This short street along the Susan River was originally known as River Street. For a time it was referred as Slippery Gulch. When the railroad arrived in Susanville in 1913, not only did bring prosperity, but attracted “camp followers,” which was not welcomed with open arms by city officials. These followers established a small encampment at the Richmond Road Bridge with gambling dens and houses of prostitution. Something had to be done and fast. After all first time visitors to Susanville traveling by train would have to pass through this seedy area, before they got to Susanville proper. A solution was found, they moved the encampment further up River Street towards Lassen Street, with the philosophy “out of sight, out of mind.” When prohibition came along, new element was added to the “gulch” bootleg joints.

When the Lassen Townsite was subdivided in 1912, it too, had a River Street. When it was annexed to Susanville, something had to be done to correct the issue of two River Streets. This was purportedly, i.e., not verified, that it was named for Frank Carroll, an Indian agent who lived there in the 1930s.

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