On January 16, 1911 M.O. Folsom unveiled his East Addition, Susanville subdivision containing 300 lots. Many of its north/south streets were named for trees, i.e., Ash, Cedar, Fir, Spruce. The east/west were numbered, i.e, First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth.
Ash Street, initially ended at Fifth Street. Travelers headed north either used Hall Street or Weatherlow Street to Chestnut. In 1947, Ash Street was incorporated into the Lassen-Modoc Joint Highway #14, the pre-cursor to State Highway 139. Ash Street was extended to connect the highway making for a straight route into Susanville.
Susanville’s first hotel, if you could call it such was Cutler Arnold’s story and half structure of hewn logs. For two years, beginning in the spring of 1857, it also housed the town’s only dining establishment, meals costing seventy-five cents.
As the town progressed so did the accommodations. In 1860, Emanuel “Mike” Brannan built a two-story hotel on the northeast corner of Main and Lassen streets. It was a transitional period, as the days of log structures were being placed with wooden framed ones. Brannan operated the hotel for the next four years, and due to some financial problems lost the hotel. Just as the Brannan House had replaced Arnold’s, Brannan’s was replaced by the superior Steward House in 1864.
Susanville’s Stewart House, 1881. It sometimes was used as a hospital. Courtesy of Dallas & Joyce Snider
The Brannan House slowly faded away entirely. Its second floor was converted into lodge hall for the Oddfellows. The first floor was used for a variety purposes including that of the post office and the government land office. In 1880, it was torn down and replaced by a new Oddfellows Hall, and that building was replaced with the current structure built in 1896..
In June 1927, the Lassen Advocate reported how “Fort Weatherlow” was threatened by fire. The reporter new to the area, was not aware that while the historic structure located on Weatherlow Street, was known as Roop’s Fort.
Fast forward nearly a century later, though Susanville has no newspapers, there are some online news outlets. Some of these outlets are staffed by people new to the area. No problem with that. However, when they occasionally come up with new names for established landmarks, that make me cringe.
Since I am repository of a variety items, lately I have been rummaging through the local Clampers file, i.e. the Neversweats Chapter #1863, E Clampus Vitus. In 1990, they proposed to place a plaque at the Susanville Oddfellows Building located at 701 Main Street. For whatever reasons it did not happen. However, they submitted price quote for the cost of a bronze plaque with the following wording:
”Organized in 1879, the Silver Star Lodge No. 135 of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, is one of Susanville’s oldest fraternal organizations. In that same year, the lodge purchased this property for $4,000. This structure built in 1896 was the first two-story red brick building constructed in Susanville. C.E. Clough, Architect & Contractor, Reno, Nevada.”
The proposed plaque had a dedication date of August 4, 1990. Fast forward to 2023, the local Oddfellows organization disbanded years ago. If any one happens to know what year it folded, let me know, so I can do an update. It should be duly the local Clampers chapter went by the wayside a long time ago.
Last week, I went through the process to upload newly scanned photographs. I came across this particular one, of the south side of the 700 block Main Street, Susanville, which was not scheduled for any story. A lot of changes have occurred. The former Spalding Drug building was destroyed by fire in 2005. At the far end of the block, the Pioneer, Grand Cafe and what was formerly known as the State do not appear in this photograph since those changes occurred in 1920 and 1934.
The former Spalding Drug building, i.e, 710, 712 Main Street, Susanville, January 7, 2005.
Hotel Lassen Advertisement Westwood Independent, 1918
Before there was a Hotel Mt. Lassen there was the Hotel Lassen. It was originally known as the Johnston House. For a time, it was the town’s foremost hotel. On November 1, 1912, a change of ownership and name change occurred when long time Susanville resident Henry C. Dobyns acquired the property. At that time, he changed the name to Hotel Lassen. After he passed away in 1916, his son Charles took over the operation. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1919.
Dobyns purchased the hotel from Thomas H. Long. In 1914, Long had a two-story stone building constructed as the Star Hotel at the corner of Main and North Gay Streets—only a half block away from his former establishment. For many years that structure was known as the “Telephone building” since the local telephone company was located there for many years.
