When I pulled my Lassen County Wildlife file, I realized there were a bevy topics that I thought of be interest. There subjects of which have never published. Take for instance the Grizzly bears in the region of the 1870s. The Pyramid Lake trout was a local hot issue during the 1930s. Did you know that in 1909 the ring-necked pheasant was introduced in the Honey Lake Valley? The next several months we will explore. those topics and much more.
Tim
For some thing a bit different some tales of my earlier days when I did lot of dumpster diving to salvage historical records from destruction. This involved both private and public records.
In 1984, Milford resident David Ross called me and stated he had a box of old books and photographs and wanted to know if I was interested. Of course, I paid Dave a visit, as one just never knows what treasures might exist. There were a few interesting items, and some well I tossed. I was intrigued with an old leather brand book that I had never seen before. Years later, I was working on a project with Alvin McClane of Desert Research Institute on a past and present photographic survey at Eagle Lake. He happened to spot the brand book on my bookshelf, and informed me that it was very rare and very valuable.
In another instance, in 1985 I received a telephone call from Fred Lendman, a forester for the Paul Bunyan Lumber Company in Anderson, Shasta County. Fred stated the company was going to toss a portfolio of some 300 8×10 photographs of that company when it was located in Susanville during 1940s and 1950s.. Needless to say, I quickly made arrangements and off to Anderson I went.
One now has a little glimpse as to how I have but together a unique archive collection of the region. More tales to follow.
Tim
On Monday, September 9th, the Lassen Library District has closed its doors temporarily due to a much needed renovation. It is anticipated that it will re-open February. It is a hinderance, but I have wealth of records in the archives I maintain.
While I do have the luxury of large number volumes of bound local newspapers, I still rely upon the library’s microfilm collection. The major impact is obituary requests. As an alternative, if know of the newspaper, and citation date, as well page and column the California State Library can provide assistance.
Of course, newspapers are just one source of material. For instance, I am researching when the residence at 120 North Roop Street, Susanville was built. An alternative of newspaper source, normally I would consult Book of Agreements lodged in the Lassen County Recorder’s Office. During the early 1900s, it was common for a building contractor and their client to record an building agreement as to the specifications, costs, etc. Alas, there is temporary roadblock there as well due the fact that those records are in storage because of the Lassen County Courthouse Renovation project.*
Patience is virtue, so I am grateful that the access of those records is just temporary and not permanent.
*Mechanics Liens is a good source of building records.
Tim
On July 25, 2024, Mary Rea, the last of the three Tanner sisters (Ardene Purdy and Joyce Cunha) passed away. In 1973, when their mother, Lola Tanner passed away, the three sisters formed the Tanner Ranch partnership to continue with the family ranch operations.
In 1870, William Martin Tanner located near Soldier Bridge along the Susan River about half way between present day Standish and. Litchfield. In 1882, he sold 40 acres to Andrew Litch which would be the future site of Litchfield. Tanner died unexpectedly in 1890 leaving behind his wife Jane and four small children-Maude, William, John and Charley. The three brothers would eventually homestead property on their own in the Standish District. In 1927, John married Lola Murrer. The following year the Capezolli family offered to trade ranches with John and Lola and that they did.
Over the years, John and Lola purchased neighboring homesteads-Whitehead, Stampfli and Hartson. In 1945, when John passed away the ranch consisted of some 1550 acres which has not changed over the years. The only major change occurred was also in the 1940s. The Tanners had new neighbors with the establishment of State Wildlife Honey Lake Refuge.The Fleming Unit borders the east side of Tanner Ranch, while the Dakin Unit on the west side.
The heirs of Tanner Ranch will in do time place the property for sale and end of era for the family spanning 150 plus years in the Honey Lake Valley in the agricultural community.
Tim
On this date in 1850, California became the thirty-first state to enter the union of the United States. Alas, it goes largely ignored. It used to be a state holiday, so schools, city, county and state offices were closed in observance. Today, that is no longer the case. In the late 1970s or possibly 1980 there was a holiday switcheroo. Labor organizations lobbied and instead of having a paid holiday on Admission Day, they traded that date for the day after Thanksgiving. So a piece of trivia history, that depending on one’s age knew this, but if you are the younger set, now you know.
