In 1907, Franceska Murrer Neuhaus, with her husband, Ben, retired from their Willow Creek Valley ranch and moved to Susanville. Not to be idle, she  kept busy investing in several commercial enterprises. In 1913, flush with money from the sale of the ranch, to her son, Edward Murrer, she had one more venture to undertake.  At this time, she hired Nevada architect Frederick deLongchamps to design a hotel at corner of Main and Union Streets.* She named her new enterprise the St. Francis Hotel.  Franceska was well versed in the innkeeping business. For years, the Neuhaus home in Willow Creek was well known for its hospitality to accommodate travelers. Her daughter, Rose Bagin, operated hotels at Hayden Hill and Susanville. Rose’s home in Susanville happened to be conveniently located behind the St. Francis, and her elaborate flower garden complimented the hotel. When the St. Francis opened its doors in 1914, Franceska’s son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Flora Neuhaus managed it.

*deLongchamps first Susanville building was the Lassen County Jail completed in 1911.

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For over a fifty year stretch Susanville was home to two newspapers the Lassen Advocate and the Lassen Weekly Mail. 

On October 25, 1886, the Mail made its debut on the streets of Susanville with Nevada newspaperman Benjamin M. Barney at its helm.  Barney, however, lacked capital for his new enterprise and made M.B. Bransford, a partner. In addition, he borrowed $1,088.38 from Robert Tremain to purchased a new printing press.  In 1891, Bransford became sole proprietor and  moved the printing office into the Masonic Building.

In 1893, the Masonic Building and much of Susanville’s business district was destroyed by fire. Bransford abandoned the newspaper, and Tremain who was still owed money for the printing press, took over the paper. Tremain’s son, Joseph Mellow operated the paper and eventually purchased his parent’s interest.

Tremain had newspaper experience, and even worked at a time as foreman of the Lassen Advocate. Tremain’s journalistic endeavors bordered on the mundane, with the exception of one big topic, the Red River Lumber Company. Tremain and Red River’s owners, the Walkers became real cozy. This paid big dividends, and the Mail published the inside scoop on all of Red River’s proposed activities.

In 1911, when Susanville was on the verge of tremendous growth, Tremain sold the newspaper, and soon ushered in the era of the Cook family, more about that later.

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In the early 1900s a number of Susanville’s restaurants were operated by Chinese, though serving American cuisine.  The Grand Cafe was just such an establishment. It was established in 1909 by Kwan Wong in the rear of the Pioneer saloon. Continue reading The Grand Cafe – Early Years →

A paid subscriber wanted to more about the seedier side of Susanville.  When it comes to the world’s oldest profession, locally it is divided into two eras–before and after the railroad and logging industry. Continue reading Susanville Bordellos – Part I →

Besides Susanville, California there is another Susanville, just up Highway 395 near John Day, Oregon.  However, it has seen more livelier times.

It was a mining camp dating back to the mid-1860s, though its post office was established in 1901 in a dubious manner. Its biggest claim to fame was in 1913 and the discovery of the Armstrong nugget, that weighed 80.4 ounces and was believed to the largest of its kind found in Oregon. The nugget is on display at US Bank in Baker City, Oregon. After the 1930s, prosperity there dwindled and in 1952 the post office was closed. Today, its only inhabitants are prospectors during the summer, and a few curious seekers.

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This hospital was located at 2005 River Street, Susanville. There was a time in the area’s past that there were two local institutions where one was born–Potter’s and Riverside.  My siblings were born at Potter’s, while I was born at Riverside, a few years ago. Rarely, did births occur at the Lassen County Hospital. During the 1950s, my Aunt Irene Purdy Trout worked at the latter, which they affectionally referred to as “County.” She recalled only one birth there for nearly a decade that she worked there.  That all changed in the early 1960s, when a new Lassen County Hospital was constructed next to the old one.  By that time, Ma Potter after some 30 plus years as a midwife was ready to retire and changes were on the horizon with Riverside and its aging facility in which it would be torn down in 1969.

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In November 1855, Moses Mason claimed this property and became the second person to file a land claim in the Honey Lake Valley. On September 12, 1856, William Weatherlow located on Mason’s abandoned claim and lived there until his death in 1864. William B. Long purchased the property from Weatherlow’s Estate. In the early 1880s, James Bagwell located at the north end of the Susanville Ranch. In the mid-1870s, Abner and Margaret Van Buren settled on the western end of the property. By 1898, William B. Long’s son, John T., had not only purchased Van Buren’s and Bagwells’ properties, but that of his father. He consolidated these lands into one ranch. On June 2, 1913, Long, heavily in debt with his extensive ranch properties and a slaughterhouse in San Francisco, deeded this property to Alexander & Knoch, whom he owed $13,362.11. Alexander & Knoch, in turn, sold it to the McKissick Cattle Company.

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On August 9, 1898, the Ladies’ Literary Society held a fundraiser on the courthouse lawn to benefit the Mountain Echo Band. The event was well attended, and was to be followed by midnight banquet at the Masonic Hall, which had recently been acquired by David Knoch. At around 10:30 p.m. the alarm of fire originated with the clanging of the fire bell three blocks to the north. At first, those gathered at the Courthouse thought it was a false alarm. They could not see any signs of smoke or flames. By the time when it was realized the Masonic Hall was on fire, everyone quickly dispersed. Continue reading Knoch Building Fire →