This evening will mark the 110th commencement exercises at Lassen Union High School. One hundred years ago on June 1, 1917, seven graduates received their diplomas:  Myrtle Doyle, Helen Woodward, Alma Frawley, Stella Glass, Pauline Ruf, Mildred Zimmerman and George Winchester.

It was a simple ceremony with a handful speeches, beginning with the invocation by Rev. R.N. Rowe. In between speeches were two different musical solos, one by Esther Gilman and the other by Dr. F.D. Walsh. The commencement address was delivered by Lassen County District Attorney, J.A. Pardee.

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Lassen College’s forestry department began in 1938, though now its major emphasis is on fire science, than forestry. It was in this era of the late 1930s and early 1940s that the forestry students developed a small winter recreational area known as Willard Hill. For several decades it was a very popular spot for sledding, etc.

Paul Bunyan Days was a logging competition held not only at Lassen College, but other community colleges that had forestry programs.  Tom Gilfoy who graduated from Lassen in 1951, said it was Ralph Throop who was instrumental in starting Paul Bunyan Days. At that time it was held behind the high school, since the college was located on the same property. Tom stated they made an impromptu dam on the Susan River for log pond events.  Years later Paul Bunyan Days was moved to Willard Creek.  Mike Moyers who later taught at Lassen stated that around 1981 or 1982 was when the last Paul Bunyan Days was held. In 1984, the forestry program at the college was terminated due to lack of students.

This rural Honey Lake Valley school was located approximately halfway between Milford and Doyle. It was established on January 7, 1896. That summer the residents built the schoolhouse. The school opened in the fall with fourteen students, Tillie Downing was its first instructor. From 1934 through 1938 the school was closed for lack of students. It re-opened in 1939. In 1959, it closed for the last time and annexed to Long Valley.   The schoolhouse, situated along Highway 395, has had many uses since its closure, presently it has since been converted into a private residence.

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Secret Valley is located approximately thirty-five miles northeast of Susanville. In the late 1880s, the region saw a surge in population with homesteaders arriving with the expectations of great things to happen by promoters of some reclamation projects.  Thus, on May 6, 1890, the Secret Valley School was established.

During the late 1920s and early 1930s the school was known for its unusual schedule—it operated during the summer 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 district was annexed to Soldier Bridge.

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The Riverside School was located near present day Leavitt Lake subdivision, which the area was referred to as Clinton. It was established on May 7, 1883, and was created from the eastern portion of the Johnstonville School District. The school remained in operation until 1958 when it was closed. During the mid-1960s, the schoolhouse was used as a day care center for handicapped  children. In the late 1970s, the schoolhouse was moved to Sunnyside Road and converted into a private residence.

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Lassen Advocate – 26 October 1944. New High School Paper to Appear Soon. A new high school paper to be called the “Cub Bark” is being issued at the Lassen Union High School this week under the sponsorship of the Journalism class. The new project is an attempt to take advantage of the high school students’ interest in news writing and will come out once a week. The traditional “Grizzly Growler,” parent of the smaller and more energetic publication, will assume new dignity by more careful edition plus the advantage of being printed in the Advocate print shop instead of being a mimeographed paper.

“The new “Growler” will endeavor to support itself by advertising. It is the intention of the administration of the paper to make it stand on its own worth of over five hundred readers and potential customers rather than on a donation basis by generous merchants. The business experience given to the students who publish is felt to be an invaluable and good education.”

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