The partially collapsed Grand Cafe. Courtesy of Helen Sargent
The restaurant business is a tough one that requires shear amount of work and dedication. When the Grand Cafe was first established in 1909, it would go through several owners during the next twelve years until it found some stability with the duo of Sam Vucanovich and Steve Sargent, former operators of the New Brunswick Cafe. In 1928, saw the addition of Helen Zalac, Steve’s new bride, and who became an iconic fixture of the Grand for over a half century. Continue reading The Grand Cafe & The Sargents→
Yesterday’s photograph featured the dynamiting of the Westwood millpond and the freeze of 1949. There was a side affect of that freeze. The freeze reduced California’s citrus crop, and in turn reduced the need of wooden boxes and Fruit Growers box factories in Susanville and Westwood were temporarily closed. In May when the Westwood box factory re-opened, it was only with one shift. Continue reading Westwood’s Rumor Mill→
Abraham Farris in front of his store, 1937. Courtesy of Calvin Farris
While many may have fond memories of Borghi’s store on Richmond Road, there was another store near there and before Borghi’s. The store I am referring to was operated by Lassen County’s best-known Syrian, Abraham Farris.
In September 1912, Farris, who was operating a store in Clio, Plumas County, paid Susanville a visit to relocate. He liked what he saw and made arrangements to move. The Lassen Advocate duly noted, “Mr. Farris impresses us as a man of enterprise and business ability, and as one who will do his share in the up building of Susanville.”
Farris, set up shop on the southeast corner of Main and Roop Streets. All went well in the beginning until the owner of the property, O.M. Doyle evicted him. Doyle made arrangements to have a two-story brick building on the lot, that seasoned Susanville residents will know as the Del Mar.
The business district was booming with the advent of the railroad, and Farris could not find a suitable location. He opted to purchase property in the Lassen Townsite on Richmond Road. Yet, this was problematic. Lassen Townsite was owned by several influential Susanville businessmen. They limited commercial development near the depot and it would be kept to a minimum, mainly for businesses affiliated with rail services. To get around this predicament, Farris hired contractor Louis Dimon to build him a house large enough for his family, but with enough space to carry a large stock of merchandise. The store operated until his death in April 1940. In 1942, the store front was remodeled. The building it should be noted burned down in 2013.
In June 1887, John B. Spalding, his wife Nell, and two small children, Blanche and Wright moved into their new home at 80 S. Pine Street, Susanville. The Spaldings had two more children, Wright and Zella, who were born in the home. In 1938, Zella with her husband, Med Arnold moved into the family residence and it remained in the family until it was sold in 1974.
The house as it appears in 2015. Courtesy of Annie Henriques Blank
In 1992, the home was moved to Lake Forest Estates to make way the realignment of the highway curve into Susanville.
Main Street, Susanville, January 1907. To the left one can see the uncompleted Williams Spalding building.
In 1903, an ambitious young jeweler by the name of Joseph B. Williams arrived in Susanville and set up shop in the Emerson Hotel. Business was so good, that three years later, he decided to build a store of his own, just a few doors down from the Emerson in the 700 block. In March 1906, Andy Buchler started hauling stones from the local quarry. A month later, there was a change of plans. Local druggist, John B. Spalding bought the vacant lot on the west side of Williams. By summer, a new set of plans had been drawn for one large stone buildings for the Williams and Spalding properties. By October, the second story had been completed and work was at a frantic place to put a roof before the winter storms set in.
It was not until the spring of 1907, when the structure was completed and was commonly known as the Williams Building. After Williams departure in 1910, it gradually became known as the Spalding Building, home to the Spalding Drug Company that operated there until 1967, when after a century of business in Susanville closed its doors.
It is hard to believe how time quickly marches on. It was on this date, eleven years ago, that an iconic uptown Susanville landmark was destroyed by fire. Fortunately, for me, I had moved out of the second floor of the building only seven months before the fire.
The building was the home to the Spalding Drug Store for many years, from the time it was built in 1907, until it closed in 1967. Looks can be deceiving for it is actually two buildings. How everything came to be was accidental in nature, which we explore its origins in the near future.
Parish Register front page with writings by Father P.J. O’Reilly
In the fall of 1911 the Sacramento Diocese created a new parish from the Truckee Parish to be known as Sacred Heart. It would encompass two counties—Lassen and Modoc—a region comprising some 8,500 square miles (equivalent to size of the State of Maryland).
Father Philip J. O’Reilly was the first priest assigned arriving from Marysville. Father O’Reilly first established residence at Alturas, were a parish briefly existed in the 1880s. On December 17, 1911, Father O’Reilly held his first Mass in Susanville, and brought welcomed news that Mass would be held in Susanville on the last Sunday of each month. It should be noted that prior to this, Mass was held maybe once or twice a year, with Father Thomas Horgan riding circuit over a five county area making a 600 mile round trip.
On January 2, 1912, Father O’Reilly chose the date to open the Parish of Sacred Heart. He marked the event when he inscribed it by writing in front of the Baptismal, Marriage and Death Registers. He would later write in each one, that on December 2, 1915, Modoc County became a separate parish, except for Likely, which was added to Modoc exactly a year later.
This plot of land today is Lassen High’s Arnold Field. In 1916, when this photograph was taken it was part of Lassen High’s Agricultural Department. Originally, this was part of Browntown
In 1860, Zenas J. Brown (1812-1895), a pharmacist, received the nickname of Dr. Eight Square when he constructed an octagonal building in Susanville. Brown, in the scheme of things is known for a lot of things. In 1861, Brown created Susanville’s first subdivision, located in the vicinity of Lassen High School and aptly named Browntown. More importantly he credited with the planting of the area’s first orchard of apple and peach trees. In 1863, one of Brown’s peach trees produced the area’s first peach crop —four peaches devoured by Susan Roop and Mrs. C.W. Fuller. In the fall of 1864, Brown sold his subdivision and left the region.
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Christmas, 1917, in the Swain home, better known today as the Susanville Elks Lodge. Pictured are the Swain Children: Fitzhugh, Nellie, Blanche and Frances. Courtesy of Frances Swain
Christmas trees had a slow start around these parts. During the 1860s and 1870s the Susanville Methodist Church would put up a community Christmas tree. By 1900, the area no longer a pioneer outpost and with more prosperous times some of the local populous would adorn their home with a tree.
After World War II Christmas trees became a regular holiday adornment in most homes. It also started to become big business. In 1950, Fruit Growers Supply Company implemented a Christmas tree farming lease program. In 1966, they sold over 70,000 Christmas trees for just over $100,000. Between 1950 and 1996 Fruit Growers sold 1,422,158 Christmas trees at an average price of $1.51 per tree.
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Looking east on Main Street, from Lassen High School, 1908.
Back in June I wrote about A Main Street Problem that involved filling in the gully area of Piute Creek. Since that time, I came across the above photograph, as the original post was taken on the knoll looking west. In an attempt to show the difference on Thanksgiving Day 2015 I took the below image for comparisons sake. For safety reasons, and my mobility a bit limited, I did not take the view from the center of the street for comparisons purposes. However, the 1908 photograph was taken in front of the high school, and I did the same.
Main Street, Susanville. November 26, 2015
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