The first Lassen County Courthouse and Hall of Records, 1908–David Zoller
These Welsh Brothers came to Susanville in the mid-1860s. The first to arrive William “Bill” in 1866, and followed by his brother, Morgan in 1867. The brothers, it should be noted, were carpenters. In February 1867, Bill Williams was awarded the contract to build Lassen County Courthouse at cost of $9,850. The two men were kept busy, and the courthouse was completed on October 28, 1867. The brothers dabbled in other pursuits including homesteading, Morgan filed on 160 acres, adjoining the Goodrich Ranch at Mountain Meadows, His brother, claimed land at Devils Corral along the Susan River, There is a small stream located there and is known as Williams Creek.
The documentation of their lives in the Susanville region is sporadic. For instance in fall of 1875, Morgan took his family on an extended trip to Europe. In 1877, the Williams Brothers were busy constructing rental houses in Susanville. By 1880, William Williams relocated to Sacramento where he died in 1883. In 1888, Morgan Williams sought greener pastures in New Mexico. He died in 1893.
In 1913, Susanville teacher, Mary Hurley retired at the age of 69. In 1880, twice widowed at the age of 36, she was accepted as a teacher at the Susanville Grammar School. She taught there for four years, and briefly relocated to Los Angeles. In 1887, she returned to Susanville and was hired at her old teaching job in Susanville, where she taught for twenty-six years.
Susanville Grammar School, circa 1905- Courtesy Betty Barry Deal
But her retirement was different than others. She was the first Lassen County teacher to receive a pension from the Teachers’ Retirement Fund of the State of California. Her quarterly retirement check was for $125.00. In 1924, she moved to San Francisco where she passed away on February 15, 1929. She is buried in the Susanvillw Cemetery, but has no headstone. While the Hurley name is not known these days, she has lots of relatives, her one sister, Cetera married Ben Leavitt and the other Florence married Clinton DeForest
It is official that iconic Susanville Elk’s Lodge is up for sale. If the new owner wants to convert it a residence, that it once was, I do have some information on the matter. In 1908, J. Henry & Annie Swain purchased the building and they moved their family there. It needed a lot of work, since a portion of it was never finished. Improvements were made to the six bedroom house, that would featured not one, but two bathrooms which was unheard at the time.
Top floor sketch by Frances Swain
For years, I corresponded with Frances Swain who grew up in the house. She provided me with sketches of the layout and that I thought some may be interested in.
Methodist Church, Susanville, circa 1895-Courtesy of Meriam Library, California State University ,Chico
This photograph I came across in the Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico. It was mislabeled as a Catholic Church. I informed them that it was not, that it was the Methodist Church. Lo and behold to my amazement they corrected it. Most institutions and professionals just ignore my input, especially archeologist because they can get away with a lot of atrocities since their work is hidden from public view. Oh well, so much for my editorial.
The original Methodist Church was located on the corner of Cottage and Lassen Streets, where the present church stands today. In the fall of 1875 the Reverend Warren Nims announced his intention to build a church in the following spring. Work on the structure was sporadic. On June 23, 1877, the Lassen Advocate reported: “The bell is already hung in the tower of the new M.E. Church. It is a real tony bell, its reverberations are heard for miles around. Our town is gradually taking on city airs.” Work was rushed to completion and it was dedicated in September 1877. On June 6, 1900 three blocks of Susanville’s business district was destroyed by fire, including the Methodist Church.
Main Street, Susanville, October 1924—Boyd Benham/Connie Boomer
This anonymous piece appeared in the Lassen Advocate in 1924. I think it is timeless. What do you think?
“Is Susanville Different.” – When it comes to some needed civic improvement we often hear the expression ‘our town is different, it can’t be done.’ Then someone ventures that ‘there will be some funerals here before we can get this and that done.’
