Several folks figured it out, that it is Sunkist Street in 1920, which was the road leading to the Fruit Growers Supply Company’s mill. There was a real easy clue, as I forgot to change the photograph’s name. In case some of you may not realize, if you click on the photograph, it will enlarge the image.

It has been awhile since I did quiz.  Some may remember the last featured question was High Rock Ranch, and it stumped quite a few to my amazement. So just for fun, does anyone recognize this Susanville Street? You may leave your answer in the comment section, or the shy one can email me. The winner, by the way will receive the 2017 historical calendar when it is released in the fall.

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It appears it may be my Internet Provider, Frontier. Stay tuned and patient. The postings continue, which comes from a different server, its the daily notification that is the issue.

Logging operations of the early 1900s was extremely labor intensive. Motorized equipment was still in the experimental stages. One of the best advancements was the development of the Michigan Big Wheels, which everyone just called them big wheels. The wheels were a simple but efficient way to transport fallen logs to a landing, wherein they were then loaded onto railroad cars. The big wheels in time would become a key component in revolutionizing logging methods.

Horses provided the power to operate the big wheels. The name big wheels stems from their size ten to twelve feet in diameter. It was necessary for that size, in order to straddle a log and navigate moderate terrain. The logs were attached to a twelve foot tongue and with a lever, the driver could not only elevate a portion of a log in the front thereby making it easier to drag, but could loosen or tighten the cable, for braking purposes. One big drawback of big wheels was that it required a great deal of labor. Most big wheel logging camps employed as many as of 150 men. Two thirds of them worked as “swampers.” It was their job to remove brush, tree saplings, rocks and other debris that could injure a horse’s leg.

By the late 1920s, both Fruit Growers Supply Company and the Red River Lumber Company had replaced the big wheels with motorized “cats”.

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For some strange reason, it is not working. Be patient while I work on the remedy.

Yesterday, I came across an article in the New York Times about the Wendel family. However, while quite interesting, it was not the same Wendel clan for the railroad town of the same name.  The Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad (NCO) named it after German investor Charles de Wendel. Some twenty-five years ago, Armin Wendel a family descendant contacted me about this town, which he thought was a major U.S. city. He assigned an assistant to make arrangements for a visit. That person contacted me about the Wendel International Airport, and was there a Holiday Day Inn where her boss could stay among many other inquiries. Needless to say Armin was disappointed when I relayed the conditions of the town along with photographs and he never made the journey.

It should be noted, there were two Wendels on the Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad (NCO). The first Wendel Station was established in 1913 in Lake County, Oregon and its existence was brief. In October 1914, the Lassen Advocate reported that the NCO and Southern Pacific (SP) Junction name was to be changed from Caloreta to Wendel. In addition, the post office located there was known as Purser, and that name would also be changed to Wendel. While the NCO adopted the name change, the SP did not change it to Wendel until 1917.

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In 1913, with the construction of the town and Westwood, along with the railroad construction crew rapidly approaching to Susanville, the camp followers of the day were not far behind. Out of this delegation were those sometimes referred to as the “ladies of the night.” Continue reading Susanville Bordello’s – Part II →

My computer is being overhauled today, new hard drive, etc.  This does not affect the website. However, I will not be able to respond to communications, such as comments and emails. Hopefully, all goes smooth and be up and running by mid-day.

Today, I did not receive a daily post notification, so I am conducting this test, since it will publish immediately.  Thanks for your understanding.

Here is February’s line-up. Of course, everything is subject to change. However, I have included three from Your Topic suggestions.

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