Now, that we have survived the Hog Fire, west of Susanville, its time to reflect and appreciate our surroundings. This, goes for subscribers out of the area, to take stock around them. The above locale, I will be writing about in a future post later this month, but the Hog Fire ravaged through there.
It is truly imperative to get out and about when it is safe to do so. Another example of a disappearing landmark earlier this year was most of the town of Constantia was intentionally burned down this spring.
The site of the Constantia store, April 28, 2020——Kim Dieter
Seldom seen places, from forgotten settlements in northern Klamath and Lake counties to “Ghosts” of Crater Lake National Park and the Tri-Corners area where the states of Oregon, California and Nevada come together are featured in the newly released 2020 Journal of the Shaw Historical Library.
“Far Corners: Seldom Seen Places in the Land of the Lakes,” features stories by a variety of authors about settlements and communities that were or, in some cases, exist with small populations.
“We tried to include important historical sites, such as railroad stops, stagecoach stops, boat landings, military camps and ranches that played a noteworthy role in the development of the area,” Lawrence Powers writes in the introduction, which also includes a listing of 195 communities in the 11 counties in four states that are part of the Shaw’s “Land of the Lakes.”
Far Northern California is represented in stories about Picard, Clear Lake, Tionesta and Long Bell Camp and the Madeline Plains communities of Madeline, Termo and Ravendale by a variety of authors, including Powers, Ryan Bartholomew, Sylvia Copeland and Ron Hathaway.
The far Northern Klamath County communities of Mowich, Crescent Lake and Shevlin are featured in a trio of articles by John Driscoll while Stephen Mark, the historian for Crater Lake National Park, tells about “ghosts” at the park and writes about historic places in Malheur County.
Marie Lee, a Lakeview author of several historical non-fiction books who also is the Lake County Museum director, provides information about such little-known North Lake County settlements as Cliff, Arrow, Buffalo, Connley, Fleetwood, Viewpoint, Loma Vista and more. A separate story features Valley Falls.
A comprehensive history of commercial uranium mines that were located near Lakeview is provided by Michelle Durant, an archeologist for the Fremont-Winema National Forest.
Adding a unique perspective about Wagontire is Larry Wagner. His mother, Vera Addington Wagner, was born and lived at the community located between Lakeview and Burns.
Providing insight about Camp Warner, an Army post that originated at what is now the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, is Dan Goheen while author John Griffin provides little-known details about the gunfight at the Shirk Ranch. Steve Kandra writes about the Civilian Conservation Corp’s Camp Klamath.
Stories by Lee Juillerat tell about Pla-ik-ni, the ancestral home of the late Edison Chiloquin, along with Hardin City and Lowell Jones’ memories of the Long-Bell logging camp and community of Tennant.
A goal of the Journal is to provide information on places people may or may not have heard about or visited. As Powers writes, “many small unincorporated communities thrive. A few have become famous as gateways to tourist attractions and events … some have persisted as stable communities without the benefit of an economic magnet, and other flourished for a brief time and disappeared.”
Copies of “Far Corners” are available at the Klamath County Museum and Basin Book Trader in Klamath Falls, Modoc County Museum in Alturas, Country Hearth in Cedarville, Howard’s Drugs in Lakeview, Margie’s Book Nook in Susanville or by contacting the Shaw Historical Library by email at shawlib@oit.edu or by calling 541-85-1686.
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 August, 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.
Lassen County Courthouse, October 1924–Boyd Benham/Connie Boomer
In 2018, Lassen County received a $8.4 million in grant funding from the State of California for a rehabilitation of the courthouse built in 1917. Earlier this year, all the offices inside the building had been relocated. The project has now entered Phase II that involves seismic and infrastructure improvements, the work being done by Lionakis, a engineering firm. This will include the design plan for an elevator to the second floor. The elevator’s installation will be in Phase 3 of the project. All things considered with Covid-19, the project is still on time.
Note: Yes, I am well aware that the photographer mislabeled the photograph.
It is nice to be able to get out and about again, not just from the shelter-in-place guidelines, but also with the broken leg recovery. I am a still bit wobbly on uneven ground, but progress is made, slow but sure.
This lake has been severely impacted by this dry winter. Last year, the lake was full and even prompted California Department of Fish & Game to stock it with fish. However, with the current conditions, the lake will be long gone shortly.
Today’s special Tuesday post is brought to you courtesy of the Lassen County Planning Commission. If you crave some entertainment and want to see some excitement, today’s Planning Commission meeting is your ticket. The show begins at 1:20 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Susanville. The hot topic is a proposed Dollar General store for the town of Doyle. Of course, I have a reserved seat, since I am Chairman of the Commission.
Locally, the $64,000 question has been what is going on with the excavation of the old Fruit Growers/Sierra Pacific millpond site adjacent to Riverside Drive. Some readers may recall that in the Spring of 2018 I wrote about the property being placed on the market by Smith Properties. The property falls under county jurisdiction. As it has been relayed the property is being prepared as a parcel split—a joint venture of Hat Creek Construction and Nobles Construction. However, certain procedures have not been followed. I will bring this matter up at Tuesday’s June 2, Lassen County Planning Commission meeting, since certain officials have not responded to my request.
Fruit Growers Supply Company, 1936
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1405 Main Street, Susanville—Courtesy of
George Sargent
In July 1925, Harry Riddell began construction of a home on the northeast corner of Main and Grand. The first item of business was a curved retaining wall. Instead of hiring a contractor, Riddell used day laborers to construct the house in various phases.
In August 1938 Steve and Helen Sargent, proprietors of the Grand Cafe purchased the Riddell home. After some minor remodeling the family moved in on September 1, 1938. The home still remains in the Sargent family.
While it is Tuesday, at least I am providing a historical photograph, plus some insights as to future posts. First, is the relationship between the communities of Adin and Hayden Hill. While some years back I wrote an introduction about Congressman John E. Raker, though I never did any follow up accounts about him, whether it be his role in the Lookout Lynchings or the establishment of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Of course there is the topic how government timberlands ended being owned by large lumber companies, and how years later the government reclaimed some of those lands. Plus, I still have to answer some inquiries that I have received, and while I may be a bit slow, I will get the job done.
In keeping with this week’s theme of Go Exploring, for some this might be easy and others not so. That latter group needs to get out more. I provide two hints—one of the structures was used by a federal agency—two, both buildings came from another location.
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