Supan’s Sulphur Works, 1937 is a featured photograph
Back by a somewhat popular demand are the calendars, which I thought last year was to be the last. We will see what next year brings. This may be one of the most eclectic mix of historic scenes that I have ever assembled. Some of these are: Baxter Creek Siphon (1936), boating on Honey Lake (1905), Willow Creek Flume (1926) and the abandoned Devil’s Corral Bridge (1925).
One has three options to purchase calendars:
1) Locally, you can purchase them at Margie’s Book Nook.
2) You can purchase direct online by clicking here
3) You can also email me to place your order, and it will be sent with an invoice.
Important Notice: There are only 50 calendars available, and once sold out that is it.
Some technical difficulties with scanning transfers has re-appeared. Today’s scheduled feature was about Henry Dobyns renaming the Johnston House to the Hotel Lassen, at one time Susanville’s most significant hotel. The illustration that was scheduled to appear, is one of the scanning transfer issues. The article will appear at a future date.
In the meantime, I am busy at work on the 2024 Calendar, which will be late this year. Also, in queue, where some interesting topics addressed in the Ask Tim post. I am working on those, too, but it might be awhile before they appear.
Tim
P.S. As interest declines in calendars, as more people go digital, if you are interested just let me know. However, if you are a regular calendar type, no need to reply, because I have you taken care of. Thanks.
The Portola Depot. Notice the rails had been recently laid, no ballast.
The Plumas Sun has reported that there is a revival of Portola’s Railroad Days, for those interested will occur this Sunday, October 29. If you have never been to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, this provides a perfect opportunity—a two-fer as the museum normally shuts down for the winter months, but will be open, plus there will be plenty activities and vendors for the whole family. If I understood correctly the Western Pacific Railroad Museum will have special Pumpkin Patch Express train rides that day.
On a quarterly basis, I ask you the reader, if there is something you would like to learn more about or maybe its something you heard, but question its validity. So here is an opportunity to participate. I will do my best to answer any questions. It should be noted, it may take awhile for the answer to appear as a post. The primary reason, many of the daily posts are done nearly a month in advance. So by the time you read this I am already working on posts for the middle of November, or at least I should be. Whatever the case may be, I look forward to hearing from you. Of course, it should be noted that paid subscribers requests receive priority. In addition, you can always send a request at any time.
Susanville photographer Jervie Eastman was certainly in the slow lane the day this photograph was taken. Courtesy of Eleanor Vandeburgh.
Some one wanted to know how I amassed a large collection of historical photographs. This started decades ago, long before scanners. Back in the day, to have quality reproductions made, involved a skilled photographer to make a copy negative and print. Then, after that was done, I returned the original back to whom I borrowed from. I make sure credit is due, and whatever photograph appears, that person’s name is provided.
There are occasions when no name appears. Some of these are photographs that I purchased. Many years ago, Murl Simmons of Susanville’s Eastmans Studios allowed me to examine thousands of negatives stored in the vault. Of course, I was like the proverbial kid in the candy store. Reality, I had limited funds. I would order some prints from time to time as funds would allow.
Lassen Lodge #149 F.&A.M., 1879
Then came the age of the internet and Ebay. On that particular website I have come across some interesting finds. One such as the original Masonic Lodge in Susanville. While way out of my price range of $90 I succumbed because it was a very rare photograph. Once purchased, I asked the seller about the photograph’s origin. He bought in a yard sale in San Francisco for twenty-five cents. Ouch!
Finally, my grandmother, Lola Murrer Tanner, was a good photographer. Alas, I only have portion of her collection. The rest sits in closet, because of a difficult family relative. A sad tale, since especially with the internet, they could be shared to many.
There is, of course, a hidden collection not tapped into. I have a large collection of over sized negatives some dating back to the 1920s. I do not have the capability or resources to scan them. A few individuals in the past have offered, but for reasons unknown never followed through.
Lassen County Courthouse, spring 1917. Courtesy of Elberta M. Fraley
When I first started research into the local history, at a very young age I might add, it was an interesting learning experience. At that time a local dentist, Bob Amesbury, was in a sense anointed “the” local historian. He, along with others, would inform me the county did not have any old records, since the courthouse burned down many years ago. When I paid my first research trip to the Lassen County Courthouse, I quickly learned that was not the case. At that time, Gil Morrill was the Lassen County Auditor/Recorder. Gil was gracious to show me around to all the various records in his office dating. back to 1864, when the county was created. For some, I found later, who stated the courthouse had burned, was just an excuse to make up their own story versus doing the tedious work to research what exactly happened.
