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.”
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.
In early June, I had an informal meeting with BLM officials to see if they were interested in reviving tours of Smoke Creek and other places that I had been involved with them some twenty years ago. They were quite receptive and we plan to move forward. There is, of coursed, some behind the scenes work that will need to be addressed. So stay tuned.
Quite a few have expressed interest in the Apache tears/black diamond mine, in the Smoke Creek Desert. Whether, I undertake it on my, or with BLM has not been determined. Whatever the case may be, it will not take place until late September or early October when the temperatures are ideal for such an excursion.
This is one of many fascinating features to be found at BLM’s Fort Sage OHV near Doyle. It is quite possible that we could include this in a forthcoming tour. If you are interested, let me know. For those wondering about Fort Sage, it never existed, more on that later.
Were you aware that the Belfast petroglyph site also serves as ancient observatory? This event only occurs on the morning of the summer solstice when the sun enters a chamber highlighting a variety of glyphs, among other things. It is quite the sight to see.
The sunrise chamber.
This is an early morning excursion and I mean early as we gather at 5 a.m. to make the trek. In preparation attendees receive in advance John Rudolph’s paper, “An Ancient Solar Observatory.” If there is enough interest we can make the trip again this year. Please let me know. One final note the solstice occurs on Thursday, June 21.
On Wednesday, June 20, I will send an email with all the details. However, if it is overcast there is no sense in going.
Note: There is a $5.00 fee for non-subscribers.
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There are a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts in our neck of the woods. For some, they would identify the site rather easily, and for others will be clueless.
It is with a great pleasure to announce that a new entrance to the Susanville Cemetery has been installed. For those not aware the original entrance, circa 1916, was destroyed by trees knocked in a windstorm on February 5, 2015. Personally, I want to thank Peter Heimbigner and the crew of the Lassen County Public Works Department, Mike Somerville’s Advance Ag Welding Program at Lassen High School and former Lassen County Supervisor Jim Chapman for making the replacement happen.
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. I hope this editorial from the Lassen Advocate of June 21, 1929 will inspire you to explore the wonderful country around us.
Know Your Country
If you were wondering what to do with your weekends this summer, have you ever given any thought to the fact that you don’t know your own county and the wonderful lake and mountain country immediately contiguous.
Within a few hours of Susanville there are numerous beautiful lakes as well as some beautiful streams and excellent camping spots.
How many have been to Drakesbad and to the top of Mount Lassen? How many have been to the ice caves near Eagle Lake and Wilson Lake?
There are many trips that can be taken from Susanville in the morning returning the same evening and traversing in the meantime a lot of new country that you have never seen before. Beauty spots near a mountain stream with clear sparkingly water are numerous where one may have their picnic lunch.
Try and see your own neck of the woods this summer. You will find many a pleasant day in store for you.
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Drakesbad, circa 1930. Courtesy of the Sifford Collection
As usual a most interesting lineup of stories for the month. Tomorrow, we start with the 1976 account of the spotting of Eagle Lake’s own Loch Ness monster and end the month with the interesting transformation of the Zarbock homestead in eastern Honey Lake Valley. In between there is the tale of Lake Earl versus Lake Almanor to Finn Barry’s Colony Ranch. Of course, there is the annual Summer Solstice Tour.
The dining room at the Gallatin House, circa 1918. Courtesy of Wyn Wachhorst
In the 1980s, the forest service considered Gallatin House at Eagle Lake surplus property and wanted to demolish it. More about this later. Anyhow, the property is now part of of Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake. This Saturday and Sunday they will be holding their 25th Annual Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. It only cost five dollars for all you can eat breakfast. Proceeds benefit Lassen County Kids Camper Scholarship Fund.
