Tag Archives: Modoc

Ice Harvesting

January 22, 2017 Tim Purdy 3 Comments

Way before the day of refrigeration, in colder climates ice was harvested, whether from a stream, pond or lake. Though by the 1920s, the practice slowly began to fade away. Locally, ice was harvested from the Susan River, and two focal points were the Bremner dam in the Susan River canyon and the other at Dawson dam near Johnstonville that provided power for the Lassen Flour Mill. Roy Sifford, born in 1893 and raised in Susanville, recounts in his memoirs that in 1910: “I hauled ice from the ponds at Johnstonville to the stores and bars in Susanville–$2.00 a load delivered. In twelve hours I could haul four loads receiving $8.00 a day, paid in cash!” Continue reading Ice Harvesting →

History, News

Adin Revisited

February 12, 2016 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

After two months of online tutorials from Lynda.com on this date a year ago, was my first posting. So it was only fitting to take a gander, and update it.

The above photograph was taken by Herman Brince a professional photographer in Lassen, Modoc and Plumas counties during 1878-79. I have always been impressed with his work, though only dozen or so are known to be existence. Whatever, became of his negatives is unknown, but we do know that he died in New Zealand in 1882. However, in 2003, one of his photographs, an 1879 picture of Susanville’s Masonic Lodge surfaced on Ebay, which I purchased, but that is another story.

Adin’s humble beginning date back to 1869, when its namesake Adin Gainey McDowell, settled there. Adin flourished during the 1870s because of its close proximity to the mining town of Hayden Hill. As a matter of fact, it was Modoc County’s largest town for awhile.

Beginning this year, I now have a column in the Northern California Traveller. In a forthcoming issue will be a lively account of Adin’s history.

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History

Adin 1879

February 12, 2015 Tim Purdy 1 Comment

Welcome, to the new site and hope you enjoy it. Beginning on March 1 , I will be posting on a daily basis, sometimes about an historic event or sometimes about a current news matter. In addition, most all posts will contain a pertinent photograph or two.

Herman Brince was a photographer in Lassen, Modoc and Plumas counties during 1878-79. I have always been impressed with his photographs, though only dozen or so are known to be existence. Whatever, became of his negatives is unknown, but we do know that he died in New Zealand in 1882. However, in 2003, one of his photographs, an 1879 picture of Susanville’s Masonic Lodge surfaced on Ebay, which I purchased, but that is another story.

The picture depicted is that of Adin, taken in 1879. The town was named for Adin Gainey McDowell, who in 1869 was the first person to settle on the east side of Big Valley. Adin flourished during the 1870s because of its close proximity to the mining town of Hayden Hill. As a matter of fact, it was Modoc County’s largest town for awhile.