It seems of late, that on a almost daily basis measles is in the news. There was a time when other communicable diseases made headlines. Locally, in the spring of 1916 a scarlet fever epidemic hit Susanville. Not to take any chances, school officials closed the Susanville Grammar School for a week, hoping that would be sufficient enough. It was.
On June 2, 1899, the voters of the Susanville School District approved a $12,500 bond measure to build a new school, to replace the existing two-story wooden structure built in 1873. It would be a slow process for a new school to become a reality. First, it took some time to find a buyer for the bonds. Then there was a question whether to retain the same location or move to somewhere else. In December 1899, it was decided to remain where the existing school was, but to purchase an adjoining vacant lot to enlarge the school grounds. In March 1900, the District awarded the contract to build a two-story brick building to Reno contractor, C.E. Clough. It is interesting to note, that four substantial brick buildings were constructed at the same time, the Emerson Hotel, Methodist Church and Oakes &Philbrook Furniture Store.
In 1871, the residents of Big Valley on the Lassen County side, petitioned the Lassen County Board of Supervisors for a school district there. While there was a public school in Adin, that was under the jurisdiction of Siskiyou County, as Modoc County had not yet been created. The Big Valley residents were included the Willow Creek Valley School District and that school house was nearly forty miles away. With that thought in mind, the petition stated, “It is frequently impossible for their children to attend school on account of high water, deep snows muddy roads, etc.” The petition was signed by seventeen residents and combined they had twenty children eligible for school. The Board obliged and created the Providence School District on November 10, 1871. A school house was built two miles south of Adin. In 1953, the school was annexed to the Adin Joint Unified District. The school house then became the property of the Providence Farm Bureau.
Remember When? In the 1940s, these youngsters had a graduation ceremony at Susanville’s Baptist Church.—Louise West Collection.
It is that time of year. The first graduation at Lassen High School was in 1906, a three year program. In 1907, a four year class schedule was fully implemented. At Lassen College, the first graduation conducted there was in 1927.
The above photograph is from the Louise West collection. Unfortunately, it has no date. Miss West taught kindergarten and first grade at Susanville’s Washington School from the early 1940s to the early the 1960s.
In 1863, the Plumas County Board of Supevisors approved the formation of the Susanville School District—Lassen County was not in existence. A site for the school was selected at Cottage Street, near Weatherlow. All these years later this property has always been used for public educational purposes. The original school structure was a very modest one, and as the community grew, so did the need to expand the school. In 1873, L.J. Abel and George Barley constructed a two-story schoolhouse for $3,025, one the site of the first school. It would meet the community’s need until the arrival of the next century. It was.
May 13, 1973 was a historic day for Lassen Community College. A formal dedication ceremony was held for the new campus. At 12:30, it began with the Grand Lodge Officers of the California Free and Accepted Masons with the cornerstone laying ceremony. A time capsule was included to mark the event for posterity. It was then followed by a barbecue. At three p.m. the formal dedication program began at the Sports Center with College President Robert Theiler, as the initial speaker. Theiler was followed by an assortment of dignitaries giving their blessings for the monumental occasion.
For some reason I have been stuck in a Secret Valley mode of thought, with Biscar Reservoir and Petroglyph Humor. For those not familiar, Secret Valley is a long straight stretch along Highway 395 North, approximately thirty miles from Susanville.
Like so many places throughout the region, in a bygone era, lively times were had there. In addition, like so many rural outposts it had its own school district, that was established in 1890. Rural schools then, were not confined to a strict schedule that occurs today. The Secret Valley School during the 1920s and 1930s operated during the summer months and was closed from November to February. The school closed in 1938. The last graduating class consisted of Emelia Diaz and Ida Nye. In 1940, the school was annexed to Soldier Bridge, known today as Shaffer.
On a footnote, this is one of handful of Lassen County schools that I do not possess a photograph of. The late Faye Laver, thought she possessed one, but could never find it.
Lassen County voter’s can be a stingy lot when it comes to passing local bond measures. During the 1920s, Lassen High School was overwhelmed by the increase of the student population, due to the tremendous growth from the lumber mills being established. By 1926, Susanville Elementary School District had built three schools in six years. The Lassen High School Trustees was in dire need to expand its facility, but were keenly aware the voters had no appetite to finance another bond measure. What to do? The most pressing need was to find a solution to the overcrowding. After all, classes began at 8:00 a.m. and lasted until 5:00 p.m. as a heavy rotation schedule was in place to meet all the needs of the students. The remedy was to build an east wing addition to the current structure. At the November 5, 1928 meeting, the trustees at the high school approved to construct the $33,000 east wing addition. They had a budget reserve of $6,300 that would be the initial down payment. At this time, they were only spending 69 cents of assessment funds, though the maximum was at 75 cents. The following year, they would raise the cap to 75, that provided an additional $12,000 for the building fund and it would remain until the project was paid in full. Work would not begin until May 1, so not be disruptive during school operations and was completed in time for fall classes.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s witnessed numerous changes with the Lassen County schools. Not only there were numerous consolidation of school districts, but a lot of new schools were constructed then. In 1948, the voters of the Janesville School District approved a bond measure for a new school and it was approved. On November 3, 1951, Al Row, with his high bid of $380, purchased the old schoolhouse and he moved it to his property. However, the school trustees donated the old bronze bell that adorned the schoolhouse to the Janesville Fire Department.
In 1900, there were over seventy rural schools and post offices scattered throughout Lassen County. Little Valley, located south of Big Valley, was of no exception. Its school district was established in 1885, and in 1926, due to a decline in population the school was abolished. In 1929, Mary Gassaway purchased the abandoned schoolhouse from Lassen County for $75. What is rather peculiar the Little Valley Post Office was not established until 1948.