“Now the truth of the matter is, our town is no different from any other, unless, indeed, it is after all better than most towns. Human nature is same everywhere, and we are all human. What we should remember is this; our town is not different , because other towns have the same troubles as we do in bringing public opinion to the. point of civic action. Individual minds move faster than the entire body of people. Opinions differ even as to methods granting that it is mutually agreed as to the necessity for certain developments. After all, the campaign is wholesome. Time usually brings about the happy medium between conservative backwardness and on the other hand the headlong optimism on the other. Susanville will have all she needs-better streets, tree plantings, parks, playgrounds, better traffic regulations and other other community aspirations fulfilled if we will all buckle on the armor of civic righteousness and quit trying to excuse ourselves with word on thought that ‘our town is different, it can’t be done.’
“And as to necessity for a few funerals-we can not agree with that, neither can the so common expression be other than deplored. Instead of a few funerals, we would suggest a few births of civic interest on the part of a greater number of people who have so long stood on the side lines and watched a few of the community boosters carry all the load.”
Abraham Farris in front of his store, 1937. Courtesy of Calvin Farris
The Lassen Townsite Company, incorporated in1912, was and still is Susanville’s largest subdivision. A topic for a future post. However, Lassen Townsite is a focal point on today’s topic.
In September 1912, Abraham Farris, who was operating a store in Clio, Plumas County, paid Susanville a visit to relocate. He liked what he saw and made arrangements to move. The Lassen Advocate duly noted, “Mr. Farris impresses us as a man of enterprise and business ability, and as one who will do his share in the up building of Susanville.”
The Del Mar Building, 1937—Jere Baker
Farris, set up shop on the southeast corner of Main and Roop Streets, in the vacant Moody Drug Store building. All went well in the beginning until the owner of the property, O.M. Doyle evicted him in February 1914.. Doyle had plans for the property and in late March ground breaking began for the erection of a two-story brick building on the lot. Seasoned Susanville residents will know the property as the Del Mar.
The business district was booming with the advent of the railroad, and Farris could not find a suitable location. He opted to purchase property in the Lassen Townsite on Richmond Road. Yet, this was problematic. Lassen Townsite was owned by several influential Susanville businessmen. They limited commercial development near the depot and it would be kept to a minimum, mainly for businesses affiliated with rail services. To get around this predicament, Farris hired contractor Louis Dimon to build him a house large enough for his family, but with enough space to carry a large stock of merchandise. The store operated until his death in April 1940. In 1942, the store front was remodeled. The building it should be noted burned down in 2013.
On March 17, 1914, the Native Sons of the Golden West, Parlor. #198 held a St. Patrick’s Ball and midnight supper. Reports were rather vague about the festivities. It was held at the Janesville Odd Fellows Hall, with the Swain Orchestra providing the music. The attendance was better than expected. In fact, forty people from Susanville attended. As one newspaper reporter noted, “That ball was certainly a very pleasant affair.”
Of note, the local Native Sons was organized in Susanville in 1898. They were a very active bunch. Their hall was located on the corner of Lassen and Nevada Streets, the current site of the Masonic Hall. That hall caught fire on November 7, 1921 which was a complete. loss, but destroyed Susanville’s combination city/fire hall that was located next door. According to M.E. “Mul” Mulroney, he was under the impression that the local Native Sons had disbanded by 1930.
Susanville was getting a metropolitan airs since the railroad arrived in 1913. Prior to the Suanville Fire Department there was the Susanville Hose Company. In the spring of 1914, C.C. Hampton, the Foreman of the Hose Company issued the following statement and was widely distributed throughout the community:
“Use Your Telephone. Hereafter, in case of fire in town or in the suburbs, telephone calls may be direct to the Hose House in Susanville at any hour night and will be promptly responded to.”
Ephraim Van Buren Spencer (1836 -1904) was a fascinating individual. In his 1906 biography, as a testament this is the beginning sentence, “No name is more intimately associated with the history of Lassen County than that of Judge Spencer.” I am going highlight four aspects of his life.
