In 1913 a new fraternal organization was organized–Susanville Lodge 1397, Loyal Order of Moose, commonly referred to as the Moose Lodge.

The following year, the lodge decided the town needed a celebration. The Fourth of July was the only regularly celebrated event. The annual county fair had not been established. So the Moose Lodge decided on a harvest festival. In July 1914, they announced their intention to hold a four-day festival to commence on California’s Admission Day, September 9.

On the northwest corner of Main and Gay Streets (now the Bank of America parking lot) an open air pavilion was constructed. Also at Main and Gay , the lodge constructed an arch over Main Street.

A one block segment of Main Street, between Lassen and Gay was transformed into a street carnival. There were popular concessions such as a mirror maze, glass blowers, a musical show with six chorus girls, three comedians and a wheel of fortune. The farmers of Honey Lake Valley displayed specimens of their crops. Fehr & Worley of the Big Store (now Margie’s Book Nook) took the opportunity to show off their line of farm machinery.

Saturday evening was the climax of the festival. It was complete with a confetti battle and the merriment of locals dressed up for the “Parade of Horribles.” Some of the costumes were outlandish, but more important, it was an opportunity to have fun. A case in point Charlie Emerson playing the role of a blind organ grinder, and Dr. J.S. Wren as his monkey.

The Moose Lodge later reported while it was not a financial success, but that it was a successful venture as everyone had a good time.

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On January 22, 1859, Malcolm S. Scott claimed the meadows along Piute Creek, west of Susanville, that he named Spring Valley. Scott later abandoned his claim and the claim was taken over by Emanuel Brannon during the following year. Interest in the meadows fell by the wayside until 1873, when Robert M. Bean took possession of the meadows. Somewhere along the banks of Piute Creek, between Desmond Meadows and Susanville, Bean established the first brick kiln yard in Lassen County. In the year 1878, Bean manufactured 130,000 bricks. Hard times quickly fell upon him. Because of his creditors and the death of his wife, Alice, Bean sold the meadows to Jonathon Lovell, a Susanville blacksmith. Ownership of the meadows changed hands numerous times during the early 1880s. In 1886, it was purchased by John and Hannah Desmond from M. C. Bishop for $1,500. Married life for the Desmonds was not pleasant. In 1890, the couple separated and Hannah remained at the meadows. For the next ten years, to support herself and her family, Hannah operated a firewood business. The County of Lassen was one of her major customers, purchasing eighty cords annually at a $1.50 per cord. On November 19, 1900, Desmond sold the meadows to Anton Bantly for $2,000.

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Recently, while researching early water right filings, I had the above document copied to share with everyone.

It should be noted, that in the spring of 1856, news reached the outside world of rich gold discoveries in the Honey Lake Valley and that brought an influx of miners to the region. It ultimately led to the development of a village at Roop’s trading post. At first, the settlement was known as either Roops or Rooptown. In September 1857, twenty of the residents gathered to select a name for the village. Two names were proposed, Nataqua and Fredonyer City, the latter was approved. That proclamation was more or less ignored and the place was simply referred to as Rooptown.

Before that event, however, on April 11, 1857 Atlas Fredonyer had not only filed a claim to the land that Roop had, but also became the first claimant to water rights of the Susan River. It was his intent to build a dam, to power a sawmill, but a flour mill as well. Fredonyer ultimately never proved title to the claim. On the other hand, Isaac Roop never proved title, either. Roop eventually plotted out the town of Susanville and did quite well selling lots to property he did not own.  In 1872, it literally took an act of Congress to correct the situation. All the town’s property was deed to over to the Lassen County District Judge, who in turn re-deeded the property to current owner.

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It was one of the original streets when the town was surveyed in 1863. Its name was derived from the slang of gaiety, which then  meant happy. Times have changed.

Back then, though, most everyone did not even know the streets had names. Residents received their mail at the post office. It was not until 1925, when street signs were placed. This had to due with the fact that residential mail delivery had been in place for two years prior. As the city grew, so did its problems, even mundane ones. On March 19, 1953 the city adopted a new house numbering system. As with any change, there were always a few who grumbled. Cross streets, whether it be Gay  in uptown or Spring at the east end, would receive new designations of North or South.  Previous to this there had been no distinction.

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Shortly after midnight on August 5, 1915, a fire was discovered in Emerson’s warehouse on Cottage Street, adjacent to the Methodist Church. The warehouse, it should be noted, was originally the Congregational Church built in 1875.  By the time the fire was spotted the building was totally engulfed in flames. The fire spread rapidly due to west winds, sending embers across the alley and igniting the Emerson Hotel, located on the corner of Main and South Lassen Streets. Two adjacent buildings facing on Lassen Street–The Hyer Hotel and the Methodist Church–also caught on fire.  When it was realized that it was futile to try and save the buildings, all efforts were focused on keeping it contained. The losses were staggering, estimated at over $250,000.

Years later, Charlie Emerson’s daughter Mae, recalled  the tragic event: “I was home for summer vacation from college when the hotel burned on my father’s birthday and stood with his arm around me in the middle of the street and watched it go with all our worldly possessions and Dad’s business records of years destroyed.”

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