Category Archives: News

Ask Tim

Some where out in Northwestern Nevada

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.

A Living Memorial Revisited

Carl Bearup’s marker at the base of a American sycamore tree planted in his honor.

On July 8, 2015 the featured post that day was a A Living Memorial.” In 1940 the local American Legion Post began a project that would result in two objectives. One was a beautification program for the Lassen County Courthouse property, that would serve a second purpose as a living memorial. They planted seventeen American sycamore trees, one each for every Lassen County man that perished in the “Great War” as World War I was referred to then. It was their intent that that at the base of each tree a plaque would be placed with that service man’s name. In the meantime, with so much focused on the war effort leading into World War II, that detail was put on the sideline, and like so many other community projects started in that era, were forgotten after the war ended.

Fast forward to the fall of 2018 and it is with great joy that the project has come full circle. Ryan Elison, as part of project to obtain the Eagle Scout rank with Boy Scouts completed the goal started seventy-eight years ago! Ryan, with some outside help, was responsible to place memorial markers at each tree as originally intended.

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Lassen Monument Rehabilitation

The new entrance, September 20, 2018.

It has been 100 years since the second monument was placed, and lately a lot has been going on there giving the place a new look. The goal is to have everything complete some time in October. It is a collaborative effort and when the project is complete, I will provide details about those involved in the project. In the meantime, we will examine the lives of Marion “Commanche George” Lawrence and Joseph Lynch. While one has a grave marker, the other does not. Stay tuned.

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Lassen Industrial Bank

Lassen County Clerk, Maude Tombs cancelled check

The banking industry has certainly changed over the years, and in my opinion not for the better. To accommodate and serve customers banks went out of their way to make life a bit easier. Take for instance, Susanville’s Lassen Industrial Bank, in 1914 offered banking by mail, a novel approach for its time. In the 1920s to handle the needs and convenience of the mill workers of Fruit Growers Supply Company and Lassen Lumber & Box Company, the bank arranged special hours for them. On pay-days of the mill workers, the bank was opened in the evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 for regular business.

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

While I do ask four times a year for your inquiries, please feel free to ask a question at any time. One of the challenges of doing a daily post is the subject. Your input is important to me. After all, earlier this year in the comment section was a reference to sinker logs, and well I responded, especially since I had a great historic photograph of one. With the approaching Labor Day weekend, I hope this small request does not go by the wayside while many are cavorting around over the long holiday weekend.

By the way, for the person who wants to know more about Hall’s Flat, I am working on it.

Thanks!

A Hallelujah Moment

Hallelujah Junction
Hallelujah Junction

There are times, I amazed who contacts me for what. Recently, Recitals Australia contacted me to use a photograph of Hallelujah Junction in a classical music program. Below is composer John Adams interesting tale about how this piece came to be.

Hallelujah Junction (1996) is a small truck stop on Highway 395 in the High Sierras on the California-Nevada border near where I have a small cabin. For years I would pass through in my car, wondering what piece of music might have a title like “Hallelujah Junction.” It was a case of a good title needing a piece, so I obliged by composing this work for two pianos. Continue reading A Hallelujah Moment

Eagle Lake’s Bucks Bay

Bucks Bay, Eagle Lake, 1921. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

Locally, with Eagle Lake’s Whaleback Fire, on a lot of people’s mind, The last time I checked the fire has consumed over 18,000 acres.  I thought I share this 1921 photograph of Bucks Bay taken by my grandmother Lola L. (Murrer) Tanner. No doubt the naming of the place stems from some deer hunting tale or two, though we may never know.

Currently, there is voluntary evacuations for Bucks Bay and Stones, as fire pushes northward from Spaulding Tract. Yesterday evening, there was a community meeting concerning the fire, though I did not attend. When I am out and about later this morning, and I receive additional information, I will provide an updated post.

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Hilt Picnic

Hilt, California, 1972. Courtesy of Fruit Growers Supply Company

If there are any former Fruit Growers Supply Company folks out there, this Sunday, August 5 will be the last Hilt Reunion Picnic to be held in Medford, Oregon. Contact me for details.

For those not familiar with Hilt, it was Fruit Growers Supply Company’s company in Siskiyou County, near the Oregon border. In 1933, Fruit Growers gave serious consideration to close the mills at Hilt and Susanville due to the challenging economic conditions. However, Fruit Growers understood the value of their employees and kept the mills open to retain their workforce. However, there were layoffs. A number of workers from Susanville were transferred to Hilt. There they established a conclave known as “Little Susanville.”

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Ask Tim

The 1982 expedition in search of Nowhere.

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.

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