During the 1970s and early’80s the north wing of the second floor of the Lassen County Courthouse not only housed the County Clerk’s Office, but its occupants dubbed themselves the Menopause Manor, though an exception for their token male employee, Bruce D. Dyer.
These ladies—Sue Farstad, Jacquelyn Fuller, Betty Hibbs and June Nelson—were the nicest bunch of ladies that I had a privileged to be associated with. They provided me with an education that I could not obtain from an institution of higher learning. This was during a period wherein I truly started in earnest my research into local history and debunking many a myth. My favorite was when I made inquiries about local historical publications and trying to ascertain the source, would get that so and so provided the information, as the courthouse had burned down so there is no record. Lo, and behold on September 30, 1975 I made my first appearance at the courthouse and was overwhelmed by all the documents available, dating back to the 1850s, prior to the formation of Lassen County, no less! The tale the courthouse had burned down was just a lazy excuse for not doing the hands on, tedious research.
The ladies of Menopause Manor took me under their wings, and for the first several years I drove them nearly insane with my incessant questions. Yet, they patiently answered and explained everything, so in the end not only did I have a firm understanding of county government, but the workings of the court system and elections. I will always be grateful for everything I learned from the ladies of Menopause Manor. Yet, you the reader of this daily blog, or of my books, are the beneficiary of their contribution to my education.
Tim, thank you for the wonderful story on Mom and the ladies. What a group they were and did they love you and Bruce!
I’d love to hear any information you may have heard of “Spaghetti Hill” and if it is true that the blocks from Pardee to Prospect were called that! Only one elder had told me that but nobody else has heard it. Something about early Susanville and Itallian families living in the neighborhood and fabulous block parties were thrown! I live in the neighborhood now and I’d love any other stories!