Yes, that is right folks, the City of Susanville even had its own jail. For the casual observer of local politics the County of Lassen and the City of Susanville has through years been a frosty relationship. It has been ongoing since 1900 and personally I do not think it will ever change, or least in my lifetime.
Initially, when one committed a misdemeanor crime in Susanville, the Lassen County Sheriff would obliged to house the person in the county jail. When the County built in a new jail in 1911, it would no longer accept the City’s inmates. A temporary solution was found. The County offered to rent the City its old jail for $17.50 a month. How long the City could use the facility was unknown, since it had been condemned once by the State. In the summer of 1914, Guy P. Jones of the California Department of Public Health arrived to check out the sanitary conditions. He said overall conditions in Susanville were good, except for one–the City Jail. Jones found it deplorable, and wrote, “To confine any human being in such a horrible place is nothing short of inhumane.”
In 1915, the State condemned the City’s use the old County Jail.. This forced the City to build a jail, one that would have to be approved by the State. First, a site had to be selected. The City purchased a small lot behind the City/Fire hall from William D. Minckler. In January 1916, the City hired George C, Sellon as the architect, as het met State qualifications. Sellon was in Susanville to oversee the construction of his latest project, Lassen County Courthouse. The State specified the building be of masonry. It was decided that the exterior would constructed with native stone.
The City did get a good deal for the stone.In 1887 the County had a small native stone building constructed next to the courthouse. It was known as the Hall of Records. This building had to be demolished to make way for the new courthouse. The County offered the stone from that building to the City for free. The County’s old Hall of Records was recycled into the City’s new jail.
On August 5, 1917, Henry Krueger was awarded the contract to construct the City Jail for $907. The City urged him to build it as quickly as possible, since they were without jail and the County would not let them to use their jail. Kroeger started on the jail the next day. In December 1917 the new jail was completed and furnished–it consisted of two beds and a stove.
In the mid-1950s, the City Jail was closed. The structure was converted into a garage, and later used for storage. In 2001, it was demolished to make room for the new addition to City Hall. If any one has a picture of the structure, please let me know.
I was in that building when Dad was chief of police in the 60s. Don’t remember much except the cobwebs which seemed to be everywhere.
My brother, David Crum and I, used to sneak over to the jail and pick up the old cigarette butts on the ground, and hand them to the inmates through the bars on the windows!! We thought that was such fun !!! We never got caught, as our grandparents, Jess and Jeanette Worley would not have been amused !!!