There have only been three structures on this site. Considering that it is one block off Main Street, in the original historic core of the town. In 1914, the first building on the site was moved from up the street. It was the old abandoned Congregational Church. C.E. Emerson who had a three-story hotel, along with his mercantile store was just across the alley, the current site of the Hotel Mt. Lassen. Emerson used this building as a warehouse. In August 1915, it caught fire that destroyed the entire east end of the block including the Emerson Hotel, the Hyer Hotel and the Methodist Church.

Emerson’s loss was only partially insured and was never ever to rebuild the hotel. He did construct a smaller native stone building fronting Main Street, that many people recall the home of Millar Hardware. Across the alley, and next to the Methodist Church a native stone building was built as Emerson’s warehouse. In March 1934, the Emerson Estate sold the warehouse building to the Lassen Advocate newspaper. In January 1963, the Lassen Advocate relocated to 2119 Main Street.

In the early 1960s,  the Susanville Methodist Church needed additional space. A 1960 financial bequest by Elizabeth Lytle to the church’s building fund was a major boost. It was decided to purchase the Advocate building and build a second church building to house a Sunday School among other things. It progressed faster than anticipated and the native stone building was demolished in the fall of 1963. The church’s Fellowship Hall  was built in 1967 containing a social hall, kitchen and classrooms. A dedication ceremony and the burning of the mortgage took place on May 12, 1978.

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On October 14, 1905 the Baptists held their first service at the home of the Reverend J.C. Long. The Baptists had been holding services in the Honey Lake Valley since 1873, and built a church in Johnstonville in 1889.  Initially the Susanville services were held in someone’s home.  As the congregation grew in 1913 they purchased a lot on the northwest corner of Nevada and Gay Streets.  Shortly thereafter work began on the construction of a church and on February 20, 1914 a open public house was held.

In 1984 the congregation voted to leave the American Baptist denomination and joined the Evangelical Free Churches of America. At that time it was renamed the Community Evangelical Church of Susanville.

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This particular photograph for some reason I have a fondness for. The right foreground is the Arnold Planing Mill that was destroyed by fire in 1914. Further down the road to the left is Sacred Heart Church, built in 1892. The church was moved in 1909 to the corner of Nevada and Union Streets.  When the church was built there was some local criticism about the location, especially, though not seen in this picture, but to the far right was Chinatown. It is interesting to note, when the church was moved, it was located in Susanville’s original town of the 1870s.

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This is a follow up on a story I published on December 17, 2017 about the history of the Methodist Church bell. It should be noted the church was destroyed by fire in 1915, and work started the following to rebuild. The church had limited funds and it initially seemed as though the church would have to go without a bell.

The following was an editorial in the Lassen Advocate of December 22, 1916: “The question of a bell for the Methodist Church has again pressed itself and there seems to be some difference of opinion in regard to the desirability of placing one in the church. It is hoped, however, that a full-toned bell of comparatively low pitch will be decided upon, for a village church without its bell seems almost like a ship without a rudder. But there are bells and bells, and while present financial conditions of the church a question of cost must be considered, a judicious use of money set aside for the purpose can just as well procure a pleasant deep-toned bell as to the mistake of placing in the church a ell every sound of which startles one with the thought of fire.”

By the time church was dedicated in 1917, it did have a bell. It came from the old Lassen County Courthouse, as the new courthouse design did not include a bell.

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East slope Sierra Nevada communities of the 1850s and ‘60s were isolated from California, especially in the winter months.  Thus, certain social developments were a challenge. While folklore describes western frontier outposts as rowdy and bawdy, that was not always the case.

In November 1860 it was announced the Presiding Elder of the Methodist Church from the Sacramento Valley would visit the Honey Lake Valley in late December—a first. However, it is not clear if that preacher ever visited the region. In 1862, the Rev. E. Paddison of the Methodist Church, held a service in Susanville with fourteen people in attendance. From 1862-1864 Honey Lake Valley became part of Nevada Territory District of the Methodist California Conference. In September 1863, the Rev. Richard C. Cardberry was assigned to Susanville, replacing Paddison. By 1868, the Methodist Church was firmly established in the Honey Lake Valley to be followed by Catholics and the Congregational Church.

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During the 1930s, when Inspiration Point became Susanville’s first municipal park it was used by a lot of organizations sponsoring a variety of activities. One of the groups who used the “Point” frequently was the local American Legion post.

For several years Easter sunrise services were held there. During Holy Week the American Legion post placed a temporary wooden cross. Various church leaders participated, but keeping the service as non-denominational. It was popular too many, as hundreds attended the service that began around 5:30 a.m.—note no daylight savings time.

In the early afternoon, the American Legion post with assistance of the local Boy Scouts held an Easter Egg hunt there. In 1935, they were overwhelmed by hundreds of Susanville children who quickly found the sixty dozen eggs. As one observer put it, they could not “handle the rush” as this was twice as many as the previous year.

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First of all, I have to admit that I have a special affinity for this town’s particular street. After all, I grew up on this street, and decades later I returned to reside on this street.

It was so named back in 1863, when the town was surveyed, because in essence it contained numerous “cottages” and became the town’s first residential district. In the 1870s, one could call the street, the town’s religious row. The town’s first two churches were built there, and depicted in the above photograph. The first church built was the Congregational Church, followed shortly thereafter by the Methodist Church.

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