South side of the 700 block of Susanville’s Main Street, 1901
On August 20, 1900, the City of Susanville became an incorporated municipality. After the devastating fire of June 6, 1900, residents gathered to discuss to incorporate the town as means to have control of fire suppression. They petitioned for the Lassen County Board of Supervisors to hold a special election, which the board obliged. On August 15, the voters approved the measure for incorporation by 61 to 20. Five days later the City became a reality.
Elected to serve as the first Trustees (now Council) were Charles E. Emerson, John E. Humphrey, Howard W. Meylert, Julien E. Pardee and John. Riley. Also elected were W.H. Edwards, Town Marshall, W.T. Masten as Clerk and M.F. Schmidt, as Treasurer. The first meeting was held on August 28, 1900, and Pardee was selected as President (now mayor).
Partial Map of Susanville Ranch Park,showing the helipad.
Since, I do want overlook any unturned stones, so to speak, I am reaching out to the readers for assistance. In July there was a question regarding the Ask Tim post. Some one wanted to know about the helipad located on the rim of the Paiute Creek Canyon, overlooking Susanville Ranch Park, and a short distance from the California Division Forestry (CDF) headquarters.
It is one those crazy research challenges. To begin with the concrete helipad was located on private property belonging to the California Pacific Utilities, later to be known as CP National, the local power and water company. I could not find any recorded agreement between the company and the CDF or any other fire fighting agencies. In 1984, when CP National donated what is Susanville Ranch Park to Lassen County, there was no reference as to the helipad.
The helipad was constructed in the 1960s. CDF has a photograph that it was used ever so briefly in the early 1970s. Does any one know some one, who may have worked as seasonal firefighter during that time? On the other hand, may be some one who worked at the power company at the time. I need to ask George Sargent about that,
It should be noted that in 1987 Lassen Municipal Utility District purchased CP National, but since the latter company had operations elsewhere, they probably retained their records.
Whatever the case may be, I am open for suggestions. Some times, I have been known over think the topic at hand, and overlook the obvious.
Yes, that is right folks, the City of Susanville even had its own jail. For the casual observer of local politics the County of Lassen and the City of Susanville has through years been a frosty relationship. It has been ongoing since 1900 and personally I do not think it will ever change, or least in my lifetime.
Initially, when one committed a misdemeanor crime in Susanville, the Lassen County Sheriff would obliged to house the person in the county jail. When the County built in a new jail in 1911, it would no longer accept the City’s inmates. A temporary solution was found. The County offered to rent the City its old jail for $17.50 a month. How long the City could use the facility was unknown, since it had been condemned once by the State. In the summer of 1914, Guy P. Jones of the California Department of Public Health arrived to check out the sanitary conditions. He said overall conditions in Susanville were good, except for one–the City Jail. Jones found it deplorable, and wrote, “To confine any human being in such a horrible place is nothing short of inhumane.”
In 1915, the State condemned the City’s use the old County Jail.. This forced the City to build a jail, one that would have to be approved by the State. First, a site had to be selected. The City purchased a small lot behind the City/Fire hall from William D. Minckler. In January 1916, the City hired George C, Sellon as the architect, as het met State qualifications. Sellon was in Susanville to oversee the construction of his latest project, Lassen County Courthouse. The State specified the building be of masonry. It was decided that the exterior would constructed with native stone.
Lassen County Courthouse and Hall of Records, 1908–David Zoller
The City did get a good deal for the stone.In 1887 the County had a small native stone building constructed next to the courthouse. It was known as the Hall of Records. This building had to be demolished to make way for the new courthouse. The County offered the stone from that building to the City for free. The County’s old Hall of Records was recycled into the City’s new jail.
On August 5, 1917, Henry Krueger was awarded the contract to construct the City Jail for $907. The City urged him to build it as quickly as possible, since they were without jail and the County would not let them to use their jail. Kroeger started on the jail the next day. In December 1917 the new jail was completed and furnished–it consisted of two beds and a stove.
In the mid-1950s, the City Jail was closed. The structure was converted into a garage, and later used for storage. In 2001, it was demolished to make room for the new addition to City Hall. If any one has a picture of the structure, please let me know.
In 1979, the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot at Susanville closed its doors. In the ensuing years, the Susanville Fire Department deemed the abandoned building a public safety hazard. In June 1987, Susanville Fire Chief John Malmquist entered into an agreement with the Southern Pacific to torch the. building as part of a firefighting practice session. When the matter was revealed to the City Council, concerned citizens voiced their concerns. The City Council gave the building a reprieve to August 3, to allow those to come up with a solution. Malmquist reminded everyone the Southern Pacific had no intention of relinquishing the property, and it would be costly to move the depot to another location. That did not prevent the concerned citizens in their effort to save the depot. In November, 1988, a Memorandum of Understanding had been agreed by the Trust for Public Lands and the Southern Pacific to transfer the property to the Trust. Restoration began slowly and in 1994 a grand reopening of the Depot was held. In 2001, the Depot gained landmark status when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The July, Ask Tim post only generated two inquiries. May be it is so-called dog days of summer. Here is the first question and I am working on the next, stay tuned.
Lassen College Graduation Photographs. Were there any pictures taken of the last Jr, college graduation in the quonset-hut on the Lassen High School property?