Roop’s mill taken in the early 1860s
The Lumberman. In 1859, E.V. and his brother, Luther Spencer, settled in Susanville. An opportunity arose, and they purchased the Roop Sawmill on the Susan River, just below Hobo Camp. Very little known as to mill’s operation. It should be noted that it burned down in 1868. What really intrigued me was one of the mill’s employee-Lemericus Wyatt. In April 1859, Wyatt along with Edward Clapper and Peter Lassen were on a prospecting trip in the Black Rock Desert. There was an early morning ambush that claimed the lives of Clapper and Lassen, and Wyatt escaped. Wyatt confided to E.V. Spencer what happened.
An artist sketch of the lynching of Holden Dick and Mexican Ben.
The Attorney. Spencer was a sawyer at the mill. He suffered a major arm injury that resulted in a career change. He became a lawyer. In 1864, he was elected the first Lassen County District Attorney. He only served one term. He was proud of the crackdown of gambling, and while it subsided, it never went away. As an attorney he was noted for his eloquent speaking abilities. He had an illustrious career as an attorney. One of his clients was the infamous Holden Dick who was accused of the gruesome murder of Samuel Shaw in 1883. Thus, the legend of the Holden Dick Mine was born. It was purported that Dick gave Spencer a map to the mine’s location. A bit of trivia, Dick’s first name came from Thomas Holden, who was Spencer’s wife’s relations..
The Assemblyman. In 1894, Spencer was elected to the California Assembly. While he only served one term, he was admired by his colleagues who referred to him the as “Lassen County’s Grand Old Man.” One of his causes was the suffragette movement. He was instrumental in getting Amendment 6 on the ballot in 1896 to approve women’s rights in California, but the measure failed.
The Railroad Man. Spencer was the probably the strongest advocate to have Susanville serviced by a railroad. It was his contention that Susanville would be just another “sleepy hollow” without one. In 1885, the residents of Susanville raised $500 to send Spencer negotiate with the Morans, the new owners of the Nevada & California Railroad (later to become the NCO). to build the line to Susanville. The Moran’s informed Spencer that they did not have the money to extend the line north. Spencer was optimistic, since the railroad did a preliminary survey along the west side of Honey Lake to Susanville. On March 31, 1887 Edgar Heriot the new general manager of the railroad announced they would commence work of 45 mile extension from Junction House to Brubeck’s Ranch on the east side of Honey Lake. Spencer did not sit idly by about the news of the bypass. It’s an interesting story for another time. In 1899, Spencer lobbied the railroad to build a branch line from Hot Springs (Wendel) to Susanville. It would be a most interesting dinner discussion about Spencer on this topic.
Summation. Spencer’s life was hardly dull. For instance, in the late 1880s his family would vacation at Drake’s Springs, today known as Drakesbad. The seed for creation of Lassen Volcanic National Park was planted via his son-in-law Congressman John Raker.
Purdy’s Garage, date unknown. Courtesy of Margaret Purdy
In June 1926, my grandfather and my name sake, Ira I. Purdy drove up from Sacramento to Susanville in search of employment. He was a mechanic by trade, a master one at that, which I may have inherited his name but not his mechanic skills. He found employment at Doyle & Hunsinger’s, operators of the local Ford car dealership. Once settled in he moved his wife, Margaret and young son, James, to Susanville. My father, Leroy, was born the following year on March 7, 1927 at Riverside Hospital, so hence this post on the annivasry of his birth.
Purdy’s Garage, no date. Courtesy of Margaret Purdy
Like so many others Ira yearned to have his own operation. In 1939 he left Doyle Motor Company, (Hunsinger had moved to Reno), to establish his own service station. He purchased several lots on the north side of Main Street, between Sacramento and Spring Streets and established Purdy’s Garage. It remained in operation until the mid-1950s, when health conditions forced him to retire. The property, that was Purdy’s Garage, would later become the home of the Lassen Advocate and that building sits vacant.
Of note, in 1989 Caltrans did a major reconstruction of Main Street. Caltrans consulted me as gas tanks were. It should be noted that by 1960 there were some 17 plus service (gas) stations on Main Street. Caltrans removed some, though Purdy’s Garage gas tank was actually located underneath Main Street, Caltrans even aware of that fact, did not remove it. Will it become a future sink hole?