The courthouse burned down story was not confined to Lassen. When visiting other counties to conduct research, certain county officials did not want to be bothered to retrieve old documents, and would give me that song and dance routine that the courthouse burned down, even though it never did.
By happenstance recently, I was going by the Lassen County Courthouse that is still under renovation. It was rather striking seeing the windows being removed.
Lassen County Courthouse with the original windows, 1938
This will be third set of windows for the building. In September 1978 prison inmate Robert Clawson who was in the courtroom on pending kidnapping charge broke free from the bailiff and fled. He exited the courthouse by jumping out of the window on the second floor landing in the flower bed, From there he ran away, but was later apprehended. From this episode the original windows were replaced with smaller openings to prevent future escapes.
On August 2, 1986, the Neversweats Chapter #1863, E Clampus Vitus had a plaque dedication at the Emerson Lake Golf Course Clubhouse. The plaque commemorated the forgotten town of Richmond.
Herewith is the text of the plaque: “RICHMOND. Due to Gold Fever and named for the town of Richmond, Virginia by Orlando Streshly in 1859. The town of Richmond grew rapidly until 1861 becoming the most important and populous settlement in the County “overshadowing Susanville. Sporting hotels, a tavern and bowling alley, blacksmith shops and wagon shops. A large warehouse and local masonic lodge, the town celebrated with dances whenever possible. Schools were built, goods and services were sold, and many dwelling houses constructed and one hotel was the largest structure in Honey Lake Valley. As the town thrived, in 1861 the mines gave out. By1862 commerce had ceased, the miners left and Richmond died. All that remains are remnants of school and water works. Now Emerson Lake Golf Course stands where “Richmond rose like a rocket and fell like a stick.”
In 2002, after the golf course expanded to eighteen holes, a new clubhouse was built at a different location on Circle Drive. It was the intent to have the monument and plaque moved to the new clubhouse. The monument and plaque was removed but never relocated. When I have made inquiries in the past, no one seems recall what happened to the plaque.
This is a follow up about yesterday’s post. The person who alerted me about the article in High Country Life was interested in a small county cemetery in Dry Valley, which is sandwiched between the Madeline Plains to the east and Grasshopper Valley to the west. It was an interesting conversation.
Dry Valley Cemetery, August 4, 2016.
In the fall of 2020, my companions made a trek into that region, the goal Bailey Creek Reservoir. Alas, for over a century, the road was now graced with a locked a gate. Onward ho, we go. Next destination Dry Valley and and the south end of Grasshopper Valley. While in the neighborhood, we thought a quick visit to the Dry Valley Cemetery was warranted. Lo, and behold the access road, which the public had traversed for over a century, was graced with a locked gate.
Dry Valley School, 1916. Courtesy of D.M. Durst Collection
Which brings up to this recent article and the inquiry I received. This individual purchased the property surrounding the Dry Valley Cemetery and closed off the road leading to the cemetery. I did inform this person that it is public cemetery and the public has right to access. I provided this person with some history. Near the road intersection to venture to the cemetery was the Dry Valley School. For a brief time the school children would march up the hill the to decorate the graves for Memorial Day. Needless to say, none of this mattered to the owner and the public cemetery is no longer accessible. Just for the record in 1918 P.E. Bowles donated the cemetery to Lassen County.
Quite honestly, I have never been a fan of the county fair when it was moved to the third week in July. When the annual county fair was established in 1922, it was held in late September. By the 1930s, the date was moved up closer to Labor Day Weekend. After World War II, changes were on the horizon. Neighboring counties worked in a concerted effort on scheduling. Thus, Plumas County would hold their fair the second week in August, the third week would be Lassen and the fourth week would be Modoc. Plumas and Modoc still hold onto their traditional dates. Alas, due to non-agricultural influences, Lassen moved to the third week in July to appease those folks. While I am civic minded and support many events by attending, the annual fair has lost its appeal for me. And that is my two cents worth.
