Dodge’s Bay or Tunnel Bay was located on the east side of Eagle Lake about a mile north of Bly Tunnel. This was to be the initial inlet to Capt. Merrill’s 1875 tunnel and work on it was focused on the Willow Creek side. In 1892, the Eagle Lake Land & Irrigation Company embarked on ambition plan to tap Eagle Lake. The began working on Merrill’s tunnel from both sides, as one can see the inlet in the above photograph. E.R. Dodge was one of the principal figures behind the company hence the name Dodge’s Bay.
No water in the bay when this was taken on November 8, 1941. One can barely see the intake canal. Photograph courtesy of Hank Martinez
Grant Smith’s tunnel works, Eagle Lake, 1922–Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner
A month had not even passed since the grand celebration held at Litchfield for the completion of the Bly Tunnel at Eagle Lake, that things were not good. Grant Smith & Company of Seattle, Washington was the contractor to build the tunnel. In June 1923, the company asked for a special meeting with the Baxter Creek and Tule Irrigation Districts who financed the $1.25 million project with bonds. Grant Smith informed those gathered they experienced a number of problems during construction and requested that they leave and return in the fall after irrigation season to correct the defects. The bondholders said no. They sensed if they allowed Grant Smith to even leave temporarily, the odds of them returning were nil. The situation would turn real ugly over the next year with some startling revelations that would in part doom the whole irrigation enterprise.
This is an interesting metaphor considering what and how we moved about and lived a year ago. This is a bit of diversion. Pine Creek, Eagle Lake’s main tributary, can be raging torrent or almost non-existent. The comparison of 2019 and 2020 run-off is a perfect example.
Frances Cartwright Fritter—Courtesy of Rev. C.R. Fritter
Long before the Spalding or Stones Subdivisions, the lake’s population center was on the northeast side, though no one resides there today. In the 1880s saw an influx of Butte County residents making this their new home—Cartwright, Eddy, Fritter, Sorensen and last but not least the Troxels. The Troxels, of course, purchased the W.S. Davis ranch, which place had become a well established stage stop, the property many know today as the former Stone Ranch. Jim Fritter, the family patriarch left an indelible footprint in the area’s history as a Lassen County Supervisor. It is interesting to note the Troxel name lives on two jettison points on the lake, a member of the Fritter family still retains ownership of the original family homestead.
Fritter Ranch, Eagle Lake, 1921. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner
The so-called Butte Colony was short-lived. Within a ten year span it had dwindled down to Fritter and Troxel. Cartwright’s whose homestead located between Fritter and Troxel became a contentious issue with Udell’s proposed scheme to tap Eagle Lake, but that is a whole different story.
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Most people may not realize that there was a lot of gold mining east of Eagle Lake extending from Gallatin Peak, Green’s Peak and Round Valley. The mining discovery occurred in the early 1870s, and Wright P. Hall had an extensive tunnel on Gallatin Peak in 1879. Many years later, my grandmother Lola Murrer Tanner (1899-1973) who grew up in nearby Willow Creek Valley made a reference of a lost valuable gold mine in that area with a reference to Gallatin Peak. There were others over the years that shared the same belief.
In the summer of 1935, two prospectors, Paul Olsen and Joe Weatherman, who had spent the last few years in that area, believed they finally found the lost mine. Among the items found was an old cabin, where there was some ore, along with an old tunnel 140 feet in length. Of course, they were sly not to reveal the exact location. They immediately formed the Meteor Mining Company. Their next obstacle was to secure a 200 acre lease from the Red River Lumber Company who owned the majority of the property in that region. Whether they succeeded is not known.
A few years back, I went in search of the Hanson Mine of the early 1900s, that fits the description of Olson and Weatherman’s find. However, between fires and logging the site may have been obliterated.
It is that time of year when Pine Creek usually starts flowing again into Eagle Lake, but with this dry winter, it may not be the case. While many people see the creek at the bridge before entering Spaulding Tract or at the nearby fish trap, it still has a way to go before it reaches the lake. Thus, today’s featured photograph provides a good illustration of that fact.
The July 4, 1906 parade with the city/fire hall in the background—Lola L. Tanner
Photographs of certain places and/or events just want to remain hidden. Take for instance Susanville’s combination City/Fire Hall. It was built in 1905 and destroyed by fire in 1921. A photograph of it does appear in the 1965 Lassen Advocate Centennial publication. One would think a public building, adorned with a sixty-foot tall bell tower, would appear in a variety of photographs.
Another example. My good friend, the late Hank Martinez, spent a life-time in search of a photograph of the El Centro, in Old Town, Westwood. It was a combination store and community hall. I had hoped to find one in the Red River Lumber Company’s archives but to no avail.
In May, 1923 one of the largest public events ever held at that time, occurred in Litchfield. It was a grand celebration to celebrate the completion of the Bly Tunnel at Eagle Lake, that would irrigate lands in the Honey Lake Valley. Over 5,000 people were in attendance and yet, to this day, I have never come across a single photograph.
Interesting, however, some times rare photographs do surface on Ebay. Some times I make a purchase, and some times not, depending on price range, etc.
Okay, some people did not take kindly that they felt I left them hanging about Grant Smith Company and the bondholders of the Bly Tunnel. I should have mentioned at the conclusion that I would do a follow up. Here it is, enjoy!
What Grant Smith did not initially disclose to the bondholders was that the original plans called for the intake to tap the lake forty feet below the current surface. They only told the bondholders they did eight feet, citing the volcanic rock bottom too difficult. In addition, Leon Bly and Grant Smith agreed to the change, but it was not revealed to anyone else. Because of these problems, the irrigation districts could not use the water until they agreed to sign off its completion. Stymied, on September 8, 1923 the districts and Leon Bly agreed to accept a final settlement, and $25,000 would be withheld to correct the defects. Lo and behold in the beginning of the 1924 irrigation system, during one of the worst droughts ever experienced locally and throughout California, it was discovered Grant Smith only did three feet below the surface at the intake! The districts would need a lot more money than stipulated.
Grant Smith’s tunnel works, Eagle Lake, 1922–Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner
The outlet construction camp of the Bly Tunnel, 1922. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner
In 1935, Lassen County officials requested a third Civilian Conservation Corp Camp (CCC). This would function a bit differently. What they sought was a CCC Camp at Eagle Lake to assist with the beleaguered Bly Tunnel and the Tule and Baxter Creek Irrigation Districts. It was their contention after all that a CCC camp could provide work on the tunnel that was necessary to prevent further bankruptcies of the farmers and ranchers involved with the districts. The camp could also provide much needed labor for the canal and siphon system in the Honey Lake Valley that distributed the water. The county’s request was denied, but government officials were somewhat sympathetic and stated some limited manpower might be available from time to time from the Secret Valley CCC camp.
South shore of Eagle Lake, October 8, 1941 – Hank Martinez
Some may recall awhile back about this topic. A little update, since I have since received a better photograph showing the point during the low water era, which as you can tell provides a better understanding. For those you may have just tuned in Pikes Point is located at the south shore of Eagle Lake and most people know the location as the Eagle Lake Marina. The photograph shows all of Gallatin Beach to Eagle’s Next, prior that developments existence.
