In 1943, George Olsen, who was born in 1871 at Big Meadows, now Lake Almanor provided a presentation to the Chester Lions Club about the history of the area. I thought some might enjoy.

“The first people to arrive in the Big Meadows country were Pete Olsen, Rube Stover and Thad Stover, about 1850, looking for better summer range land. Native grasses was found in the valley belly deep to a horse. These lands were used during the summer months for four years and in 1854 they settled down and built their homes in the valley. Previously they had been commuting from Oroville via Humbug Valley.

“Their means of livelhood was sheep, cattle and dairy products which were sold in Chico, Oroville, Susanville and later Westwood.

“I was born in the valley in the vicinity of Chester in 1871 and have lived there ever since. About the time of my birth the valley commenced to grow. Several families from the Sacramento Valley moved in, including Bert Johnson. Johnson was responsible for the naming of Chester which was named for a small town of the same name in Missouri.

“The Chester post office was opened in 1896 and was located at the north end of the causeway, near the present fish traps. Johnson was the first postmaster.

“From the beginning Chester was considered a resort town, depending almost entirely upon tourists and sportsmen for its livelihood. It was even considered a resort by the Indians who came there in bands of 300 and 400 to hold their powwows and to play Indian football. The local Indians in this valley were known as the Big Meadows Indians. Their most frequent visitors were the Hat Creeks from across the mountain.”

To be continued tomorrow.

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