Back in the mid-1970s, I was part of the Chinese American Survey Project. The goal at that time was perform a record search, public and private, concerning the Chinese in every county of California. Not only did I do the search for Lassen County, but that of Modoc, Plumas and Tehama Counties.

Of course, I learned a lot about the historic Chinese population of Lassen County.  Take for instance the earliest land record dated September 14, 1864 wherein Chew Henry sold a lot in Susanville to fellow countryman Hoa for $266. This particular lot, it should be noted is the current site of Susanville’s Elk Lodge. This same parcel was sold in November 1865 by Shong Lee to Isaac Roop for $150.

In the future, I will write more about the Chinese historical role in Lassen County history. Take for instance Susanville had two distinct “Chinatown’s.”

Subscribe!

Not quite like the Bermuda Triangle, but it is an interesting piece of real estate, that really belongs to no one. Actually, the owner is the federal government, due to Roop’s carelessness. The Lassen County Assessor does not even recognize its existence.

The property in question, is located at the west end of Susanville’s Main Street, which people are familiar is the triangle piece of property in front of the Elk’s Lodge, with the diverging Pine Streets going in different directions, creating kind  of like  a “fork in the road.” Located there is the community Christmas Tree, and in previous years numerous Christmas displays were placed there.

By the 1890s the local newspapers wrote editorials criticizing that it was an ugly patch of unkept property at the head of Main Street.  Relief came in 1902, when the Mountain Echo Band constructed a bandstand there. Four years later, the bandstand had been neglected and received community scorn for it being an eyesore.

The evolution of this plot will continue in future posts.  This post is dedicated to Carole Dustin, Senior Assessment GIS Cadastral Drafter of the Lassen County Assessor’s Office who is retiring after 43 years. Carole, of her many duties was the draftsman for assessor parcel maps all these years, but never had to deal with this parcel!

Subscribe!

The photographer of the above photograph had the luxury to be able to stand in Main Street, while I played it safe and took the current view from the sidewalk.  Only one building still remains. In the original photograph it was the Bank of Lassen County, and now the building is the office for Verizon.

Subscribe!

Wow, just think it was on this date in 2004 that Susanville’s Roosevelt Pool was condemned. A lot has transpired over the years, but a new pool is under construction, and more on that at a later date.

Anyhow, the following is the tale of one of the first  attempts to build a swimming pool in Susanville. On February 1, 1928 Soren Hansen addressed the Susanville Rotary Club with his intentions to construct a swimming pool at the bottom of Winchester Hill near the Richmond Road Bridge. With him was Rex Dickerson of Reno to assist with finances and local architect R.D. Taylor who brought preliminary drawings. Hansen stated he already had a well drilled, striking hot water at 417 feet. In addition to the pool, he proposed tennis and handball courts. However, Hansen’s proposal did not go very far, but it would be resurrected.

Spread the word, encourage a friend to subscribe.

In 1875, Lafayette D. McDow constructed a house on what would later become of the southwest corner of Main and McDow Streets. McDow came to Lassen County in the 1860s, where he spent much of his time either operating a sawmill or mining on Diamond Mountain.

In 1920, McDow’s son, George and Russell Brownell subdivided property in the eastern portion of Susanville to be known as the Milwood Tract. On June 28, 1928, the old McDow home was destroyed by fire, then occupied by the family of J.A. Metz. For Metz, the house was convenient, as he worked as the janitor of the nearby Lincoln School.

Spread the word, encourage a friend to  subscribe.

This Susanville Italianate style home was built in 1877. While some homes remain in one family for generations, this one has had multiple owners, of course, for a number of years, it was also a rental.

Subscribe now and receive a free 2017 Calendar