On Saturday, February 23, 1935, Jules Alexander a prominent figure in the affairs of Susanville passed away in San Francisco where he been since August due to health issues.

In certain ways, one could say that Jules and Susanville grew up together. This plucky Frenchmen was only seventeen years old when he came to Susanville in May of 1877. He went to work as a clerk for Greehn & Asher one of the larger mercantile stores in town. He would follow this trade for decades to come. In 1881, Simon Blum and Jules opened their own store as Blum & Alexander. Later on, he went in partnership with his brother Abe, under the firm name of A&J Alexander. After the disasterous fire of 1893, Abe Alexander pulled up stakes and moved to Bakersfield. Jules with his brother-in-law, Ike Knoch formed Alexander & Knoch, which in essence they took over the David Knoch’s, the family patriarch’s mercantile store he established in 1865.

With the prosperous times approaching with the Fernley & Lassen Railroad Alexander & Knoch wanted to expand their horizons. At the end of 1911 the store was turned over to Alexander’s two sons-in-law, Jess Worley and Emil Fehr. In 1912, Jules and Ike formed the Lassen Industrial Bank and in 1922 constructed the former iconic building at the corner of Main and North Gay Streets.

Prior to the banking business, Jules had become involved other business enterprises. For fifteen years he owned a ranch at Horse Lake. He was a director/investor in the California & Oregon Telegraph Company, the Susanville Creamery and later the Lassen Townsite Company, the former remains the largest Susanville subdivision.

Jules was a firm believer in civic engagement and pride. Just one example, of his many contributions was the placement of a new Lassen Monument, as the original one had been neglected all these years. In the fall of 1916, Jules launched a campaign to correct it and with a new monument. It was his desire to seek small donations thereby allowing everyone an opportunity to be part of the cause. He enlisted the aid of Lassen County Superintendent of Schools, Fred Brunhouse, who sent out letters to all the schools urging children to donate a few cents as part of a civics lesson. The school children responded with each school districct sending in varied amounts from 35 cents (Fort Sage) to nearly five dollars (Lassen High School). In the end the school children of Lassen County raised over $500, about one-third of the cost. In September 1917 a new monument was dedicated all through hard work and dedication of Jules Alexander.

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Olga Wemple who wrote the Society page of the Lassen Weekly Mail reported on a special party that occurred on March 3, 1916. She wrote: “A freak party given by Mr. and Mrs. Jules Alexander (145 North Roop St., Susanville) proved to be the most unique and original that Susanville Society has seen for a long time. Every one was requested to come dressed in freakish costumes. Those who were invited responded with such enthusiasm in designing their queer attire that wide spread interest was caused not only among the lucky ones, but also among their friends who eagerly aided with their ideas. The home of the hosts was decorated in keeping with the plan of the evening. The living room was brightened with strings of oranges, lemons, apples with gayley colored balloons hung from the chandeliers and freakish pictures of all descriptions ornamated the walls. When every one had arrived each drew a caricature cleverly drawn by E.J. Feher to find “yourself” which table to be seated at.

“At midnight all entered the dining room which was decorated with onions, turnips, and beets. The large table was bountifully laden with all kinds of goodies. At each place a card upon whichwas tied a minature knife, fork and spoon and also the initials F.W.M.B.F were painted. All were asked to guess the meaning of the initials and Mrs. C.M. (Maybelle) MacDonald proved the clever one and guessed the meaning which was “Fingers were made before forks.”

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The west side of of the 100 block of North Street Street contains five Victorian style homes. The houses were constructed between 1906 to 1911. This is unique, since many of the residential areas in the original section of Susanville are quite an electic mixture.

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Something a bit different today. Some may not realize that it was not until in 1931 when the Star Spangled Banner was made the national anthem. In September 1936, there was a nation wide movement by the American Legion Auxillary to have the national anthem played as many venues as possible. Locally, it was Maud Lund, the music chairman of the Thomas Tucker Post American Legion Auxillary duty launch a local campaign to have the anthem played at local events.

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While the residents of Susanville were adjusting to the automobile, they were interested in the novelty of aviation. For the Fourth of July festivities of 1912, E.H. Thompson aka “The Birdman” and his “flying machine” were scheduled for the three-day festival. To date, no airplane had flown over Susanville. Thompson offered flights for fifty cents for those so inclined. On July 2 he experienced problems with inferior gasoline and on one attempt was able to lift off about only twenty feet off the ground. Some people were disappointed, others disgusted and another segment thought it was fake to begin with. For Thompson it was an expensive undertaking. The plane had not been flown there, but it was shipped by rail and freighted to Susanville, at his cost. Since he could not offer rides, he was not able to recoup any of his losses.

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When Susanville resident Jesse Cole died in 1898, it marked the last time when a wooden marker was placed in the Susanville Cemetery. The elements has taken its toll, and soon it will be obliterated.

Jesse Cole settled at Milford in 1862 from his native Missouri. During the late 1860s he moved to Napa, California. In the early 1880s he moved to Susanville. As for a occupation he spent his life a day laborer, working different jobs on a regular basis. Prior to his death, he was serving as Justice of the Peace, Township No. 1.

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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.”

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In the early 1900s when the automobile was slowly making its debut in Lassen County, it was part novelty and somewhat of a luxury. There were two obstacles that needed to overcome the locals acceptance of this new method of transportation. A major one was there were no mechanics to service the automobile. In March 1910, Susanville’s first combination automobile garage and car dealership opened for business. It was named the Empire Auto Livery Company owned by Otto Wiencke and John Zimmerman. It was soon followed by J.S. Tremain’s garage. The other contributing factor were roads, but soon this would change. In 1916, California began an ambitious campaign to build a state highway system which would connect every county seat.

In 1917, Tremain put his business on the market for $7,000. Big Valley resident, Ernest “Ernie” Smith was interested. Smith was able to raise $6,000 from financial backers, but was short of the remaining $1,000. Another Big Valley resident, James Fay was looking for a business opportunity, and this venture appealed to him. On August 1, 1917, Tremain sold to new firm of Fay & Smith Auto Company. Shortly, thereafter they became the town’s first Ford dealership. After six years in business, Fay wanted out to move to Sacramento. In 1924, Smith obliged and renamed his new enterprise the Smith Auto Company.

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