While researching the McGowan house, I came across an interesting editorial from the Lassen Advocate of June 21, 1929. I find it is a time less piece worthy of republishing. After all, August will shortly be upon us, and the summer days begin to wane. Take the paper’s advice and go exploring.

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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Another experiment

Final preparations are underway for the June Adventure.  Subscribers have received their packet to visit to an internationally known ancient solar observatory, which is minutes from Susanville and practically unknown by locals.

What is that saying,  its not the destination, but the journey, or something like that.  The above photograph was taken by the late Bernard McCallister, in attempt to replicate the 1897 Dunham photograph that featured a racetrack. All these things are intertwined.  This little area is home to prehistoric (dinosaurs); Native American; Nobles Emigrant Trail; Military ( Dragoon Bridge); Commerce, the 2nd store in the Honey Lake Valley; and a lot more.

For those who want to partake, there is a window of opportunity to be part of the experience for a mere five dollars to subscribe to this site.  There is a June 9 deadline, due to planning logistics. Upon subscribing one receives a packet of the details and literature. After all, you do not want to miss the the forthcoming Inspiration Point Tour.

Here is a preview of the forthcoming topics for the first half of June. In addition, take a moment to review the Subscribe feature.

On Tuesday, May 12, my dear Auntie Irene nee Bengoa Purdy Trout passed away at the age of 90. As a nurse her entire life, it was only fitting she went to heaven on the same date when Florence Nightingale was born.

Irene was involved in the Susanville community throughout her entire life, and leaves a great legacy. For me, and this many do not realize is in her own way contributed to my documenting the region’s history. When I was twelve-years-old, she gave me my first camera, which she told me, “You will be a teenager soon, and you need to record your life.” Did I ever and my surroundings as well. Little did I know then her gift would be history in the making. Of course, the first photograph I ever took was Auntie at her home on View Drive, which I will cherish forever.

Have you ever wondered who has had the most impact on Lassen County? One hears Peter Lassen and Isaac Roop’s names bandied about all the time. Their influence was rather minor in the scheme of things. Captain C.A. Merrill’s Lassen County Desert Land Act of 1875, which was revised to the Desert Land Act of 1877 had a huge impact on the Western United States and the current groundwater export from the Nevada side of the Honey Lake Valley is a result of that. In addition, it was Merrill that opened the door that led to Leon Bly’s tapping of Eagle Lake, but his work, still pales into comparison. Then there is A.J. Mathews who came to Susanville in 1910 and built the telephone system we know today. Mathews had major political clout in Sacramento and the only Lassen County resident to serve as the Speaker of the California State Assembly. We should be thankful for Mathews’ endeavors, yet he is not the influential person I am thinking of.

A month from today, I will reveal the identity. In the meantime, I will work on an appropriate prize for the correct answer. Only a subscriber can win the prize.

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