This view taken from Inspiration Point by Eastman Studios was not reproduced for a postcard. In the late 1970s, I gained access to Eastmans vault, and for some unknown reason this picture caught my attention.
Tim
Tag Archives: Susanville
Susanville Bans Fireworks
Note: This is a perennial post, because it has merit and in my opinion they should be banned permanently. The following appeared in the New York Times, July 3, 2024 “Fireworks sparked 916 wildfires in the state in 2021, the most recent year for which full data is available, and those fires caused more than $3.2 million in property damage, according to CalFire. The year before that, in the state’s worst fire season on record, fireworks caused more than 2,000 fires and $8 million in property damage, along with injuries to 11 people and one death. Lest, we do not forget the firestorms this January in Los Angeles.
It is not just a California phenomenon. A study published last year in the journal PLoS One found that more than 11,000 wildfires nationwide were caused by fireworks between 1980 and 2016 — and that two-thirds of those blazes occurred in the two-week period around July 4. “In fact, more fires began on July 4 than on any other day of the year, it found.”
In Susanville’s early years as an incorporated city, it was remarkable what the council did. One of their actions, I still support today, and that is the prohibition of fireworks. The first time they banned fireworks was in 1906, following the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. It was also a nod to the insurance companies who suffered tremendous loss from that event. It was their belief, as well as many other communities, that this preventive measure would reduce the risk of fires.
In 1912, the City once again banned fireworks. The Lassen Advocate applauded the city and wrote: 21 June 1912 – “No Fireworks on the Fourth. We desire to congratulate our Board of Town Trustees on their action in placing the ban on all kinds of fireworks on July 2, 3, and 4. This action has been taken by large and progressive cities for years past, and we are greatly pleased to note that the smaller places are falling into line. Fireworks do no good and may do a world of harm. Fires may be started that will blot out blocks of cities or towns; little boys and girls all over the United States have lost fingers, hands, eyes and in many instances, their lives from the dangerous pinwheel and firecrackers. Let them yell all they will, let them spend their money for ice cream, candy—anything on earth but the fireworks.”
In 1916, the Monticola Club appeared before the Susanville City Council asking for a ban of fireworks for the 4th of July. The City said no. The council assured that the utmost care would be done, but they were not going to deprive children of the festivities.
In 1926, due to the tinder dry conditions, the City banned fireworks for fire, health and safety reasons.
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The Old Fruit Growers Barn
Well, can you believe it, it has been ten years to the date that the old barn at the east entrance to Susanville was destroyed by fire. It was built in 1920/21 for the Fruit Growers Supply Company, who were in the midst of constructing their new sawmill/box factory nearby. Continue reading The Old Fruit Growers Barn
The Flying of Old Glory
In early June 1924, the Thomas Tucker Post No. 204, of the American Legion decided to place American flags along Main Street in observance of the 4th of July. It should be noted that American Legion posts nationwide were doing the same. They ordered 100 flags to be placed on either side of Main Street from the Elk’s Lodge to Weatherlow Street. The flags 4×6 would be attached to 12 foot metal poles and spaced at 30 foot intervals. When installed on July 3 the general consensus deemed it a wonderful improvement from the past, that consisted of haphazard placements of bunting and flags here and there.
The tradition continues. For over thirty years Susanville’s Rotary Club has taken over the role of placement of the flags. The flags are flown on major holidays and special events. Thank you Rotary Club!
Tim
Susanville, 1895
In July of 1893, a fire wiped out Susanville’s entire business district. An 1898 fire would destroy records pertaining to 1893-1896 era. This makes this photograph rare, but intriguing. As the saying a picture is worth a 1,000 words. In this case, the picture asks a multitude of questions. After all, these buildings would be destroyed by a 1900 fire. It was that fire, the residents of the Susanville Township rallied for incorporation as a municipality for fire protection. A special election was held in August and City of Susanville became a reality.
Tim
Lassen Electric Company
In 1910, a partnership was formed between Abel Bunnell, L.R. Cady and J.E. Pardee known as the Lassen Electric Company. It should be noted, in 1901, electrical service were offered to Susanville residents. The anticipated growth with the imminent arrival of the railroad meant a larger more reliable electric plant was needed. A solution was found at Bunnell Springs, six miles west of Susanville The springs could provide sufficient hydro power. A plant was constructed at Bunnell Ranch and placed into operation on June 11, 1910. It had a capacity of 150 kilowatts, twice the capacity of the old system. In 1920, the Lassen Electric was sold to the Red River Lumber Company. This was done to meet the demands of the fast growing community. Red River, after all, had its own extra power to supply Susanville. In the summer of 1920, Red River spent $100,000 to build the transmission lines from Westwood to Susanville. In 1924, Lassen Electric reached an agreement for Fruit Growers and Lassen Lumber Box to provide for back up power.
Tim.
A Repurposed Bell
In today’s hipster vernacular the “in” word is repurposed. In days of yore before we became a disposal society not much was discarded. When Lassen County was in the midst of building a new courthouse in 1916-17, the county deemed the old courthouse as surplus property.
In November 1916, the county advertised for bids for the sale of the old courthouse in anticipation of moving into the new facility. Plenty of people inspected the building. The county did not know when the building would be available. In January 1917, the county received two bids for the structure, but they were rejected. The county decided to hold an auction, in fact two.
