In the spring of 1882, Hiram Dakin and Hiram McCellan proprietors of the Milford Flour Mill began making plans to build a new mill. After all, the Milford one was constructed in 1861, and it had outlived its purpose.

The first order of business was where to build the new mill—Buntingville or Janesville. Buntingville was just beginning to flourish, it being a popular stop for travelers heading north to Modoc County. After careful consideration Janesville emerged as victor.

On June 8, 1882, construction of the three-story structure began on Main Street, a just a little north of the prominent large oak tree that still remains. When the mill was placed into operation in September, the residents knew it—at seven a.m. every morning the steam whistle blew. In 1886, J.K. Gehring purchased the enterprise known as Honey Lake Mills for $6,000. In 1918, Gehring closed the mill, he being 81 years old, and with the new Honey Lake mill in Susanville, no buyers were interested. In the early 1920s, the mill was dismantled and James H. McClelland purchased the lumber to use on his ranch.

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This was not a military encampment. Susanville’s Roop’s Fort also known as Fort Defiance had no military affiliation either.

By the end of 1859, tensions were fraught between the Indians and the settlers. Then the following spring witnessed the outbreak of the Pyramid Lake War of 1860. Residents of the Honey Lake Valley took precautions and fortified themselves at different places. At Janesville, the residents built a stockade measuring 63’ x 90’ from pine logs that were12 to 14 feet high. After the fears of Indian attacks had subsided, the fort was used as a private school from 1861-1864. In 1865, the school was abandoned and area residents helped themselves to doors, windows and anything else they wanted. Asa M. Fairfield wrote, “The stockade stood for a good many years and fell down a log at a time.”

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In 1913, the Lassen Weekly Mail published a special Railroad edition extolling all the virtues that Honey Lake Valley had to offer. In that same year B.R. Holmes purchased the Janesville Hotel. He renamed it the Diamond Mountain Inn. He made numerous improvements and placed wood shingles for the exterior.

The following is a description of the place that appeared in the Mail’s special edition:

”Situated at the foot of Diamond Mountain, in the beautiful and picturesque Honey Lake Valley this hotel offers every attraction that the tired and worn out city denizen can desire. Sparkling mountain water, direct from the snow clad peaks of old Diamond, pure as Nature itself, is piped throughout the hotel.

“Everything modern that goes to make for the comfort of guests is provided, and no better place in the state of California to spend the summer months. Fresh, crisp vegetables are served direct from the garden and purest milk and cream and other farm products will always be found on the table.

”In Janesville will be found some of the finest gardens in Honey Lake Valley and those belonging to the hotel are among the best. The Diamond Mountain Inn is not compelled to serve canned vegetables to its guests, neither does it supplies lay for days in commission houses and the baskets of green grocers.

The hotel is surrounded by a fine growth of old elms, which adds beauty and comfort of then hostelry.

“The Diamond Mountain Inn is the ideal headquarters for the sportsman. Game of all kinds abound in the nearby mountains. Deer may be found within easy distance and opening of every season finds sportsmen on hand. Wild fowl are plentiful and no difficulty getting the limit. Within a few miles my be found cold streams teaming with game mountain trout.”

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It was on November 5, 1923 when the post office name at Janesville was finally restored. It was on July 2, 1914, when the post office name was changed to Lassen. This was done by a real estate promoter with the arrival of the railroad in the Honey Lake Valley. It was deemed there were too many towns ending with “ville.” Some thought the suffix carried a stigma of a small village. This did not set well with many of the town’s residents. After all the town’s name did not change, nor its voting precinct or school. The residents did not like it and petitioned the Postmaster General to restore the name, but it was denied. In 1923, the residents once again petitioned the postal authorities to restore the name.  It was granted on September 22, 1923, but it was not until November 5 when official change occurred.

Tim

The first and only hotel in Janesville was built in 1857 by Malcolm Bankhead, which was a two-story structure made of logs. In 1872, Dennis Tanner purchased it, and tore it down. He replaced it with a much substantial larger, two-story wooden frame building, that contained 22-rooms. The hotel had numerous owners over the years. In 1913, B.R. Holmes acquired it, made numerous upgrades and changed the name to the Diamond Mountain Inn. One of its most interesting owners were the Pollocks, as in the famed artist Jackson Pollock. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1931.

For those interested in the hotel stood on Main Street, south of the former Masonic Lodge, though that structure was not built until 1910.

Tim

The Rural Free Delivery system was slow to implement. The whole purpose was to provide mail to those in rural areas, so one would not have to travel miles to obtain their mail at the nearest post office. While approved by Congress in 1896, it was slow in adoption..

Rural Fred Delivery did not reach Lassen County until 1918. When the Edgemont Post Office (located four miles east of Janesville) closed in that year the residents of that region were first to receive Rural Free Delivery. Within twelve years many of the small rural post offices in Lassen County were closed and replaced with Rural Free Delivery.

A number of the rural post offices were either in a store and/or at someone’s one home. The Merrillville Post Office, located some 15 miles north of Susanville in Willow Creek Valley is an interesting example. Established in 1875, it was located at the Folsom Ranch (now Willow Creek Wildlife Area). It would later be relocated to the Hurlbut Ranch, then to Murrer’s and then to the Stone Ranch at Eagle Lake when it was discontinued on November 30, 1928.

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