Category Archives: News

News

Archive Update

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Big Meadows Mountain Maidu dancer, 1911-Courtesy of Hazel Moller

My holiday activity will be spent retrieving old research files from some cd’s. A generous friend provided me with a USB SuperDrive to do the task. I thought I had printed out a hard copy of my notes on the local Native American community dating back to record searches of late 1800s from my older computer files. There are gaps in that print out, so hopefully the full file will appear on the cd. After all I have gone through several computers, and the older ones, there had been problems of file transfers. Who knows what gems I might uncover.

Tim

History, News

And So It Goes–Susanville Logging Company

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Joe “Tunney” Zunino posing with his one log load- Margaret Purdy

Several people contacted me in November about the above photograph.  I had an initially published on March 28, 2019. Lo and behold it was recently posted on social media. It should be noted, that I do not have a Facebook account, etc. There are a lot people who help themselves somewhat generously I might add, and repost them either in newsletters, social media and who knows wherever else.

In this instance, I was a little peeved. The person who did the “lifting” of said picture and reposted it, identified the man in the picture as my father!  Far from it. My Dad was connected with the Susanville Logging Company. Before Susanville, it was Purdy Bros LoggingIn 1958, Susanville Logging re-organized and the new owners consisted of Dale Soule, Paul Langslet, James Purdy and Leroy Purdy.  The company operated a sawmill on Johnstonville Road and in 1993 when Jeld-Wen Corporation owned it, it was closed down. End of story.

Tim

 

News

Your Request

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The 1878 staff of the Lassen Advocate-Marge Hansen

During the month of December I will be examining the Lassen Advocate newspaper of 1898 and 1914. If you are interested in people, places or events, please let me know. I do have a long overdue request for Edward Hilder. In addition, obituary requests for Jesse Cole (1898) and John F. Hulsman (1914).

Tim

News

What Kind of Winter Will It Be?

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Westwood, 1975

Today marks the beginning of meteorological winter. Leading up to December some people approach me for a winter prognosis. First of all, my background is in law and history, a meteorologist I am not.  Of course, I have studied the region’s weather history. That aside, as a life long resident, there is one winter prediction I can almost guarantee—no two winters are alike.

When I was growing up, I asked my Uncle Bob Rea the question what kind of winter will it be. His reply, “I will tell you in March.”

Tim

P.S. – For those out of the area, yesterday, the high temperature in Susanville was 25, with 92 % humidity and fog.

History, News

Will This A Record Breaking Pogonip?

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fog
A pogonip as seen from Antelope Grade

Pogonip by definition is ice fog found in mountain valleys, especially in the Great Basin, in the winter. Ideal conditions for its formation is lots of ground moisture’s and high pressure weather system. Thie result is an inversion, when moisture laden clouds were forced down the valley floor, and the dominant high pressure blocks storm systems and with no  wind, so inversions is trapped. One can ascend a few hundred feet above the valley floor, bask in sunny temperatures and overlook a sea of clouds.

North side of the Lassen County Courthouse during a pogonip. Notice the trees are coated with ice crystals due to the freezing fog.

The term pogonip loosely translates into “white death,” for many Indians caught pneumonia and died. Pogonips vary in severity. A mild one might linger a few days or a week.The worst variety is when it turns into a literal ice fog, coating everything. The first day can be spectacular with ice crystal formations on everything. After several successive days of those bone chilling temperatures, it quickly loses its appeal. The pogonip of 1859 was one of severest on record in the Honey Lake Valley. The heavy cold fog lasted six weeks. So much frost accumulated on the grasses that cattle could not eat it. In addition, since the first settlers had been accustomed to mild winters, very little hay was put up, and a great many cattle starved to death that winter.

This  is one the earliest pogonip on record in this territory. Long range weather forecast indicate no storms through mid-December.  Time well tell when the pogonip breaks up. Hopefully, they are wrong, and the fog lifts by Sunday.

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News

My Out of Print Books Explained

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More than a decade ago, my book sales saw a deep decline. The last profitable book was that of my Red River Lumber Company series. If the truth be known, if it had not been for the Walker heirs of Red River, I would have been doomed. Another example, released in 2002 , and considered by many as my best work was the  Lassen County Almanac: An Historical Encyclopedia. Even with rave reviews it did not sale out until twenty years later. Ouch.

Yet, from time to time, I have been asked to reprint a book, especially Eagle Lake and Lake Almanor. That is a pricey proposition that is a doomed financial failure. After all, I would be competing myself since BookFinder.com and other entities have my used books listed.

There is a related subject–calendars. Calendars have also seen sharp decline. I struggle to sale fifty. When I first corroborated with the Lassen High School Graphic Arts in 1979, we published 500! While program ended in 1999, I resurrected it. In 2017 I had 100+ calendars produced and that number has been reduced to half.

Tim

 

History, News

A Double Whammy Kind of Day

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Construction of Riverside Hospital, Susanville, 1920. Courtesy of Ed Standard

Today, of course, is Tuesday. Some times I post a Tuesday Tidbit and sometimes I do not. When I first started this site, I posted a story seven days week, year and after year. In February 2020, I scaled back to six days a week, selecting Tuesday as the dark day. It just happens this Tuesday is also Odometer Day, that is my customary annual day off.

Potter’s Maternity Home

For those not familiar with Odometer Day, it is a reference to my birthday. While my three siblings were born at Ma Potters Paternity Home, I chose to be different and made my debut at Riverside Hospital, and that structure was torn down in 1969.

Tim

 

History, News

The St. Francis Hotel & Its Origins

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Franceska Murrer Neuhaus, 1916—Leona Jackson Byars

There are readers from far and near. While the later, is well aware of the Susanville’s St. Francis Hotel came to an end on November 1, 2024 when it was engulfed in flames caused by a suspected arsonist.

St. Francis Hotel fire, November 1, 2024-Susanville Fire Department

My great-great grandmother Franceska Murrer Neuhaus had the original portion of the hotel  built in 1914. It should be noted that she was 74 years old with this business venture. She was a devout Catholic, hence the hotel’s name. It was  also conveniently located near the Sacred Heart Church, which she was instrumental, along with Antone Bantley and Thomas Mulroney that established the parish. When she passed away in 1918, her son Bill Neuhaus inherited the hotel.

The staff of the St. Francis Hotel, 1915. When it first opened its door for business in 1914 and for many years, they hired Chinese to manage the restaurant, though they advertised the menu as American cuisine. Courtesy of Leona F. Byars

In 1925/26 Bill and his wife Flora, had expanded the hotel with a west wing addition.   In 1944, the childless couple sold the hotel due to Bill’s health. It should be noted, in 1901, at Willow Creek Valley, during hay season, Bill’s right leg  was mangled a steam threshing machine and subsequently amputated.

Tim

 

News

2025 Calendars

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Roop’s Fort, Susanville, 1925

Back by a somewhat popular demand are the calendars, though next year,  maybe very limited.  Time will tell. As usual there are always an interesting mix historic photographs. Among those featured is that Helen Sargent, proprietor of the Grand Cafe, 1984; Eagle Lake, 1916, Paul Bunyan Lumber Company, 1947, Westwood 1918 to name a few.

One has three options to purchase calendars:

1) Locally, you can purchase them at Margie’s Book Nook.

2) You can purchase direct online by clicking  here

3) You can also email me to place your order, and it will be sent with an invoice. Important Notice: There are only 50 calendars available, and once sold out that is it.