Category Archives: News

A Tuesday Tidbit – Update

Lassen County Hospital, Susanville, circa 1925

A week from today, if all goes well, I should be cast free—one more step towards recovery.However, history never stops. Two interesting items surfaced this month. I will just highlight them, and they will appear in posts of their own.

The first came from Calvin Farris who located a most interesting 1959 BLM Christmas tree permit. The other is from Kevin Corson, whose grandfather, C.W. Corson worked at Lassen National Forest’s Durbin tree nursery—the current site of Diamond View School on Richmond Road, Susanville. Kevin has offered to share some vintage photographs of the nursery.

Finally, a computer crash update. It was suggested to do a “forced restart” It seemed to work, though it will not hurt to be proactive and explore future options.

Tim

Fruit Growers Departs from Northern California

Burney, circa 1940

Since 1907, Fruit Growers Supply Company has had a presence in Northern California. It first began at Hilt in Siskiyou County. In 1919, it expanded to Susanville. In 1944, another expansion of the purchase of Westwood and equally important the Burney Tract in Shasta County. After the closure of Hilt in 1972, Fruit Growers was no longer operating any sawmills, the company owned some 400,000 acres of timberland in Northern California. In 2019, Fruit Growers began to liquidate, the first to go was the Burney Tract which was sold to Sierra Pacific Industries.

The water carnival at the Sunkist Lodge, Eagle Lake, 1921. Courtesy of Ed Standard

The next to go was the Lassen Tract. In 2020, it was also sold  Sierra Pacific Industries.

Fruit Growers Mill at Hilt, 1919

Hilt, was of course, Fruit Growers first acquisition and it would be the last sold, which occurred in 2021. It was purchased by a firm known as New Forest based out of Sydney, Australia.  Fruit Growers has focused on purchasing timberland in Oregon and Washington.

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Engel Mine Revival?

Engels Copper Mine, 1922. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

In 2018, US Copper announced preliminary intention to bring the back copper mining in northern Plumas County Copper Belt. They focused on a 13 mile square area that includes Moonlight Valley to the Engel Mine on Lights Creek, just north of Taylorsville. Between 1915-1930 161 million pounds of copper was extracted. It was their intent to begin a drilling program in 2021, but due to last year’s Dixie Fire in the region work was temporarily stalled.

Tim

Juniper Jim & Lassen County Court Records

Madeline Plains, June 2004

In 1894, James “Juniper Jim” Roussell located at Post Camp on the Madeline Plains. Those were hardly souls to eke out a living on the plains. In 1913, he was charged with cattle rustling, but was acquitted. There is a full account of the episode in Donald T. Garate’s book Red Rock to Ravendale.

There was a recent inquiry about this event and that concerning the Lassen County Superior Court records. The original records from 1864 to the mid-1920s were never microfilmed and the last time I inspected them they were intact. But a lot has changed since then. With Lassen County Courthouse renovation under way, those records, as well all others were removed. It is my understanding, I could be wrong, the court records were transferred to the Lassen County Hall Of Justice.    My experiences with that facility has not been pleasant even to obtain copies of a court case in the 1970s. A request was submitted and was informed I would receive a call when the copies were made. That five years ago, and I never heard back. Others have relayed similar circumstances. So I am unable to answer the question about the court records, their existence or access.

Tim

A Tuesday Tidbit—Constantia Church

The church at Doyle, January 25, 2020.

A reader wanted know about the church in Doyle that survived the 2021 fire, and I featured an excellent photograph in a recent post, where everything around it was torched. The historic church was built at Constantia, circa 1898. In 1994, it was moved to Doyle, adjacent to the Long Valley Cemetery and restored.. It is maintained by the Doyle Historical Society. It is used for a variety of purposes including funerals and weddings, but no regular church services.

Constantia Church, Doyle, July 12, 2021—Ronda Dockstader

Tim

Where are We—Echo Lake

July, 15, 2021

Echo Lake is in northern Plumas County, not far from the headwaters of Bailey Creek. It encompasses some thirty acres, and there is a small unimproved forest service campground there. Prior to the early 1970s it was only accessible by hiking. That changed when the forest service decided to extend road along Bailey Creek from Heckle Ranch to connect over to Silver Lake and the Caribou Wilderness.

Unfortunately, this area was ravaged by last year’s Dixie Fire.

Tim

Seven Years and Counting

Constantia Church, Doyle, July 12, 2021—Ronda Dockstader

Today, marks the anniversary of launching this website and the posts, and it has been quite the journey.  I am constantly learning something new about the region. In addition, I learn from you the reader with your questions, that allows me to explore something I did not know, too. Also, awhile back another milestone was observed, with the crossing over the 2,500 posts. Last July, Updraft a subscription service that creates a backup file, informed me that I was approaching maximum storage, and so I added more. It just goes to show, how much material that can be gleaned from this website.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank  those who subscribe and support this endeavor. Equally, important are the words of encouragement, which is much appreciated.

Now, back to regular programming, and I have made a lot of head way for the postings in 2022.

Tim

 

Tuesday Tidbit-Standish

Standish, 1908. Courtesy of Betty Gorbet

Since no one replied to the recent Ask Tim post, Standish will be a topic. This is due in part while searching for a photograph of the water flume in the Susan River Canyon, I came across a portion of my manuscript on the early history of Standish. After reviewing the same, I can attest that my early writing skills were rough around the edges. At least the historical documentation was there!

Tim

Ask Tim

Chester, California

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 February, 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.

Tim