In the spring of 1916, California State Highway Commissioner, H.S. Cromley, announced that convict labor from Folsom State Prison would be used for the initial construction of a state highway between Susanville and Red Bluff. Cromley made it clear the inmate labor was not forced and those who wanted to do such work was voluntarily. In the meantime, Lassen County officials lobbied hard that initial construction be done to connect the communities of Susanville and Westwood. They were successful.
On August 25, 1916, 54 convicts (the term used then) from Folsom State Prison set up a camp just west of Susanville, it being. the site of today’s California Division of Forestry headquarters for the region. When not working the inmates were allowed to roam freely, such as hiking down the canyon to the Susan River to swim. They were, however, prohibited, to go into Susanville.
The inmates worked two eight hour shifts. The main focus was work on the entrance into Susanville, a new survey route would enter the town connecting with South Pine Street, versus the old route of Prattville Road and North Pine Street. One other accomplishment was the survey of a new route over Fredonyer Summit. The camp remained opened longer than usual, due to weather conditions, and shut down on December 15, 1916.