It has been my experience that historical documents and photographs of Lassen College’ are rarer than the proverbial “hen’s teeth.” It should be noted that I served on the Lassen College board from 2011-2020. Towards the end of my tenure, it was relayed to me by college personnel that there was secret cache of old college annuals and photographs that had been discovered. I was not privileged to examine those records. In May of this year marked the 100th anniversary of the college’s founding, but the administration ignored this historic milestone. If anything surfaces, I will let everyone know.
Arnold Planing Mill, 1878-Courtesy of Marge Hansen
Some man made landmarks stand the test of time, others do not. The other category usually consist of one three factors: 1) Demolish in order to modernize 2) Abandoned and deteriorate and 3) Fire, whether accidental or arson.
Arnold Planing Mill, circa 1905. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall
Built in 1873, the Arnold Planing Mil was the first of its kind in Susanville. Located adjacent to the Richmond Road, and perched upon a small cliff on the Susan River, it ws a favorite scene for photographers. On August 6, 1914, at approximately two in the morning, the residents of Susanville were awakened from their slumber by alarm of fire. The Arnold mill had caught fire. Due to the mill’s location on the edge of the fire district, little could be done to save it or the adjoining lumber yard. It was a severe blow to Leroy Arnold, the owner. His loss estimated at $10,000, and was not covered by insurance. The cause was never determined, but it was believed a hobo had slept there. He built a fire for a meal, and never extinguished it.
1405 Main Street, Susanville—Courtesy of George Sargent
In July 1925, Harry Riddell began construction of a home on the northeast corner of Main and Grand. The estimated cost was $8,000, a very expensive residence at that time. Instead of hiring a contractor, Riddell used day laborers to construct the house in various phases. The first item of business before actually construction of the house, was the building of a curved cement retaining wall.
In August 1938 Steve and Helen Sargent, proprietors of the Grand Cafe purchased the Riddell home. After some minor remodeling the family moved in on September 1, 1938. The home still remains in the Sargent family.
Folsom/Houghton property, 1946–Special Collections, U.C. Davis
As there has been so much local chatter going around about the recent destruction of Susanville Memorial Park Grandstand, here is some history about the property before it became a park.
In 1909, Cyril “Cy” Houghton arrived in Lassen County. After the establishment of Westwood, Cy went work for the Red River Lumber Company. In 1934, Cy, along his wife Eleanor and their family opened a dairy which, is now Susanville’s Memorial Park. In 1938, the dairy received extensive damage from the Piute Creek flood. At one point, he considered abandoning the dairy, but changed his mind. In 1942, Cy’s dairy closed for business. He put the property up for sale, asking price $7,000.
Piute Creek flood of April 9, 1938. Courtesy of Margaret A. Purdy
Not one to be idle, Cy later when went to work for Sierra Army Depot at Herlong and retired from that place in 1957.
Another view. Most people know this site today as Susanville Supermarket. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
The Grandstand on fire, July 5, 2025[photograph submittedOn Saturday morning, July 5, 2025, the wooden grandstand at Susanville’s Memorial Park went up in flames. So here is a little history about the structure and the park.
Since the 1880s the residents wanted to have a park with a children’s playground among other things. Fast forward to the 1920s, Susanville became a baseball town. The Fruit Growers and Lassen Lumber both sponsored semi-professional baseball teams. A bit trivia. Those who remember Henry Matteucci, long time owner of The Pioneer, he first came to Susanville as a baseball player for Fruit Growers.
July 5, 2025-photograph submitted
In the 1920s, many thought that the current location of the Memorial Park was ideal. It is a complicated story, but negotiations stalled. After World War II, the park movement was revived. It was M.E. “Mul” Mulroney who a guiding force behind it. The property was owned by Cy and Eleanor Houghton, and the asking price was $7,000. The community raised the funds, presented it to the city and the purchase was complete. However, the city had no funds, so again the community came forward they raised funds and donated labor to do the landscaping, equip the children’s playground and a wading pool. Fruit Growers donated the lumber for the grandstand and it was built by volunteer labor.
Memorial Park, 1948
In 1949 after the improvement were completed, the park was officially dedicated. All was well, until the early 1970s, when the grandstand was a frequent target of vandals. The situation was out of control and in May 1974, the City Council debated whether it should be torn down. City building inspector George Dotson stated that with proper maintenance and care the grandstand could last as much as 25 years. It should be noted that replacement cost was estimated at $50,000. Fire Chief, Ray Berettini stated that the grandstand was a fire hazard, but it was least far enough away from other structures to limit damage. It was the public response that was in favor of keeping the grandstand, and thus the grandstand was spared demolition.
4th of July 1915 celebration at Westwood. Courtesy of the Nevada Historical Society.
In the spring of 1914 Red River Lumber Company announced that it would hold a grand 4th of July celebration to welcome visitors to its new town. Red River officials stated its main purpose was to establish and maintain the “friendliest” relations with Susanville. On the other hand it evolved in a two-day event featuring a baseball tournament.
The Fernley & Lassen offered a special excursion train that consisted of eight passenger cars. It was sold out and the fare was $1.50 round trip. As soon as the train arrived around 10:00 a.m. a procession was formed and marched through the principal streets of Westwood. It ended at open air pavilion where entertainment and necessary orators speaking. It was followed by barbecue. The next event were scheduled baseball games. The evening consisted of a firework display and a dance. It was successful event and repeated in 1915. In 1916, Susanville reciprocated and was the host of the grand 4th July celebration.
