On October 21, 2015 Jake Martin an archaeologist for the Eagle Lake Ranger District wrote: I use your Lassen County Almanac all the time to supplement my report writing with historical information! In the past I have run across an interesting note about the etymology of Poison Lake. This was found within the journal of Gorham Gates Kimball who was driving sheep to Idaho [in 1865], annotated by Edward N. Wentworth. It mentioned that Poison Lake ‘was so named from the effect of the bites of small red spiders which frequented the surface of the water.’ Apparently, merely washing your face and hands was enough to receive bites and experience red inflammation.

Unfortunately, my copy of that sheep drive has no reference to Poison Lake. It does make reference to being attacked by horse flies along Pine Creek.

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The winter of 1906-07 ushered in a notorious wet cycle. March of 1907 was rather dramatic with over 12 inches precipitation—sometimes in the form and rain, and other times as snow. In January 1911, witnessed the first of two “big snows” wherein Susanville received 8 feet; Standish five feet, Wendel 8 feet. The lake flooded vast sections of land past Standish. This prompted B.F. Gibson of Litchfield to propose a canal from Honey Lake to Pyramid Lake as way to rid the area of excess water.

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When Lassen Peak came to life in 1914,  those residing to the east due to prevailing winds had to contend with the volcanic ash fallout. On the morning of May 22 1915, the most dramatic eruption occurred. The mountain was reported to be in a continual state of eruption. At 4:30 p.m. Lassen burst forth in a spectacular display, spewing forth a mushroom cloud of volcanic ash some four miles into the atmosphere. The eruption, recorded as number 174, lasted nearly an hour, dropping ash from the sky all the way east to Winnemucca, Nevada, nearly 300 miles distant. After the big eruption, activity greatly subsided, and for the remainder of the year there were only thirty-four eruptions cited.

Susanville resident, Med Arnold, happened to be fishing at Eagle Lake at the time of the eruption. Arnold stated the whole region was covered with volcanic ash, giving the appearance that it was coated with alkali dust. Arnold further noted enough ash fell from the sky to muddy the lake’s water. Janesville resident Gordon Rice, was optimistic about the situation, stated, “Lassen Peak is good to Lassen County; volcanic ash is a splendid fertilizer.”

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