Category Archives: News

Go Exploring

Goggle sign
When traveling the back country around these parts. Google maps and GPS not the best move. Use some common sense. Though it should be noted that AAA maps indicated Shinn Ranch Road was maintained. May be it was back in the 1870s when the Shinns lived there.

There are a handful posts that I repeat each year, and for good reason. With summer weather upon us, it is an ideal time to check out the many wonders that surround the residents of the Lassen Region.

In 1929, the Lassen Advocate published an editorial “Know Your Country.”  The gist of it, encouraged residents to get out and see all the various and interesting natural surroundings we have. I am always ready to get out and about to explore. I never know where that might be, but I do have a few obscure historical sites that I want to check out.

Hopefully, this summer we will be spared of fires, heat and smoke.

Tim

 

Camp Ronald McDonald’s Pancake Breakfast

Gallatin House. Courtesy of Wyn Wachhorst

For those headed out to Eagle Lake for Memorial Day Wekend, don’t forget about Camp Ronald McDonald’s  Annual Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast. From 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday May 28, and Sunday May 29, the public can enjoy an all you can eat breakfast; including pancakes, sausage and hot and cold beverages! The camp located at the south shore and adjacent to the Gallatin House.

Tim

A Tuesday Tidbit—Fredonyer Pass

Fredonyer Pass

The above photograph appeared in a 1956 Susanville Business Directory. While the quality is not the best, I thought some might appreciate the same. In 2020, work began on what is dubbed the Good Fred Project by Caltrans. It consists of a new bridge over Goodrich Creek and a major highway alignment over Fredonyer. Hopefully, the project will be completed this year.

Tim

A Tuesday Surprise

Susan River, circa 1914

Truth to be told, the main story to accompany this photograph will probably not appear until this fall. However, there is significance to the image. It was a handful of first scans that I have done recently since my “fall from grace.” Recovery is slow, but sure, and progress is being made.

Tim

Ask Tim

Willis Walker residence in Westwood has undergone many changes and is now Chuck’s Railroad Room.

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 May, 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

A 2023 Calendar Cover Opportunity

Dow Wells, October 8, 2020

First of all, I plan to still issue calendars for the next few years. There are some production issues to be worked out. Anyhow, on two occasions I have used a contemporary color photograph for the cover. The above photograph of Dow Wells, near Eagle Lake, graced the 2021 calendar cover. For those photographers out there, if you happen to see something of interest that may be suitable for a cover, please free to submit. It should be noted that they need to be taken in the portrait mode. One has plenty time during the spring, summer and early fall as I will not need the same until October 1.

Tim

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