For several years prior to 1912, the Pioneer had a biergarten next door. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall
Earlier this year I wrote about how the Pioneer Saloon was moved from 722 Main Street to 924 Main Street. You can read about it here
924 Main Street, Susanville, July 2024–Jim Chapman
I wrote how the building has been modified over the years. A reader wanted to know what it looks like today.
In 1902, Susanville passed Ordinance No. 17 that prohibited the construction of wooden buildings in the heart of the town’s business district–Main Street frontage buildings from Roop to Gay Streets. In 1912, the ordinance was amended to include all buildings to Weatherlow Street.
Susanville’s Southern Pacific Railroad Depot on Richmond is unique in many ways. By the time the railroad reached Susanville in 1913, the company had already adopted a set of standard depot building plans.
In 1913, the residents wondered what kind of depot they would have. As far as the Southern Pacific were concerned it would be a modest structure, since in their opinion, Susanville was a small community that had no industry. A wooden 26 foot by 62 foot depot was built, being part passenger depot and part frieght shed. It opened to the public on September 14, 1913 with C.B. Morton’s the first depot agent.
Susanville Depot, 1970.
Times quickly changed and by 1921 Susanville boasted two large lumber mills—Fruit Growers Supply Company and Lassen Lumber & Box Company. The original depot was no longer able to meet the needs. In 1927, the Southern Pacific constructed a 75-foot addition and unlike other depots its exterior was stuccoed.
Susanville Depot, September 1978.
Times were rapidly changing, especially with the State of California’s ambitious highway construction plan. As automobile travel became the preferred mode of transportation, travel by train declined. In 1933, rail passenger service at Susanville was eliminated. In 1979, Southern Pacific closed the depot.
Flora Neuhaus, served as Mayor of Susanville, 1926-27–Phyllis Beard
For over three decades since the founding of the City of Susanville, the council members were true volunteers. Serving in such a position can be a thankless job at times. In 1936 it was the topic at hand. On April 14, 1936, voters not only were asked to vote for two new council members, but whether the city the council members should receive some form of minimal compensation for their time and effort. Of the 141 votes cast, it was approved to pay the council members with 82 yes; 53 against and 16 who declined to vote on the issue. The mayor would receive a sum of $30 a month and members of the council $20 a month.
It has been toasty warm around these parts in July. It should be noted the summer of 1931 was of Susanville’s hottest and driest on record. A heat wave lasted nearly two months, with little respite. In July and August, only eight times did the high temperature dip below 90. In July there were nine consecutive days when the high was over 100. On July 19 and 20 was it ever hot, both days registered 106. It was also dry. On June 16th .03 inches of precipitation fell. Not another raindrop fell on the town for the next four months, until October 17th when .30 inches was recorded.
In cae you were wondering the first week of July 1876, incidentally witnessed Susanville’s hottest ever recorded temperature–108 degrees–and it was reached on three different days.
A family residential section of Fruit Growers, 1921—Ed Standard
In 1919, when Fruit Growers Supply Company planned to build a mill at Susanville, they saw many benefits. Instead of the situation they had at Hilt, a company town they inherited. They felt confident that Susanville entrepreneurs would fill void, especially when it came it to housing. Nothing went according to plan. First of all, Fruit Growers hired 1500 men, the majority with families, which that figure was larger than the population of Susanville.
Fruit Growers dormitories, 1921–Ed Standard
Fruit Growers had to go plan B and build affordable housing for its employees. A residential district, Fruit Growers Townsite was laid out to the west of the plant. Half the townsite contained 80 cottages, the other half dormitories and apartments. It cost Fruit Growers $245,000 to build the housing project. While Fruit Growers is gone today, many of these buildings remain. Another item are the street names, a legacy of the state’s citrus landscape—Sunkist, Monrovia, Upland, Orange, Limoneira to name a few.
The Emerson Hotel located at Main & Lassen Streets, the current site of the Hotel Mt. Lassen. Completed in 1901, destroyed by fire in1915.
If you thought $540 for the Lassen County Farm Bureau cookbook was tad expensive, well I was recently alerted about another much more pricey one. The latest involves Emerson family memorabilia, specifically that of May Spencer Emerson (1867-1955). The package includes a woman’s dress, necklace, purse and two historic invitations. One of those invites is for the 1901 dedication of the Emerson Hotel. Asking price $900.
Other people are involved in hopes to purchase said items for the Lassen Museum. This is one of those instances I go into a retreat mode, it has all the features of a sticky wicket drama–something I avoid.
