While some of the more astute readers probably have read or heard about how Lake Almanor was named, many may not be aware that it was not the original designation of the reservoir that flooded what was originally known as Big Meadows.
Julius Howells was a civil engineer who initially did work in the Feather River country. When hydroelectric power was coming to the forefront in the 1890s, he became part of that movement. In 1901, two things happened. Howells went back to examine the upper watershed of the North Fork of the Feather River, known then as Big Meadows. Howells also affiliated with well known engineer James Dix Schuyler of Los Angeles. When Howells met with Schuyler he provided with his findings of developing a hydroelectric system of the Feather River. Schuyler introduced Howells to Edwin Earl, who had done so well financially in the citrus packing industry, was branching out to invest other endeavors. Edwin Earl along with his brother Guy were impressed and created the Great Western Power Company to make Howells’ project a reality. In 1902, Howells officially recording was for the creation of a new reservoir to be named Lake Earl. It would be twelve years before the lake would be created and the initial name had been abandoned. It would be christened Lake Almanor for Guy Earl’s three daughters. Years later, Alice Earl Wilder recalled the origin of the name Lake Almanor:
”Mr. Julius Howells was a welcome guest in our home who said Children, call me Uncle Julius. He asked my father to name the new lake. My father and mother spent many hours finding a name they liked. It had to have a name pleasing to the ear it had to be readily pronounced, spelled and easily read. They did not want a foreign name and were not fond of surnames. They wanted to name it after their four children, Alice, Martha, Elinore and Guy. Many combinations of these names were attempted. It was hard tom get ‘Guy’ in. Finally my father settled for a name that was simple and musical and of which three of the four children would be part—and also in the right order—eldest, next eldest and youngest. The lake was named Almanor. The AL for Alice, the MA for Martha and the Nor for Elinore.”
For the record, there are certain early maps that indicate the spelling of the lake with an “e” at the end—Almanore.