Category Archives: News

Your Topic

Flanigan
Flanigan. Courtesy of Robert M. Hanft

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. For instance, this item was composed on March 3, 2016.  So by the time you read this, I am already working on posts in the middle of June. 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 an request at any time.

The topics readers wanted to learn about are a wide range from the Susanville Coca Cola Plant to the Shinn Ranch. However, recently I have received a request about the Lone Pine Mine on Gold Run which ties in with the Wild Horse Mines of Smoke Creek. Also of note, mining on Diamond Mountain is one of the many topics to be discussed on the forthcoming Inspiration Point Tour.

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A new Susanville book

Jonas470

Sandra Jonas who has spent years researching Susan Roop Arnold has come full circle and published her work. While I recently purchased a copy, and I have not yet had an opportunity to read it. As a matter of fact, I have a bit of back log of reading material. It has been nearly a month now since I received the last of Glenn Wemple’s memoirs to review, which I do need to focus on, along with a host of other matters.

Sandra will be doing a book signing on Saturday April 16, 2016 from 1-3 at Margie’s Book Nook, 722 Main Street, Susanville. If you are out of the area or cannot make it give Margie’s a call, 530-257-2392 to have them reserve a signed copy for you.

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Another Milestone

Honey Lake Meat Market's 1906 parade entry featuring Leona Jackson and Mary Fern Long. It was taken at the corner of Union and Cottage Streets. The barn in the background was torn down and replaced with the St. Francis Hotel. Courtesy of Leona Byars
Honey Lake Meat Market’s 1906 parade entry featuring Leona Jackson and Mary Fern Long. It was taken at the corner of Union and Cottage Streets. The barn in the background was torn down and replaced with the St. Francis Hotel. Courtesy of Leona Byars

It was at this time a year ago I included the subscription feature. The site as you know is free, and no pay wall, or blocked material. However, I experience various costs, let alone the time to provide a daily post. So, first of all I appreciate those who support this effort, though less than 75 people are paid subscribers, yet over 10,000 people visit the site each month.

As an enticement for you to subscribe is one of the offering of tours to subscribers. We recently did a Saint Patrick’s Cemetery Tour and up next an Inspiration Point Tour. It should be noted, that those that either reside out of the area or cannot make it, still receive the text of the tour. In addition, paid subscribers receive priority on their request for future topics.

So I have some faith that there are those who have been enjoying the content for free, sign up at five dollars month to subscribe.  After all what better way to start you day with latest historical post.  Its all just a click away,  here. 

April Preview

Courtesy of Alyce Bangham
Courtesy of Alyce Bangham

A little bit of everything this month. Note the entry for April 8. Enjoy!

Red River: The Turbulent Years 4/1/16
Pioneer Traits 4/2/16
Another Milestone 4/3/16
Shirley’s 4/4/16
 Nataqua Defined, Sort Of 4/5/16
 Lassen High School Trivia 4/6/16
 Susanville’s First Golf Course 4/7/16
 A Surprise!!!! 4/8/16
 Antelope Station 4/9/16
 Harrison’s Traction Engine 4/10/16
 McKissick Ranch – Then and Now 4/11/16
 Paul Bunyan’s Pine Trademark 4/12/16
 Ravendale 4/13/16
 Lassen High Alumni 4/14/16
 Your Topic 4/15/16
 Sorsoli Hotel 4/16/16
 Diamond Mountain Mining 4/17/16
 Knights of Columbus 4/18/16
 Horse Lake 4/19/16
 Horne Ranch 4/20/16
Susanville’s Brashear Street 4/21/16
 Homer Lake 4/22/16
 Lassen County Reclamation Projects 4/23/16
 St. Francis Hotel Makeover 4/24/16
 Susanville Country Club Preview 4/25/16
 Peter Lassen’s Demise 4/26/16
 Of Brands & Blogs 4/27/16
Lassen Monument Movement 4/28/16
 Skedaddle Dam 4/29/16
May  Preview 4/30/16

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St. Patrick’s Cemetery Tour Update

D. Wood & Sons Butcher Shop, Susanville, 1914. Courtesy of Verna M. Wood
D. Wood & Sons Butcher Shop, Susanville, 1914. Courtesy of Verna M. Wood

Just an update that most everything is in the works. Those who have expressed an interest will be receiving later today a message with all the important details, i.e. date and time. All paid subscribers will receive a copy of the narrative.

So this is also to serve as a last chance reminder for those who might have forgotten to sign up. It should be noted the tour is limited to 25, anything larger than that makes it difficult to move people around. Make sure to contact me for reservations. If you are not a paid subscriber there is a $5 fee. You can read more about the tour here.

The reason for the photograph above, is that it ties in with the tour. In 1872, Jeremiah Wood’s son opened a butcher shop in Susanville and his descendants, six generations later, are still engaged in the meat and ranching business.

