Tag Archives: Schools

Standish School

May 12, 2016 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

The school district was created on January 5, 1906. That summer the Wilbur Brothers constructed a $1,300 schoolhouse. On July 1, 1951, the residents of the Bridgeport, Soldier Bridge and Standish School Districts agreed to consolidate and form the Shaffer Union School District. The Standish School was subsequently closed.

It should be noted the Wilbur Brothers also built the Honey Lake and Missouri Bend schools, and all three are similar in design. Honey Lake school has been converted into a residence and no longer recognizable. Missouri Bend is still intact, and for awhile it has been used as a private school.

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History

Lassen College’s Paul Bunyan Days

May 10, 2016 Tim Purdy 3 Comments

Couresy of D.B. Martin — Paul Bunyan Days at Willard Creek, April 1970. Featured is the log rolling contest-student still standing is Howard Hanns and the student falling is Marshall Benedict. Photograph courtesy of D.B. Martin

This topic is certainly a work in progress, after all it does take a lot of research time to put together these daily posts.

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.

Back to the topic at hand, Paul Bunyan Days. Any one out there who can shed more light on this? If so, please contact me.

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History

Lassen High Alumni – 2016

April 16, 2016 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Lassen High faculty and student skiers, 1917. D.M. Durst Collection

Something a little bit different. On the third Saturday of June, the Lassen High Alumni Association holds it all alumni picnic in Susanville. Alumni come far and near to attend this event, some 400+. For me its always been fun, and I can conduct a lot of historical research in one afternoon. For your reading enjoyment, I provide you with the Alumni’s April newsletter, which has a lot of interesting reading material, including a Remember When column penned by yours truly. Clink on the link below to open the PDF file.

Alumni Newsletter Apr 2016-3

History

Lassen Union High’s Block L

March 29, 2016 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

The "L" as it appeared on the mountainside in 1947. In the foreground is the Paul Bunyan Lumber Mill, now the area of WalMart, etc. Courtesy of Fred Lendman — The “L” as it appeared on the mountainside in 1947. In the foreground is the Paul Bunyan Lumber Mill, now the area of WalMart, etc. Courtesy of Fred Lendman

On February 18, 1928 the Lassen High Block L Society formed, that was the boy’s athletic organization. One of their first activities was the painting of the “L” on Susanville Peak. In 2008, Betty Jo Buckles Coplen provided me with this behind the scene account: “In 1924, my father, Maynard Robert “Billy” Buckles accepted a position teaching at Lassen Union High School, and we moved to Susanville. Four years later, members of the new Block L Society came to my Dad. They asked him to help them plan a Block L for them to lay out on the hillside. He helped them to design a letter L with the proper classic proportions (200 yards long). He also warned them that a letter of that size would be difficult to keep whitewashed. The Block L boys persevered and constructed the letter on the hill, moving rocks into the outline to be painted white. For decades as planned the freshman boys painted the letter each year, but eventually that practice died out.”

While the Block L Society no longer exists, the Lassen High Alumni Association has from time to time maintained it, the last time was done in 2008.

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History

Lake School – Then and Now

March 11, 2016 Tim Purdy 1 Comment

Built in 1877, the second story was used as a hall for the Independent Order of Good Templars. In 1935, Francis Wilbur, a local carpenter, was hired to remove the second story from the school. In 1971, the school closed and annexed to Janesville. In 1975, the Janesville District declared the Lake School as surplus property and it was deeded to George and Jane Bailey. The schoolhouse has since been converted into a private residence.

Lake School as a private residence, February 7, 2016.

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History

Constantia School

February 26, 2016 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

In 1897 and 1898 the Warm Springs and Junction Schools were formally declared closed by the Superintendent of Schools. Due to that circumstance, no school existed in the extreme southern portion of Lassen County. In 1904, F.C. McDiarmid petitioned the County Superintendent of Schools, J.F. Dixon, to form a new school district in the southernmost portion of Lassen County. McDiarmid cited there were 21 school age children in the proposed district and that the majority of these children resided more than ten miles from the nearest schoolhouse. McDiarmid’s petition was submitted on March 14^th and required urgent attention. State law required all new districts be formed before the 5^th of April of any year. Dixon urged the Board of Supervisors to approve the District and noted that the Board would need to hold a special meeting to meet the State deadline. The Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on April 4^th, with three members in attendance, and approved the formation of the Constantia School District. The District boundaries included the Constantia Ranch and all the territory south to the Sierra County line. Continue reading Constantia School →

History

Lassen College Gunsmithing Program

February 13, 2016 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

Lassen Community College’s Gunsmithing Program will observe its 70th anniversary this year. It is the oldest program of its kind in the nation. Currently, I am seeking additional historical material. If you happen to possess and/or know someone who can assist, please let me know.

The following is from the Lassen Advocate of 5 September 1946 providing a glimpse of the humble origins of the program.

The only gunsmithing course being offered in a college or trade school in the United States is being given this year at Lassen Junior College. Continue reading Lassen College Gunsmithing Program →

History

Hayden Hill School

January 18, 2016 Tim Purdy 1 Comment

Providing service’s to Lassen County’s largest mining community had its challenges. There were, of course, the boom and bust cycles, so its population was always in state of fluctuation. Due to its elevation and harsh winter conditions, many residents sought refuge elsewhere in the winter months.

Those factors influenced educational opportunities at Hayden Hill. In 1872, Perry Edris opened a private school on the Hill. It was not until 1878 that the public school was created. The school opened in the fall of 1878, with Ida Spalding as the teacher of fifteen students. The school remained in operation until 1925, when it closed for lack of students.

On June 1, 1931, the Board of Supervisors offered the schoolhouse for sale. Fred Bunselmeier and Lloyd Walsh purchased the two-story building for approximately $125.

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History

Caloreta (Wendel) School

December 30, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Caloreta School, Wendel, 1916. Courtesy of D.M. Durst Collection

On November 28, 1913, the residents of Wendel petitioned for a school district, they named Caloreta, and the County Board of Supervisors approved it. On August 8, 1914, a bond election for $1,060 was held and approved by its fifteen registered voters. The school building itself is unique as it was constructed from native stone, whereas other rural schools were wooden framed structures. By 1919 the school was defunct. In 1922, the school re-opened, but not as Caloreta. When the Caloreta School District went defunct it was annexed to the Amedee School District. In 1922, the school operations at Amedee were moved to Wendel and occupied the Caloreta schoolhouse. Thus, the Caloreta School was now the Amedee School.

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History

Amedee School, Part II

December 2, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Amedee School Children on the first day of the Big Snow, Tuesday, January 11, 1911. Left to Right: Thelma James, Tom Lally, Minnie Meeske, Fred Meeske, Rita Martin, Sadie Meeske, Norma Jeanne James, Frank Martin and Gregory Martin. Courtesy of Marie Herring Gould

In September 1909, there was a resurgence of prosperity in Amedee and the school re-opened its doors to sixteen students. In 1916, another attempt was made to build a schoolhouse. On April 7,1916, a bond election was held—a $1,500 measure. The bond was approved and it generated a 100% voter turnout, though four of the voters opposed it. Continue reading Amedee School, Part II →