In 1892, when the local Catholics deemed it was time to build a house of worship, they selected a site on Richmond Road. The town’s two newspapers were critical of the location, since just across the river was the area’s Chinatown. Thus, the local press chastised the Catholics choice to associate with the “heathen Chinese.” In 1909, the church was moved to Nevada and Union Streets, the current site of Sacred Heart. It should be noted that was Susanville’s Chinatown district of the 1860s.
When Red River Lumber Company established its company town in Lassen County many were thankful for the prosperity it brought with it, especially the Fernley & Lassen Railroad. However, the honeymoon would not last long. Red River would exert its influence over so many aspects of life. Certain member’s of Susanville’s business community had a code name for the company: the Red Octopus. After all, in 1920, Red River purchased the town’s local power company, Lassen Electric. They advertised their Big Store specials in the Susanville newspapers, hoping to lure away customers. In 1922, when Red River purchased the Milwood Tract east of the city limits, they were able to block any annexation effort by the city until 1947, which by then Red River was going through a dissolution process.
This being Election Day, I thought I pass along some local election folklore. One of which that at one time, Hayden Hill was in contention to become the county seat. Only once was there was some rumbling of moving the county seat from Susanville. In 1893, after the town’s business district was destroyed by fire, there was some talk to relocate the county seat to Amedee.
In 1864, when the election was held to organize Lassen County, the county seat question was on the ballot—Janesville or Susanville. That was a tricky election and it took some time to count the ballots. After all, the county had a polling precinct at Fort Crook (Shasta County) and one for all of Surprise Valley (Siskiyou County). Those votes were finally rejected and Susanville won the county seat by seventy-one votes.
In 1975, when the Lassen County Public Works Department proposed a new building on the north side of the courthouse that was shot down, the department did not give up. In the spring of 1976, a proposed Lassen County Master Plan was unveiled. A site of 10 acres had already been selected adjoining North Mesa Street. Construction would be done in phases with the ultimate goal of a county courthouse complex.
On September 7, 1976, the county board of supervisors approved the purchase of the Mesa Street property from the Paul Bunyan Lumber Company for $45,000. There was opposition with over 100 people in attendance against the measure. Susanville attorney, Joseph B. Harvey representing the Lassen County Tax Payers Association presented a petition signed by 889 registered voters opposing the purchase and that the matter be put to vote.
While the county went ahead with the purchase, no county complex would be constructed there.
Now that election season is in full swing, there was a movement in 1930 to reduce the number of elected officials. Los Angeles County took the lead which officials stated that Sacramento had so much control over counties that there was no longer a need to have so many county elected officials. They proposed besides the supervisors, the only elected officials would be the assessor, district attorney and sheriff. All other positions would be appointed by the supervisors. Lassen County opposed it.
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There have been a lot of things proposed for the Honey Lake Valley, some good and some well not so desirable. In the late 1960s, the City of San Francisco chose the Honey Lake Valley as ideal place to send their garbage. One reasons why Honey Lake Valley was that the garbage could shipped by rail making it economical.
Of course the locals were not amused and opposition mounted. The debate lasted nearly a decade. In letter to Lassen Advocate’s Open Forum, an incensed Milford resident, Audrey Stevens wrote:
”Lassen County should be declared a disaster area with every citizen joining in a mass to protest the greedy senseless plan to buy 4,500 acres of land east of Herlong for $100,000 (our money) to be used as a dumping ground for San Francisco garbage, which includes rats, disease, smell and ugliness for as long as this earth survives.”
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At the Susanville City Council’s organizational meeting on March 9, 1976, Jim Chapman, at the tender age of 21, was made the Mayor of Susanville, the youngest person ever to hold that title. Chapman had aspirations that year and ran for Lassen County District Two Supervisor and won that seat in November.
It should be duly noted the city’s organizational meeting then was ceremonial, but not this time. The council rolled up their sleeves and went to work on the pressing issue of the day concerning the grandstand at Memorial Park.
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For a brief time, Fritter had political ambitions. In 1900, he ran for State Assembly and lost. Two years later, he ran for a seat on Lassen County Board of Supervisors and was successful. However, things did not go smoothly. Willow Creek Valley resident, H.A. Morrill contested the election, citing that Fritter was not residing in the district. The matter drug on for some time in the court, but in the end he prevailed. In 1910, Fritter ran for public office for the last time, again for a seat on the Lassen County Board of Supervisors. He lost in a landslide to W.C. Brockman.
As the years went by his grown children moved onto other things. In January 1932, with his years advancing and running the ranch by himself, he opted for retirement at Pacific Grove. He died there two years later. It should be noted the family still owns the original 160-acre homestead.
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