Note: If demand warrants, a second tour can be arranged.

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March Preview

Flooding near Standish, 1952. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
Flooding near Standish, 1952. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
 Roosevelt Pool Revisited  3/1/16
Sacred Heart Church 3/2/16
The Lassen Mail and the Cook Era 3/3/16
Janesville Hotel 3/4/16
David Rosas 3/5/16
Susanville’s Loafer’s Society 3/6/16
Purdy’s Garage 3/7/16
Susanville’s Bordellos – Part II 3/8/16
W.N. Davis, Jr. 3/9/16
St. Patrick’s Cemetery Tour Update 3/10/16
Lake School – Then and Now 3/11/16
Susanville Street Names 3/12/16
Barry Reservoir 3/13/16
Westwood’s Paint Job? 3/14/16
Pioneer Barbershop 3/15/16
Skedaddle Creek 3/16/16
Bartlett Said, A Vagabond’s Journey 3/17/16
Buried Treasures 3/18/16
W.R. Harrison, Esquire 3/19/16
The Magnolia 3/20/16
Coyote Scalps 3/21/16
NCO Livestock Brand 3/22/16
The Shinn Family 3/23/16
Sierra Theater Preview 3/24/16
Diamond Mountain Guest Ranch 3/25/16
William S. Brashear 3/26/16
Sacred Heart’s Rectory 3/27/16
Roseberry House 3/28/16
Westwood’s LDS Church 3/29/16
Lassen High’s Block L 3/30/16
April Preview 3/31/16

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Acts of Kindness

Paul Harris436
Rotary

On February 25, 2016  yours truly was a recipient of Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow Award. After forty plus years of not only preserving our region’s heritage but more importantly making it available in a variety of formats, it was nice to be recognized. Thank you Susanville Sunrise Rotary Club for the distinguished honor.

In a related matter every now and then some kind individual sends along a financial donation.  It is a heartwarming gesture, that is much appreciated.  It shows that people not only support the humanities, but understand and appreciate it. After all, there is a wide of variety of costs involved with archives.

Finally, thank you the subscriber for your support, it is truly appreciated in more ways than you can imagine.

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Updates

Susan River Canyon, 1920. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner
Susan River Canyon, 1920. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

First and foremost today marks my six month anniversary from my fall from grace and the broken hip. Progress is made every week, and I am now walking on my own,  without the aid of a cane or any other apparatus.  However, I am not ready for prime time just yet.

The St. Patrick’s Cemetery Tour is a go. Working on some of the details, so stay tuned.

One subscriber had a request for the brochure on the markers along the Bizz Johnson Trail. I hope to get that scanned and placed online as a PDF file.  This got me to pondering about doing a walking tour from South Lassen Street to Trestle 3. There was a lot of activity in that short stretch from the jungles, Arnold Ditch, first hospital and so forth. If you are interested you can always drop me a line or post a comment.

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Adin Revisited

Adin 1879
Adin, 1879

After two months of online tutorials from Lynda.com on this date a year ago, was my first posting.  So it was only fitting to take a gander, and update it.

The above photograph was taken by Herman Brince  a professional photographer in Lassen, Modoc and Plumas counties during 1878-79.  I have always been impressed with his work, though only dozen or so are known to be existence. Whatever, became of his negatives is unknown, but we do know that he died in New Zealand in 1882. However, in 2003, one of his photographs, an 1879 picture of Susanville’s Masonic Lodge surfaced on Ebay, which I purchased, but that is another story.

Adin’s humble beginning date back to 1869, when its namesake Adin Gainey McDowell, settled there.   Adin flourished during the 1870s because of its close proximity to the mining town of Hayden Hill. As a matter of fact, it was Modoc County’s largest town for awhile.

Beginning this year, I now have a column in the Northern California Traveller. In a forthcoming issue will be a lively account of Adin’s history.

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St. Patrick’s Cemetery Tour

Cahlan Family Plot.

As spring is around the corner, many are probably antsy to get out and  about. With that in mind, the Lassen Ale Works and I are proposing a special Susanville Cemetery Tour to visit those hardy pioneers who hailed from Ireland and played a role in our region’s history.

Among the graves to be visited is that of John Cahlan, president of the Bank of Lassen County.  Richard and Margaret Thompson that involves a forbidden marriage, murder and a governor’s pardon. Jeremiah Wood the patriarch of the Wood family that has ranched for many generations in the region. Of course, there is the strange tale which Patrick Bagin who went for a final swim in Leavitt Lake with a sixty pound rock round tied around his neck.

Everything currently is in the preliminary planning stages. However, we would like to take an informal poll to see if the interest is there. Please either leave a comment or send me an email. Please take note this is a paid subscriber event. It only cost $5.00 a month to subscribe.

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