Category Archives: News

Skedaddle Creek—Your Opinion

Skedaddle Canyon/Creek, 1922–C.R. Caudle

This may seem a bit premature since it deals with the 2022 Calendar. It is rapidly nearing completion, so it will be one less project out of the way, so I can get out and explore places with summer approaching.

This particular photograph is giving me some trouble, so I am seeking opinions. It was taken in 1922, and quite unique. When I enlarge it to size needed for calendar, it looses some clarity, if you look at it up close. However, when one looks at it from a distance, like one would with a wall calendar, it looks just fine.

Any thoughts?

Tim

A New Railway Organization

The NCO Depot, Alturas, 1921

This is something that definitely slipped underneath my radar. Last fall a historical railway society was organized for the preservation of the history of the Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad, more commonly referred to as the NCO. What was even more intriguing its headquarters is that of Alturas. In one sense it is a logical choice that Alturas is home to a NCO depot and also was railroads’s headquarters during its final days, after its departure from Reno.

For the un-initiated the NCO was one of the 20th century’s longest narrow gauge railroads that ran from Reno, Nevada to Lakeview, Oregon. As one observer put it, it was a railroad that went nowhere. Its original intent was to extend all the way to Columbia River with a terminus at The Dalles, Oregon. During its fifty year existence from 1879-1929, there were a lot of interesting characters involved in its operation.

For those who would like to learn more about this organization see their website at: NCO Railway

Tim

Lassen Park Road Partially Opened

The Snogo clearing the Lassen Park road, 1940.

On March 3, 2021 work began clearing the park road from snow, starting from the Manzanita Lake side. On April 28 the road was cleared of snow, yet work still needs to done on shoulder repair etc. However, the road is open to hikers and/or by bike. Vehicle traffic is probably a week away.  Due the lighter than normal snowfall, it will be a long season for the park. Make plans to visit this year.

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Answer to Some of Your Questions

An abandoned Diamond Mountain mine, 1977.

Within the next ten days or so I should have answers to questions from April 15th’s Ask Tim segment. These include two mining questions, how land was originally filed on in the 1850s and an attempt to tackle some of the dairy history. Stay tuned.

Tim

Save Our Center, Again?

soc campaing
It was headline news everywhere.

On April 13, 2021,  it was announced that the State of California intends to shut down the California Correctional Center at Susanville by June 30, 2022. Will the community fight again, like when the State announced the closure of the prison, only nine years after it opened?

Shortly after the state made the announcement to close the CCC in 1972, the community fought back. On December 13, 1972 the Save Our Center campaign was launched.  State Director of Corrections Ray Procunier stated that the California Conservation Center (name later changed to Correctional) near Susanville was to be closed effective April 1, 1973. Procunier cited a decline of the inmate population by 4,000. In doing so it would eliminate 270 jobs. Procunier stated, “The cutting off of that payroll is to have an impact of the economy of that community, but Susanville is not the best location in the world for a correctional institution because of its remoteness.”

The campaign was successful. Will another movement form again? Time will tell what will happen next.

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A Surprise Tuesday Tidbit – Mile High Mill

Honey Lake Feed, 21 October 1978

Honey Lake Feed located on Richmond Road, Susanville was the last of locally grown wheat/milled flour which the flour mill portion ceased in the 1940s. The building was destroyed by fire in the early 1980s.

I am pleased to introduce Mile High Mill & Grain Company located on Sunset Ranch near Ravendale. One can now obtain locally organic grown milled flour!  The owners Tom and Andrea Traphagan has graciously extended yours truly to tour the facility, in which I will do a follow up later this spring.

In the meantime, you can learn a whole lot more by checking out their website at  Mile High Mill

Tim

Untold Stories — At a Bargain Price

As tax times is now in full swing, I just discovered that I have a large inventory of Untold Stories. To be quite honest, it is because of this inventory and the previous books, that I saw the writing on the wall. The message was clear, the demand for local history books had dwindled to the extent that on the last two books, I never even recovered cost. Thus, with this title, it became the last book I published.

Anyhow, to learn more about the book and purchase it at a bargain price see books.

Tim

 

Your Last Tuesday Tidbit

Sierra Theater—Hank Martinez

Meteorological speaking March 1 is the first day of spring, which happens to be Monday.  I hope you enjoyed these TuesdayTidbits for the past three months. With the daylight hours getting longer I am looking forward to spending more time outdoors. So as the old saying goes, which I never understood, “I will see you in the movies.”

Tim

Local Flour to Return

Milford Flour Mill
The abandoned Milford Flour Mill as it appeared in 1901. Courtesy of the A.J. Mathews family

It has been over a century since a flour mill was built in Lassen County. In the preliminary planning phase, we might see local flour on the market again. The proposed flour mill is in one area of the county where there never has been a flour—the Madeline Plains. Once, I receive additional material, I will provide an update, but I find this exciting news.

The region’s first flour mill was located at Milford.  It was built in 1861 for J.C. Wemple and Judson Dakin. In 1864, another flour mill was built at Johnstonville. As the population grew, the need for flour increased and in 1882, H.H. Dakin built a flour mill at Janesville. The Johnstonville and Milford flour mills went out of operation in the early 1900s, and by 1915, the Janesville mill struggled and closed by 1920.

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Embarking on Seven Years

Roosevelt Pool
Roosevelt Pool, circa 1940

On February 5, 2015 this web site made its debut.  A lot of history has been explored in the last six years and a lot more to go. It does not appear I am going anywhere soon that I am aware, or more specific the website. On the other hand, my housing situation is such, that I could be homeless in the near future. Whatever happens, I renewed and paid a three-year contract with the web server.

Roosevelt Pool
Remnants of Roosevelt Pool, February 21, 2015

The reason for the photographs of Susanville’s Roosevelt Pool, that was the inaugural topic from six years ago. At that time the building was being demolished.

Anyhow I just want to take this opportunity to thank those who support the site, but also for the encouraging words as well.

Tim