701 Nevada Street, Susanville, October 7, 1939–H. Frodsham photograph
In 1912, the Great Western Power Company was in the midst of the construction of Nevis Dam to create Lake Almanor. The company hired Dr. Fred J. Davis to provide medical care for the construction workers. In September 1913, Red River Lumber Company hired Dr. Davis to provide medical care to its newly constructed company town of Westwood. Dr. Davis would remain in charge of the Westwood Hospital until 1939. Dr. Davis, along with son, Dr. Fred J. Davis, Jr., moved to Susanville to open their private practice. At 701 Nevada Street, Susanville they had an office constructed. In 1965 Dr. Davis Sr. retired. In 1974, Dr. Fred J. Davis Jr. retired and he sold the office to Dr. Jay Beams. In 2022. Beams closed the office, which now sits vacant.
Here is a bit of worthless trivia about the early 1900s 4th of July parade route in Susanville. It was a short one. Entrants gathered at the corner of Cottage and South Gay Streets. From there the parade proceeded north on Gay and then turned left onto Main Street. Then the parade went one block west to Lassen Street, where the route took a left onto Lassen Street, which concluded at the intersection of Lassen and Cottage Street, basically a nearly one block loop.
The Johnston House, July 4, 1909. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
Tim
P.S. Any one who is a long time reader, know that I a firm believer on a ban of fireworks. This is an excerpt from yesterday’s New York Times:
Fireworks sparked 916 wildfires in the state in 2021, the most recent year for which full data is available, and those fires caused more than $3.2 million in property damage, according to CalFire. The year before that, in the state’s worst fire season on record, fireworks caused more than 2,000 fires and $8 million in property damage, along with injuries to 11 people and one death.
It is not just a California phenomenon. A study published last year in the journal PLoS One found that more than 11,000 wildfires nationwide were caused by fireworks between 1980 and 2016 — and that two-thirds of those blazes occurred in the two-week period around July 4.
In fact, more fires began on July 4 than on any other day of the year, it found.
4th of July 1912, Susanville. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner
Note: This is a perennial post, because it has merit and in my opinion they should be banned permanently.
he following appeared in the New York Times, July 3, 2024 “Fireworks sparked 916 wildfires in the state in 2021, the most recent year for which full data is available, and those fires caused more than $3.2 million in property damage, according to CalFire. The year before that, in the state’s worst fire season on record, fireworks caused more than 2,000 fires and $8 million in property damage, along with injuries to 11 people and one death.
“It is not just a California phenomenon. A study published last year in the journal PLoS One found that more than 11,000 wildfires nationwide were caused by fireworks between 1980 and 2016 — and that two-thirds of those blazes occurred in the two-week period around July 4.
“In fact, more fires began on July 4 than on any other day of the year, it found.”
In Susanville’s early years as an incorporated city, it was remarkable what the council did. One of their actions, I still support today, and that is the prohibition of fireworks. The first time they banned fireworks was in 1906, following the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. It was also a nod to the insurance companies who suffered tremendous loss from that event. It was their belief, as well as many other communities, that this preventive measure would reduce the risk of fires.
In 1912, the City once again banned fireworks. The Lassen Advocate applauded the city and wrote: 21 June 1912 – “No Fireworks on the Fourth. We desire to congratulate our Board of Town Trustees on their action in placing the ban on all kinds of fireworks on July 2, 3, and 4. This action has been taken by large and progressive cities for years past, and we are greatly pleased to note that the smaller places are falling into line. Fireworks do no good and may do a world of harm. Fires may be started that will blot out blocks of cities or towns; little boys and girls all over the United States have lost fingers, hands eyes and in many instances, their lives from the dangerous pinwheel and firecrackers. Let them yell all they will, let them spend their money for ice cream, candy—anything on earth but the fireworks.”
In 1916, the Monticola Club appeared before the Susanville City Council asking for a ban of fireworks for the 4th of July. Their answer was no. The council assured that the utmost care would be done, but they were not going to deprive children of the festivities. In 1926, due to the tinder dry conditions, the City banned fireworks for fire, health and safety reasons.
When Fruit Growers Supply Company accidentally became owner of a sawmill and town at Hilt, Sisikiyou, County, it was a major learning curve. One lesson they learned early on, you treat your employees well and they in turn do the same for company. Recreation amenities for Fruit Growers employees was deemed essential. By offering such, the company recouped its investment by reduced employee turnover.
In 1922, Fruit Growers constructed a three-story recreational facility known as the Story Club. In July 1924, on the on the north side of the Story Club and adjacent to Riverside Drive they built a public park complete with a children’s playground, the first in Susanville. When the Story Club was destroyed by fire in 1944, the company decided not to rebuild since there were a variety of recreational outlets in Susanville. However, not to let the vacant space go to waste, they expanded the park.
In 1963, Fruit Growers sold its mill properties, which included the park, to Eagle Lake Lumber Company. Prior to the sale, the City of Susanville, agreed to take care of the park’s maintenance, since the public had use when it was created. In 1976, A.A. “Red” Emmerson, president of Sierra Pacific Industries, of which the Eagle Lumber Company was a division, offered the park to the City for $23,000. It had recently been appraised at $45,000. The City accepted the offer and by end of the year the deal consummated.