The first one held was on April 11, 1917. It included the bell from the old courthouse that used to call court into session. It was purchased by Rev. J.H. Westervelt of the Methodist Church. The church was destroyed in a 1915 fire, and they needed a replacement bell.
The installation of the bell was chronicled in the Lassen Advocate of October 19, 1917: “The bell purchased last spring for the Methodist Church was placed in the tower of the edifice last week and for the first time in many a day ‘the sound of the church-going bell’ of this the oldest church in town, brought against its hearers the indescribable feeling of Sabbath peace and quiet that means so much to village life the world over.”
It should be noted, the bell is still used to this day to call the faithful to worship. I can attest that the bell has a wonderful tone.
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Sierra Army Depot Runs Amuck
On January 26, 1942, U.S. Representative Harry L. Englebright announced that the War Department had approved the establishment of the Sierra Ordnance Depot. It would be located at Hackstaff, forty miles southeast of Susanville. Hackstaff was a very small station on the Western Pacific Railroad. The ordnance depot, on the other hand, would cover an estimated 25,000 acres sagebrush lands on the eastern side of the Honey Lake Valley. Englebright informed Susanville residents that $20 million had been approved to construct the depot. It would involve the construction of some 1,000 “igloos” for ammunition storage, besides the facilities associated with the depot. Construction would begin immediately.
It was projected that as many as 5,000 people could be involved with the initial construction and operations. A new infrastructure would have to be constructed to accommodate this huge influx of population. Susanvile and the Honey Lake Valley would be heavily impacted by this development, with such issues as housing, schools and roads. The initial reaction was mixed, though Susanville’s business community was more supportive of the project than the agricultural community.
At the February 9, 1942 Susanville City Council meeting, Jack Hill of the Shell Oil Company, informed them of expected problems with the construction of the depot. He said that Susanville would be the initial employment headquarters. The city would shortly be flooded with people seeing employment. Since time was f the essence, Hill suggested that icy become involved in established tent and trailor courts to handle the increase population. After all, with building supplies in demand, this would provide an alternative housing method. Hill warned both the city and county to be prepared for the criminal element, i.e., camp followers found at such construction projects. He said, “You are going to have a very high percentage of non-desirable people arriving with those whose livelihood is made in every conceivable means outside the law. You can combat them if the community is prepared to stop them before they get started. The fastest and easiest way to stop them is to make their activities unprofitable.”
To prepare for the criminal element, a group of local law enforcement officials-the County Sheriff, District Attorney and Chief of Police, paid a visit to Hermiston, Oregon, where a munitions depot had recently been established. Hill was 100 percent correct in his warning. In June 1942, the crime wave swept Susanville and the environs of the Honey Lake Valley. During June 1941, there had had been 31 arrests inside the city. A year later, it has escalated to 103 for the same period. The majority of these offenses were for drunk and disorderly conduct. On one day, June 27, 1942, a record sixteen people were booked into the city jail-a facility that had only 400 square feet of room to house inmates! Over at the county jail just blocks away the situation was just as grim. One alternative solution to alleviate overcrowding the two jails was from the implementation of a special fee. If one had the extra cash, he could pay a fine three times of the existing fine and would not be incarcerated, though it only pertained to misdemeanor offenses.
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Susanville, 1880
In 1880, Edward W. Hayden, a newspaper man arrived in Susanville, and worked for the Lassen Advocate. He would eventually own the newspaper in 1892 and sold it 1921. In 1927, he wrote some memoirs about what Susanville was like in 1880. There were two observations that peaked my interest. One was the water tank on Main Street, that there is very little documentation. The other has me befuddle and may be readers can assist. My interpretation according to Hayden was that there was a bandstand on Inspiration Point. At that time, the locals just called it the bluff and it was not named Inspiration until 1918.
Hayden wrote: “In the center of the intersection of Main and Gay Streets was a water tank four feet high about as wide and eight or ten feet long., a lofty flag pole at is western end. [The flag pole was erected in 1861 by Union sympathizers.]
“Two private residences were in the space between Roop and Pine Streets and the space occupied by the Elk’s Home was vacant. There was a rudely constructed stairway leading up to the bluff to a band stand high above the town.”
Tim
The Legacy of James Bagwell
If you reside in northwest Susanville and you turn on the water faucet for drink of water, its source Bagwell Springs. That is good thing, as it is pure spring water. It was not until 1935, that it was tapped for domestic water supply.
So who was Bagwell that is spring named, which is located north of Susanville Ranch Park, one may ponder.A native of Missouri, James Washington Bagwell (1835-1898) came to Lassen County in 1871. He eventually settled on a 160-acre homestead, north of Susanville, and a portion is now Susanville Ranch Park. Bagwell made a living working odd jobs, primarily selling firewood. In 1893, he sold his homestead for $300. Bagwell moved into Susanville where he was employed as the Lassen Courthouse janitor, earning $20 a month, until his death in 1898. He committed suicide from an overdose of strychnine. Bagwell was known for his interesting wit. In one instance he spoke of the stray horses grazing on the Courthouse lawn, “They got to go, if they continue to browse much longer, they will be applying admission to the bar.”
On a final note, it was not until 1901 when W.B. Long claimed rights to this spring that he designated as Bagwell.
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