On July 24, 1947, the Hotel Mt. Lassen was destroyed by fire.  The fire was so intense that it completely gutted the structure. Fred Abbay, the owner of the hotel, estimated the loss of the hotel, its contents and the businesses housed there at $700,000. Initially, it was uncertain what would become of the property.  A structual engineer was brought in to ascertain whether the exterior walls were sound. It was determined that they were. In the fall, Abbay announced his intention to rebuild the hotel, utilizing the existing walls. The rebuilt Hotel Mt. Lassen opened its doors to the public on May 21, 1949.

In 2019, the big question, since the place has been closed for nearly a decade, will it ever re-open?

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This happens to fall under the year’s end clean up category. While the quality of the photograph has a lot to be desired, there are two items of interest. First it was taken in the late 1920s, either December or January when the area experienced a pogonip, notice the frost on the trees. In the 1930s, tennis courts were built on the site of the Courthouse Annex. It should be noted the current occupants of that structure prefer the high falutin name of Administrative Building.

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While today we are fortunate to have the Susanville Symphony, it should be noted that in the past there had been other venues. In the 1930s it was the Susanville Symphonietta Orchestra. During the 1960s and 1970s it was the Susanville Community Concert series. It just goes to show that there has always been a lot of talent in the community.

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Constructed in 1906, it was the first house built on the west side of the 100 block of Roop Street. The home was built for Abel and Ella Bunnell. Two years later, his brother L.W. Bunnell had the house built kitty-corner from them. The home was passed down to Abel’s daughter and son-in-law, Georgia and Bert Jensen. At about noon, on Saturday, June 21, 1928, the Jensen’s nearly lost their house to fire. Bert, and his two sons, Jud and Abe, were away working at the family ranch, a few miles east of town. Fortunately, neighbors and onlookers began hauling out the furniture while waiting for the fire department to arrive. It was estimated the fire caused $5,000 worth of damage. The Jensen’s continued to make it their home for several decades. It has since been converted into three apartments.

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In 1914, when Lassen County and T.A. Ramsey did a land exchange wherein the County obtained thirty acres on Richmond Road and Ramsey the County Hospital property at the end of Miller Road. The County went ahead with initial plan to build a new hospital. The County was also in need of another cemetery, as the Susanville Cemetery was running out of plots. It was the County’s original intention to establish a new cemetery on what would later become the Roosevelt School property.

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Yesterday, we examined how the city changed the house numbers. Well, there were a few casualties along the way. Some street names were changed. What was originally Fir Street became Elm Street, to avoid conflict with First Street. What was initially Prattville Road became North Pine Street to the end of the city limit. A segment of River Street became South Gilman Street.

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Susanville’s house numbering system was done in two separate phases. The first began in 1925, when the postal service announced free mail delivery. Prior to this, everyone went to the post office to pick up their mail. Thus, the city had to install street signs, to assist the mail carrier. Continue reading Susanville’s House Numbering System →