Last month when I wrote about Plumas Pines, someone inquired about Prattville Road. Prior to the construction of State Highway 36, west bound travelers from Susanville ventured up North Pine Street, which at that time ended at North Street. From that point onward it was designated as Prattville Road. The original town of Prattville was located at Big Meadows, Plumas County prior to the construction of Lake Almanor. At that time, Prattville was the next community west of Susanville, hence the name of Prattville Road. Continue reading Prattville Road→
Usually, there are a few of us who get together to make an annual luncheon trip to Plumas Pines at Lake Almanor. However, between everyone’s schedule and then my broken hip that I am recovering from, we will have to wait until next year.
It is interesting to note that development of what is known as Prattville today, versus the original town of Prattville, which was destroyed to make way for Lake Almanor, had its humble origins dating back to 1916. It was none other than the forest service who offered 88 lots for a special use permit fee of ten dollars a year.
In 1932, Adelaide and Fred Smith established the Plumas Pines Resort. The Smith’s operated it for the next twenty years. Since that time it has had numerous owners, but its always worthy a visit.
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Today’s topic is just a little bit strange. First of all, I must confess when it comes to self promotion, I flunk in that department. My passion is research, preserving and writing the region’s rich and diverse heritage. Of course, it takes money to do it, so one option was book publishing. Of course, that medium is changing rapidly, and that is not where I am going today. Continue reading Lake Almanor Story→
It was not until the 1920s that the Red River Lumber Company experienced problems with forest fires. Some time back I wrote about that company’s fire train. On July 27, 1926, a fire started at Butt Valley where Red River was logging. This was one instant that while the fire train was dispatched it was no match for the inferno. Continue reading Prattville Burn→
Bunnell’s Resort, Big Meadows. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall
While my Red River series covers a tremendous amount of material on the Red River Lumber Company, there were some topics were not addressed. In 1938, the topic of controlled burns was being discussed, as the company had done it in its earliest years until Clinton Walker’s departure in 1913. Below is an excerpt of a 1938 memo Clinton wrote to the Board and the experience of a control burn at Lake Almanor. Continue reading Control Burns→
Willow Creek Valley School, 1886 is a Orley Dunham photograph
Orley and Murry Dunham were photographers in the region during the 1880s and 1890s. They both started in Plumas County. Orley married Maggie Ford, a member of a Indian Valley pioneer family. In 1886, Orley opened his studio in Susanville. During that year, he took a number of photographs of the Lassen County Schools. He left Susanville in 1891,to work for a large photography studio in San Francisco. Continue reading Dunham Photography→
The June 2, 1866 issue of The Sage Brush measured only 6 inches by 12 inches and was printed only on one side.
This toll road had a very short life, and that existed only on paper no less. However, when the company was organized they deemed a life span of twenty years, but from the only record indicates, it did not survive twenty days.
Nevertheless, it was an admirable undertaking. It was spearheaded by a group of progressive residents of Honey Lake and Indian Valleys. During the 1850s and 1860s one of the most traveled routes was a road from Gold Run going over Diamond Mountain and following Light’s Creek into Indian Valley. The gentlemen intended to put a toll gate at the summit. As required by law, they published their intent in the Sage Brush newspaper. On June 13, 1866 they held an organizational meeting in Susanville and elected A.D. Headly, President, James Ford, Secretary and W.N. DeHaven, Treasurer. The following day they filed their Articles of Incorporation with the Lassen County Clerk.
The company’s lasting legacy is attached to the articles of incorporation, was a copy of the Susanville, Sage Brush, the forerunner to the Lassen Advocate. This is the oldest known copy in existence. The paper apologized for the small size of the issue, citing their paper supplies had not arrived.
