While financial depression of the 1930s wreaked havoc in most of the nation, there were pockets, while still hit hard, it was not bleak like so many regions. Lassen County was fortunate, though it did not escape the ills of the depression. On the bright side the big three lumber mills—Fruit Growers, Lassen Lumber and Red River—remained opened, but with curtailed operations. That was a major feat, since sawmills of the west coast were hit hard with some 70-80% closed.
The northern half of the county was an interesting tale of boom and bust at the same time. Big Valley boomed, especially Bieber and the newly created Nubieber. This was attributed with the arrival of the railroads, i.e. the Great Northern Extension, Highline, Inside Gateway, etc since it is referred by several names. In 1931, at Nubieber, the Great Northern connected with the Western Pacific Railroad and exciting times were to be had. Its neighboring section to the east, the Madeline Plains did not fare so well. That district’s downfall had already been on the decline in the 1920s and the 1930s accelerated its depopulation. Joining that club the desert homesteaders of eastern Honey Lake as well as Secret Valleys who saw their future wane. Only the hardiest would remain.
Another segment of the agricultural community that took a deep hit were those associated with the Baxter Creek and Tule Irrigation Districts. For many their dreams collided with reality when Leon Bly’s tapping Eagle Lake for a water supply failed for the districts—forcing untold bankruptcies.
For Susanville it was a very transformative time. From the 1910s and 1920s witnessed an explosive growth and transformation. By the early 1930s it experienced an economic hangover. While it had some struggles, it had modest growth. As a bonus was President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal that among things Susanville would be a beneficiary for a swimming pool and post office, the latter still in operation.
Finally, it should be noted by the late 1910s, rural communities such as Doyle, Janesville, Milford and Standish had already begun a slow decline. The culprit, the automobile and better roads. One could now travel a greater distance thus bypassing the need to stay and for that matter do trade. Fast forward to 2022, and that trends continue with residents going to Chico, Redding and Reno to conduct business.