In 1900-01, Reno building contractor, C.E. Clough kept busy in Susanville with the construction of four major brick buildings—Emerson Hotel, Methodist Church, Oakes & Philbrook and the Susanville Grammar School. Only two remain, the Methodist Church and Oakes & Philbrook, though the Susanville Grammar School was reincarnated, more about that later.

The brick was produced locally, though I am not sure where. In 1878, Robert M. Bean had a brick kiln along Piute Creek, a quarter mile north of town. That would place it around Marmo meadows.

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Established in 1892, it was Lassen County’s first financial institution. Wells Fargo operated infrequently, mainly during the 1870s and 1880s, in Bieber and Susanville, but their services were limited.  During the late 1800s, Susanville’s Jewish merchants, such as Marcus Nathan, David Knoch and William Greehn, lent money to those in need and the loan was secured usually by a property mortgage.  It was a wide array of citizens who saw the need for a bank, including the aforementioned merchants. Its first office location, was unique, located in the Pioneer, a local saloon established in 1863, and still in existence today. It was simple logic, as Susanville’s business district was prone to devastating fires, and the saloon owned the largest fire proof safe in town.

Continue reading Bank of Lassen County →

This falls in one of more unusual transportation categories. In 1892, Susanville’s furniture maker/undertaker, Alonzo K. Philbrook purchased a new buggy. I realize that does sound so dramatic. It was the first rubber tire buggy in Susanville.

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In 1908, David Knoch, a pioneer merchant of Susanville, had this modest home constructed on the corner of Roop and Nevada Streets. With the exception of the Bunnell house on the corner of Roop and North Streets, the western frontage of that block had always been vacant. When Knoch opened up the property, three Queen Anne style homes were built shortly thereafter. After Knoch’s death in 1911, the house was sold to John T. Long. It would remain in that family for three generations, later the home of Long’s daughter, Maude Tombs, and Maude’s daughter, Nadene Wemple.

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In 1901, two half-brothers, Tom Oakes and Alonzo Philbrook built a furniture store at 800 Main Street, which building still exist. As was customary of the day, they were also the local undertaker, since making furniture and building a coffin went hand in hand. In 1912, the building was acquired by the Bank of Lassen County which remained in the building until 1933 when it was acquired by Bank of America. It has had numerous occupants since such as the United California Bank and the Lassen County Times

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This German immigrant went from a tailor, to miner, to peddler and then a regular store merchant in a short period of time. At the age of 19, he arrived in San Francisco and set off for the mines of Oroville. After three years he figured out there must be better way to make a living than mining. The one item he learned from that experience, was that miner’s liked having their supplies delivered. The resourceful Knoch then became a peddler of goods visiting the mines of Northeastern California.

Seeking stability in May 1865 Knoch purchased a lot in Susanville at 722 Main Street for $100. There he opened his general mercantile business and within a decade became one of the leading merchants of Lassen County. Once again in expanding his horizons, like other successful merchants in a frontier town with no banks, he began lending money. In 1893, he turned the store over to his son, Ike Knoch and son-in-law, Jules Alexander. Knoch focused his energy on his investments and continued to do quite well. In 1908, he built a modest home at 100 North Roop Street where he resided until his death in 1911.

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It is the Camp Fire Cabin located at the top of Court Street, near the Susanville Cemetery. It was built in the early 1940s, though I will have do to more research on it, unless someone out there has the history of it.

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Thomas Long (1833-1917) ended up in my “honorable mention” list, though depending on time, he may squeak by. It should be duly noted, that he is not related to the other Long family of Susanville. It is somewhat similar to the Doyle Doyles and the Milford Doyles, as they are not related, just makes things confusing.

This Alabama native came to Susanville in 1861 and with A.R. Leroy operated a saloon. In the fall of 1867 he was elected sheriff of Lassen County and re-elected in 1869. In 1871 he ran for county treasurer and lost. In 1874 he was elected Lassen County Supervisor, District 1. In 1877, he was elected county treasurer and served one term. He would serve four terms as county supervisor from 1882-1900. For the most of his life, he operated a general store and raised a family of fourteen children.

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It is situated on one of the more unusual lots in Susanville, though I doubt the city would allow a lot like that to be created today. There is a conflict of opinion. There are those in camp this building was torn and the other that it was modified into the current structure. Whatever the case may be, a lot of girls in the region created many a memory there.

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