ranch to pump water from eastern side of Honey Lake Valley to Reno. The other is an article that appeared in the Sacramento Bee about the infamous Madeline rancher, John Jay Casey. Let me know if you would like to pursue those, otherwise I will place in their respective files.

Tim

As I write this, the Biscar Fire in eastern Lassen County is now approaching 70,000 acres. Unfortunately, the maps published lack descriptive features. It has been stated the fire started in the area of Snowstorm Road and Vincent Canyon in the Biscar Reservoir area.

The name is attributed to Pierre “Pete” Biscar who was born on January 28, 1881 at St. Etienne de Baigory, France. He arrived in the United States in1901 at New York City and in 1904 came to Secret Valley, Lassen County.  In 1909, he constructed the first reservoir at the mouth of Snowstorm Canyon. In 1915, it was washed out by a flood and subsequently rebuilt*.

Biscar had hit hard times in the 1930s. He was arrested on a cattle rustling charge and served time in the Lassen County Jail. In 1937, he lost his property to a county delinquent tax sale. He eventually moved to Susanville and lived in one of  Frenchy’s cabins on the Susan River across from Paulsen’s Welding. He died on February 2, 1947, a pauper. He is buried in the Lassen Cemetery, his grave does not have a marker. At the time of his death, he was survived by a cousin J.P. Insarquarat of Stockton, California

Tim

*Today, there are two small reservoirs that are part of the 548-acre Biscar Wildlife Area.

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The Shaw Historical Library’s recent Journal “All that Glitters is not Gold,” is now available.  It describes mining operations in the High Desert area of NE California, NW Nevada, and SE Oregon.  Articles cover the Hayden Hill Mining District, Gerlach gypsum mining, Herbert Hoover’s mining activity in northern Nevada, the High Grade District in Modoc County, Buffalo Salt Works on the Smoke Creek Desert, uranium mining north of Lakeview, and eleven other topics.  The book is available for sale at Margie’s Book Nook in Susanville.  It can also be ordered by calling the Shaw Library at 541-885-0222.

Tim

On personal note I look forward to purchasing a copy. My family was involved at Hayden Hill for decades. Buffalo Meadows Salt Works in a unique site.

Where does the time go? It was a year ago, on July 5, 2025 that the wooden grandstand at Susanville’s Memorial Park went up in flames,

Tim