This home located at734 Cottage Street, is one of the town’s  vintage homes. Built in 1877, by Henry Tunison, a carpenter by trade. His brother by the way was Abraham L. Tunison an early settler of Willow Creek Valley and Tunison Mountain is named for him. . After Henry’s death in 1882, his home was purchased by William Greehn, a Susanville merchant. The Greehn family resided there until William’s death in 1906. His estate rented the house for a number of years.

Some of the renters were the Thomas Barham family and the George Bailey family.

Today, it is the home of Fred and Joan Zeuhkle, who have resided there for over fifty years.

Tim

Back in the 1920s and 1930s certain segments of Susanville’s Society entertained in a variety of formats. While there were numerous card groups to pass the time, others craved something a bit more exciting. These, of course, were costume parties and the themes as varied as the host/hostess.

It is interesting to note that these “freak parties,” as they were called, were quite popular during prohibition and less so afterwards. Whether alcohol refreshments were served, is anyone’s guess, but Susanville residents enjoyed their alcoholic libations during prohibition.

In any event, maybe there is some creative type who might like to host a freak party in the near future. If you do,  be sure to send me an invite. It certainly appears to be enjoyable way to spend an evening versus other entertainment venues available.

Tim

One of Susanville’s original streets, when the town was surveyed in 1863 it was the most western street. So named for the pine trees that are on the western edge of town.  An odd thing about Pine Street, it initially went from Main south to the Susanville Cemetery. What is known as North Pine Street did not come into existence for a number years, and even then it only extended to North Street. For years it was known as Prattville Road, and this was route out of town, and the next town then in existence was Prattville, which the original town no longer exists as it demolished to make way for Lake Almanor in 1914.

In 1925, the advent of residence mail delivery the house numbering system began In 1952, it was revamped with North and South distinction the dividing line, of course, was Main Street.

Tim

First time visitors to my new North Union Street living quarters, ask if any thing existed on the nearby vacant lot at N. Union and North Streets. There was. It was the residence of Thomas N. Long and built in the mid 1870s. In 1918, the Long Estate sold it to Bundy & Winifred French. French, it should be noted was the Lassen County Courthouse Janitor for decades, which was a appointed position by the Lassen County Board of Supervisors.

In 1976, Winnie French sold the property. The residence and native stone garage was torn down in October 1977 and plans were for an apartment complex on the site that that never materialized.

Tim

When the new Lassen County Hospital was completed in 1916, the Lassen County Board ofSupervisors took a proactive role in its initial management . The old hospital was at the mercy of the board appointed county physician. After with new facility with its amenities  such as a up-to-date operating room which could compete with hospitals found in larger cities. They embarked on an advertising campaign with a focus on Modoc County. After all, it was the consensus of the board that the hospital should pay for itself. Initially, it worked well, due in part of the population surge generated with the establishment of the Lassen Lumber & Box Company. In 1921, there was competition with newly established Riverside Hospital. Then along came Potter’s Maternity Home, which did not help either. Thus, the county hospital was relegated to those indigent means.

This continued until the early 1960s, when the county built another new hospital. Timing can be everything. When Lassen Memorial Hospital opened its doors, Potters and the Riverside were winding down. Plus the local economy got a boost with newly opened prison, the California Correctional Center.

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There were several journalists endeavors in Susanville over the years. They were usually short-lived. One of theses the Susanville Daily News that made its debut on June 9, 1936. It was actually the reincarnation of the Daily Reminder. The Reminder was a mimeographed publication while the Daily News introduced readers to lithography.Percy Dunkle was the publisher and Richard Long, the editor. Dunkle was formerly associated with Lassen Mail newspaper and he had the financial backing of Ike Knoch.

There are some interesting articles and advertisements which we will explore. Of course, there was a customary golf articles, as golfing was all the rage that the local press called them the divot diggers..

Tim

For years, Susanville residents wanted two amenities, a public park and  a municipal swimming pool. While there was a greater Susanville, the Milwood Tract and the Lassen Lumber district, they were outside the city’s boundaries and county was reluctant to provide basic services, let alone contribute a park or pool.

It was Frank O’Kelly who worked diligently for a municipal swimming pool. It should be noted he operated Lassen Dairy on property leased from Fruit Growers, north of town, which is now known Susanville Ranch Park. In 1934 O’Kelly approached the City to convert the Fruit Growers ranch property into a recreational facility. It would include a swimming pool, golf course, picnic area and playgrounds. Since Bagwell Springs was located on the property, there was ample water supply. The Susanville Rotary Club liked the idea and passed a resolution for the park’s development. Construction of the facilities could be done with labor from the State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) crew. There was one problem with the proposal. Fruit Growers owned the property and it was not interested in leasing or donating.

O’Kelly, undaunted by that setback continued with his quest for a community pool. It was finally suggested to submit this project to the Works Projects Administration (WPA). In January 1936, City Engineer, Harry S. Riddell was instructed to draft plans for the WPA for a municipal pool. The WPA approved the project with an estimated cost of $28,433. It was decided to construct the pool behind Roosevelt Elementary School on Richmond Road. On October 30, 1936, groundbreaking ceremonies were held. It would take longer than the 1937 date anticipated for completion, due to the lack of eligible WPA workers. The Roosevelt Pool officially opened on April 17, 1938. Many years later. on December 22,2004, the City condemned it, due to structural concerns about the building it was demolished in 2015.

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