Were you aware that the Belfast petroglyph site also serves as ancient observatory? This event only occurs on the morning of the summer solstice when the sun enters a chamber highlighting a variety of glyphs, among other things. It is quite the sight to see.
The sunrise chamber.
This is an early morning excursion and I mean early as we gather at 5 a.m. to make the trek. In preparation attendees receive in advance John Rudolph’s paper, “An Ancient Solar Observatory.” If there is enough interest we can make the trip again this year. Please let me know. One final note the solstice occurs on Thursday, June 21.
On Wednesday, June 20, I will send an email with all the details. However, if it is overcast there is no sense in going.
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A follow up on yesterday’s topic of exploring if you have not visited Juniper Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, you might want to add it your list. The road is a bit rough, but worth the drive. The lake covers 592 acres and is the largest lake in the park. In the 1870s, it was originally designated Lake Louise, but along the way it became known as Juniper. As remote as it is, it does have an interesting history, especially with the antics of C.P. Snell and his varied attempts to develop a resort. Snell had purchased 475 acres there, and it was not until the 1950s when the park acquired the property.
“Dishes rattled, stove pipes were disjointed, cabinets and beds danced to a merry tune Sunday night [March 9, 1930]” from an earthquake according to the reported call of the caretaker at Camp 7 of the Fruit Growers Supply Company. Camp 7, it should be duly noted was located at Bridge Creek Springs, located between McCoy Flat Reservoir and Pine Creek Valley.
The whole region is earthquake country, though not as volatile as other places, one never knows where they may occur.
Lassen Peak eruption, June 14, 1914. Courtesy of Dolores Gasperoni
With Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano in the news, I thought we take a look back during Lassen Peak’s numerous eruptions that spewed ash everywhere. On May 22, 1915, when Lassen had its most historic eruption that sent a mushroom like cloud four miles into the atmosphere. The prevailing winds carried volcanic ash all the way to Winnemucca, Nevada. Susanville resident, an avid fisherman, Med Arnold, was at Eagle Lake that day and reported that the area was covered in like a fine alkali dust, and that enough fell from the sky to muddy the water of the lake. The eruptions continued for several years, and with the west to east prevailing winds, Susanville and the Honey Lake Valley experienced sporadic falls of volcanic ash. In 1917, Janesville resident, Gordon Rice commented, Lassen Peak is good to Lassen County, volcanic ash is a splendid fertilizer.
Magpies have a reputation of being voracious predators of songbirds, among other things, as they feed on their eggs and chicks. With that introduction, in February 1930, F.H. Taylor, Lassen County Horticultural Commissioner and Stan Brown, Lassen County Farm Advisor experimented on a poison concoction to combat the “magpie pestilence” in the Standish district. They considered it a success with more than 100 magpies killed in the first attempt.
On a final note, when my mother, then Ardene Tanner, was a small child, who grew up in that region, told me she would collect magpie eggs as Fish and Game would pay her five cents for every egg. This she said was a worthwhile financial endeavor, since this was in the late 1930s.
Collapse of the Said Valley Dam, May 8, 1938. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
Eighty years ago today witnessed the failure of the dam at Said Valley. The earthen dam was constructed in 1885, just north of Grasshopper Valley. In 1929, the Department of Water Resources cited the spillway was not in compliance. After the collapse of the dam, the state did an investigation as to why it failed. It turned out that burrowing rodents over the years had weakened the dam.
Cady Springs Overflow, Susan River Canyon, October 1972.
In 1880, San Joaquin County native, Frank Cady, purchased a ranch in Big Valley, Lassen County. Nine years later he relocated to Susanville. In 1896, an opportunity arose for Cady to purchase the Susanville Water Works from Harry Cain who was going through a messy divorce with the former Stella Stiles.
At that time, the water supply came from Big Springs three miles west of Susanville in the Susan River Canyon. In 1900, Cady had three-quarters of mile of pipe laid from the water tanks going westward, with the goal of replacing the open ditch with pipe. In 1930, when Cady sold the water works to the Republic Electric Power Company, only three-eights of mile of the ditch was still open near the springs, that eventually became known as Cady Springs.
A Kern County rabbit drive, date unknown.Rabbit drives were common during the first part of the twentieth century. On March 10, 1932 one was held at Milford and an observer wrote: “Blooey! and another jack rabbit bit the dust! In fact 1200 rabbits pulled this little trick as some 30 marksmen armed with shotguns blazed away continuously all day in a big rabbit drive. The drive was one of the most successful ever held in the valley. The drive started at the Harwood ranch and covered about a two-mile area. With the termination of the drive, a lunch was served to the hunters by various ladies of the community.
“Smoking gun barrels and black and blue arms were quite apparent throughout the day. Those participating were thoroughly pleased with the results and voted the occasion as most enjoyable form of hunter’s sport.”
Honey Lake seen from Tanner Ranch, January 17, 2018In the fall of 1938, Professor S.T. Harding of the University of California spent some time investigating earthquake effects and water levels in the Honey Lake Valley. He had heard that an 1889 earthquake created an outlet to Honey Lake. However, he found nothing to substantiate this claim. He noted that from the winter of 1937-38 that Eagle Lake rose seven feet, but was still twenty feet short of the high water mark.
It should be noted there was a major earthquake in the region in 1889, where in Eagle Lake dropped by two feet. Harding would return to the region to extensive research on the water levels of Eagle Lake.
Main Street, Susanville, 1885. Courtesy of Betty Barry DealWhile searching for information on Dry Valley, Nevada, I came across my earthquake file, while looking for my East Lassen file. Anyhow, I came across this article from the Susanville correspondent to the Reno Evening Gazette, dateline February 6, 1885.
“Real estate in Honey Lake Valley for the past week has been decidedly shaky, and when things are to get settled down to a firm and reliable basis it is hard to determine. Since last Friday night there have been no doubt at least 50 shocks of earthquakes felt in the valley. Today something like a dozen have been felt here in town. One at seven o’clock this morning was quite lively. The shocks seem to be more frequent and harder around Janesville. It is a well established fact that below Buntingville, crossing the Epley Ranch, is a place that “sounds hollow” when being crossed and at intervals rumbling sounds are heard traveling along this place. The sounds seem to come from the mountains to the west and travel toward the lake. Horses when plowing over this place have become frightened at the sounds beneath their feet. This has been repeated for years. The occurrence of so many earthquakes in this locality seems remarkable and how ad when they will cease seems to be a hard conundrum to answer just now.
“Not the earthquakes alone but the weather is phenomenal. Yesterday the thermometer reached 68 degrees in the shade, while for a week or more there has been no frosts at night. Last night and today we had quite heavy showers of rain and the snow is fast disappearing from the mountains.”