The Johnston House, circa 1909. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
Yesterday’s post was about the early origins of the St. Francis Hotel. Some one wanted to know about the west addition. Here is that information below, as well as what the building originally looked like for comparison.
St. Francis Hotel, circa 1919. Courtesy of Art Almeda
During the 1920s, Susanville’s population nearly tripled. Hotel accommodations were scarce, especially after the Emerson Hotel was destroyed in a 1915. In August 1925, the St. Francis Hotel announced its intention to construct a three-story addition. While it added only an additional nine rooms, it allowed for the lobby to be enlarged, as well as the restaurant facilities. The $25,000 project was constructed by the firm Woodward & Grebe, It should be noted that noted Nevada architect, Frederick deLonghamps designed the original hotel, as well as the addition.
St. Francis Hotel, circa 1919. Courtesy of Art Almeda
Unfortunately, this historic hotel has been shuttered for a number of years. Who knows what its future fate may be. This about the origins of the hotel.
In 1907, Franceska Murrer Neuhaus, with her husband, Ben, retired from their Willow Creek Valley ranch and moved to Susanville. Not to be idle, she kept busy investing in several commercial enterprises. In 1913, flush with money from the sale of the ranch, to her son, Edward Murrer, she had one more venture to undertake. At this time, she hired Nevada architect Frederick deLongchamps to design a hotel at corner of Main and Union Streets.* She named her new enterprise the St. Francis Hotel. Franceska was well versed in the innkeeping business. For years, the Neuhaus home in Willow Creek was well known for its hospitality to accommodate travelers. Her daughter, Rose Bagin, operated hotels at Hayden Hill and Susanville. Rose’s home in Susanville happened to be conveniently located behind the St. Francis, and her elaborate flower garden complimented the hotel. When the St. Francis opened its doors in 1914, Franceska’s son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Flora Neuhaus managed it.
*deLongchamps first Susanville building was the Lassen County Jail completed in 1911.
The July 4, 1906 parade with the city/fire hall in the background—Lola L. Tanner
In 1884, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors created the Susanville Fire District—it had authority to levy tax assessment for fire protection. In the course of time, the district needed a home to not only store its various equipment—hose cart and hoses—but a place to meet and for the volunteers to train. In the fall of 1891 the district advertised for proposals for a fire hall and received three bids. On November 19, 1891, the district accepted James P. Keener’s offer of a lot and to build a hall on North Lassen Street. To adorn the fire hall, Keener constructed a 50-foot-bell tower. It was now the town’s tallest landmark. Keener specifically constructed it that way, so when the bell was rung it could be heard throughout the town.
In 1900, when the City of Susanville incorporated, it became the town’s combination city/fire hall. It is rather ironic the building was destroyed by fire in 1921. On a final note, I have never been able to locate a good photograph of the building.
On January 6, 1924, Susanville’s new city hall was dedicated. It was estimated that nearly a quarter of the town’s population turned out for the occasion.
The original city/fire hall was destroyed by fire on November 7, 1921. More about the history of that structure later. The City Trustees (today referred to as Council) had many pressing issues to contend with and decided to take their time with the construction of a new city hall. In the spring of 1923, they hired noted Nevada architect Frederick DeLongchamps to design a new building. (Some local buildings designed by DeLongchamps include the Del Mar, St. Francis Hotel and the Lassen County Jail).
In October 1922, voter’s approved a $20,000 bond measure to pay for a new combination city/fire hall. Alas, DeLongchamps’ plan carried a $30,000 price tag, along with an additional $5,000 to furnish it. The Trustees’ were reluctant to go back to the voters to approve an additional $15,000 bond measure, but had no other choice. On June 26, 1923 voters approved the additional funding 146 to 14. On August 18, 1923 Woodward & Grebe were awarded the contract to construct the two-story concrete building.
City hall has undergone numerous changes in the past 100 years. The most notable occurred in 2000., during the City’s Centennial. Not only did the building go through a complete retrofitting, but 3,250 square feet was added to the structure. The integrity of the historic facade was kept intact. It was an expensive proposition that cost $1,323,752.
On a final footnote, in late January 1924, the City thanked the Lassen County Board of Supervisors for useage of the County Courthouse that allowed them to hold meetings for the last two years.
