Photographs of certain places and/or events just want to remain hidden. Take for instance Susanville’s combination City/Fire Hall. It was built in 1905 and destroyed by fire in 1921. A photograph of it does appear in the 1965 Lassen Advocate Centennial publication. One would think a public building, adorned with a sixty-foot tall bell tower, would appear in a variety of photographs.
Another example. My good friend, the late Hank Martinez, spent a life-time in search of a photograph of the El Centro, in Old Town, Westwood. It was a combination store and community hall. I had hoped to find one in the Red River Lumber Company’s archives but to no avail.
In May, 1923 one of the largest public events ever held at that time, occurred in Litchfield. It was a grand celebration to celebrate the completion of the Bly Tunnel at Eagle Lake, that would irrigate lands in the Honey Lake Valley. Over 5,000 people were in attendance and yet, to this day, I have never come across a single photograph.
Interesting, however, some times rare photographs do surface on Ebay. Some times I make a purchase, and some times not, depending on price range, etc.