Tag Archives: Susanville

History

Interesting Advertising Copy, 1907

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Emerson’s Store, Left to Right, Bill Lewis, Jim Mapes, Todd Hemler, 1916. Courtesy of Prentice Holmes

This is a bit different, I came across an interesting display advertisement in the Lassen Advocate for Charles Emerson’s store. The store’s motto by the way “We Are Here to Stay.” By 1907, Emerson’s enterprise included his hotel and store in Susanville, as well as a store and creamery in Standish. Below is the ad copy, I found it amusing, may be its a personal taste.

”The mummy aint had no fun fer more’n than five thousand years.” Moral: Don’t be a mummy.

Probably what you need right now is a pleasurable vehicle. We have lots of them and want to get vid of ‘m all. (Old Man Studebaker told us confidentiality we could have a few more when we paid for these.)

Your best girl or your mother-in-law may be pining for fresh air. Our mission in life is to separate you from your wherewithwall so if you want anything with wheels we can make a quick trade—Emerson.

Tim

 

History

Susanville’s Shasta Street Then & Now

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Shasta Street,Susanville, 1921

The area south of Railroad Avenue to Modoc Street was a housing development of the Lassen Lumber & Box Company for its employees.  The above photograph I received from someone back East who found the photograph in a book at a garage sale. One never knows where a piece of history will show up.

Shasta Street, Susanville, September 22, 2022

It should be noted that the Lassen Lumber & Box Company designated this particular area as its “Italian Quarters.” Both Lassen Lumber & Fruit Growers Supply Company hired numerous immigrants, at one time there was a large Filipino population.

Tim

 

History

Susanville ignores the Volstead Act

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Main Street, Susanville, 1918.

In the 1920s, Prohibition may have been the law of the land, enforcing it in Susanville or in Lassen County—as in most other places was quite a different matter. There was, of course, that local authorities had no arresting powers—bootlegging was a federal offense. To compound matters the region was in an economic boom time, where in less than twenty years the population had tripled.

To understand just how widespread the problem with bootleg joints was, it was summed up by one observer in 1923. Using the nickname “Friendly George” he wrote: “This man’s town has become a beautiful city and as to bootleggers, I just over there a stranger on the Fourth of July. I asked a taxi driver to take me to one. Well, he said, I know 34 places but I don’t known ‘em all. Quite an improvement from four saloons. Yes, it is Prohibition, but hard to convince me it is Temperance.”

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History

Piano Player Not Needed

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The Gem Saloon, Susanville, 1908. B.R. Zimmerman Collection

Susanville’s Gem Saloon, operated by B.R. Zimmerman was always in search of the latest innovative gadgets to entertain his customers. In the fall of 1907, he installed his latest attraction, which as predicted would garner a lof ot public interest—a electric piano. The Lassen Advocate provided the following description:

”It is of the regulation upright piano size and any performer can perform upon it the same as an ordinary instrument. But should there be no pianist available you only have to ‘push the button’ the electric motor starts and you have only. to look pleasant and listen to a brilliant rendition of the very. latest and best music. The instrument is a beauty and should prove a winner in public favor.”

Tim

History

Mill Closures

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Fruit Growers and Lassen Lumber in their glory days.

Recently, someone wanted to know when the various large lumber mills closed. The first casualty occurred in 1953, when the last of the decked logs were milled at Lassen Lumber & Box Company. The sawmill was dismantled. However, Fruit Growers who bought Lassen Lumber in 1952, sold thirty acres including the box factory to the T&M Sash & Door Factory, operated by A.I. Lucero and Walter Wirth. The building was destroyed by a fire on April. 3, 1966.

Next on the chopping block was Fruit Growers plant in Westwood, which shut down during 1955/56. Fruit Growers had purchased it from the Red River Lumber Company in 1944. Next, in what was kind of an off shoot of Red River was the Paul Bunyan Lumber Company. The Susanville mill closed in 1967, though the company operated another facility in Anderson, Shasta County. One of the shorter lived operations was the Susanville Lumber Company that was established in 1941. In changed ownership several times and then was reincarnated at Coin Lumber. In 1979, it became Susanville Forest Products, a division of Jeld-Wen Corporation. They closed the mill in 1993.

Lastly, was Sierra Pacific Industries. They acquired the mill in 1963 from Fruit Growers Supply Company. Sierra Pacific closed its Susanville mill on May 3, 2004, thus marking an end of era, of a once predominant industry in Lassen County.

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History

Susan River Fish Kill

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Richmond Road Bridge, circa 1910. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

One of the stranger side effects of the national prohibition had to do with a one time fish kill in the Susan River. There was the issue what do with the confiscated alcohol usually referred to as jackass brandy or “dago red” wine. In the summer of 1923, Lassen County Sheriff Carter seized 500 gallons of red wine at Westwood. He did not have ample room to store the evidence. He asked the District Attorney’s. Office for approval to dispose of it, which was granted. Carter instructed his deputy sheriff A.C. Hunsinger to bring a truck to the jail to dispose of the wine and it was poured into the Susan River. However, the wine killed some of the fish in the river. Game Warden W.J. “Spade” Lee was not pleased. He asked the Sheriff to find an alternative way to dispose of confiscated wine in the future.

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History

Susanville’s Liberty Pole

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Susanville’s Liberty Pole, 1917

On Sunday, May 6, 1917 a Loyalty Day at Westwood was held. One of the features was a large American Flag was hoisted on top of the box factory. It was a prelude of the United States entry into World War I.  As a number of Susanville residents were attendance at the Westwood event, they decided to move forward with their own “Liberty Pole.”

On Tuesday, June 5, 1917, a sixty-foot tall flag poll had already been placed at the west end of Susanville’s Main Street.  It was time for a flag raising. It was  low key affair—with the blare of a bugle and some lusty cheers when Old Glory was raised.

It should be noted, since that time, there has always been a flag pole at that location.

Tim

 

History

Lassen Industrial Bank Sold

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Lassen Industrial Bank built this Susanville landmark in 1922. Some fifty years later Bank of America tore it down.

In August 1928, in a somewhat surprising move to the local populace was the announcement that the Lassen Industrial Bank had intentions to sell the bank to Bank of America, formerly known as the Bank of Italy. Jules Alexander, president of Lassen Industrial Bank highlighted some of the positive aspects being part of larger bank, due to its access of larger amount of capital. Bank of America stated there were be almost no change in operations or that of the personnel employed locally.

Bank of America, 1971.

But there was more to the story, that the public was not aware. Lassen Industrial Bank was a in a financial crisis due to the delinquency on loans to the farmers and ranchers of the Baxter Creek & Tule Irrigation Districts due to the problems associated with Bly Tunnel at Eagle Lake. On December 1, 1928, Bank of America took over the beleaguered bank and with it and infusion of $100,000 to stabilize it.

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History

Paul Bunyan Lumber Company – Then & Now

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Paul Bunyan Mill is now the location of a shopping district and more on the eastern edge of Susanville.

The Paul Bunyan Lumber Company was formed in 1945/46 as part of the break up of the Red River Lumber Company. Kenneth Walker wanted to remain in the family business and took over the company’s “Cedar Mill” in Susanville. This mill was closed in Susanville in 1967, but the lumber company continued with another mill in Anderson, Shasta County.

Thanks to Dave Bricker, he took this picture overlooking the same area in June 2022. Times have changed.

The east send of Susanville, June 20,2022–David Bricker

Tim