Tim
Today, Saturday September 7, 2024 there will be a celebration of life for Charles “Chuck” Dickens in Washington. While I am unable to attend, I will be thinking of him. Chuck left a lasting legacy to Lassen Union High School where he graduated in 1950. Some of his surviving classmates are Verna (Fraley) Wemple and Bernice (Taylor) Hagata.
I met Chuck at the Lassen Alumni picnic in 2005. We shared a common goal–we wanted to do something special for the centennial Lassen High graduating Class of 2007. A plan was hatched. We would locate and digitize every yearbook dating back to 1904. The Class of 2007 would receive the final product on a DVD
It was a daunting task, since the high school never kept a set. My main task was to locate them, wherein Chuck did the “heavy lifting” of scanning. In the Acknowledgements we thanked those who shared their yearbooks. There was a subset group that really never received the praise they deserved. For Chuck it was truly a family affair, with many members assisting. For me, it was friends who gave me the helping hand when I needed it most.
Tim
While the Southern Pacific no longer exists, it is not forgotten. The Southern Pacific Historical & Technological Society carries on to preserve its history. This year the organization will hold its convention in a railroad community the Southern Pacific made–Sparks, Nevada. It will be held from October 16-19. To learn more about the event and the registration form you can find the information here.
Yours truly was invited to be a guest speaker, a tremendous honor. Alas, I had to decline. I had the dilemma of scheduling an earlier presentation of the local Native Daughters of the Golden West. The latter, after nearly nine months since I received their request will occur on California’s Admission Day (September 9).
Tim
It was in September 1924 when the Lassen National Forest announced that they had subdivided summer home sites at Silver Lake in far western Lassen County and the headwaters of Susan River. The Lassen Mail newspaper reported on September 5, 1924: “Forest Service Offers Homes on Silver Lake. The United States Forest Service has laid out a number of lots on Silver Lake which will be offered for lease to people who wish to establish a summer camp or home. The forest service is building a good road to the lake which will make it easily accessible.” Susanville’s other newspaper, the Lassen Advocate never published any account on the topic.
Information on the early day cabins is sketchy due to the fact since the lease records were filed with the forest service. The Lassen Mail of June 28, 1929 reports, “New Cottages at Silver Lake. Marble Burch, owner of the resort at Silver Lake was in Susanville the first of the week purchasing supplies and making preparaions for the opening season. He is superintending the erection of two new cottages at the lake for Chico residents.”
Tim
It is Labor Day. Yours truly has been working very laborious this year learning new technology. Not an easy task, but I am getting there. I have that slow learner disorder with new devices.
This year I have had an unusual amount of research request. The inquirers all seem to share a familiar trait. By the time I respond, I receive a reply back, that they found everything on the internet. Truth be known, in a lot of those cases, the documents that I have in those particular files are not available on the internet. An example is correspondence with their long lost relatives. That is their loss, not mine. While there is a wealth information to be found online (some of which is questionable) and there is a wealth of material that is not. I will continue to do the hard work of hands on the ground, examining original documents versus questionable online sources, so I guess that makes me a relic of the past.
In the meantime, enjoy this special holiday. I am going to toil away for a part of the day working on the 2025 Calendars.
Tim
To see an actual jackalope in the wild, is rare–like spotting Big Foot. Yet, evidence of their existence during the 1950s through 1980s could be found at any roadhouse, i.e. bar/restaurant gas station such as the original Hallelujah Junction. However, those establishments are a vanishing breed, too.
The Jackalope, for those not familiar with the species is a cross between a jack rabbit and antelope. In the 1930s, Douglas Herrick of Wyoming is attributed to be the first to discover the mythological creature. Herrick, as an amateur taxidermist, made the first mounting. In time, others did too, but used small deer horns instead. Over the next few decades the appearance of the mounted Jackalope was widespread in the Intermountain West.
Tim