Susanville’s Knoch building has endured a lot since it was first constructed back in 1893-94. The building’s location on the northwest of corner of Main and Lassen Street was originally occupied the local Masonic Lodge. The town’s horrific fire of 1893, where a majority of its business district was destroyed, including the Masonic Lodge, changed its landscape.

The Masons determined like the proverbial phoenix embarked on an ambitious plan to rebuild. The two-story native stone was dedicated on July 4, 1894.  The $20,000 structure was more than the Masons could afford and seven months later looked at options to dispose of it. One of the biggest creditors was David Knoch who lent the Masons $7,650.  Knoch, a Mason himself, offered to forgive the debt in return the Masons would deed the property to him. A lot of contentious wrangling took place, but in 1898 Knoch became owner of the property, and it remained in the family until the 1950s when his granddaughter Jeanette Worley sold it.

It is never too late, subscribe today and enjoy tomorrow with daily notifications. You can also surprise someone with a gift subscription