4th of July 1915 celebration at Westwood. Courtesy of the Nevada Historical Society.
In the spring of 1914 Red River Lumber Company announced that it would hold a grand 4th of July celebration to welcome visitors to its new town. Red River officials stated its main purpose was to establish and maintain the “friendliest” relations with Susanville. On the other hand it evolved in a two-day event featuring a baseball tournament.
The Fernley & Lassen offered a special excursion train that consisted of eight passenger cars. It was sold out and the fare was $1.50 round trip. As soon as the train arrived around 10:00 a.m. a procession was formed and marched through the principal streets of Westwood. It ended at open air pavilion where entertainment and necessary orators speaking. It was followed by barbecue. The next event were scheduled baseball games. The evening consisted of a firework display and a dance. It was successful event and repeated in 1915. In 1916, Susanville reciprocated and was the host of the grand 4th July celebration.
The Red River Pub fire, 1982-Courtesy of David Zoller
After the closure of the mill at Westwood in 1956, a lot businesses fell on hard times. One of the victims was the majestic Westwood Theater. Several attempts were made to revive it, but to no avail. By 1980, it took on a new life as the home of the Red River Pub. On July 12, 1982, it was one of the most spectacular fires in modern Westwood history. when the old theater caught fire. Due to the intense heat of the blaze, aid from a forest service air tanker dropped retardant to combat the fire and to keep it contained.
Westwood Theater. Courtesy of David Zoller
If you have memories of the pub or fire, that you would like to share, please do so.
When the Red River Lumber Company started their construction of Westwood in 1913, there was a lot of thought that went into it. A neglected matter was a church. In the spring of 1917, Fletcher Walker, Resident Manager, brought up the topic that Westwood was in need of a house of worship with his father, T.B. (Red River’s founder, who resided in Minnesota) and wrote: “We have come to a time when it seems inadvisable to put off further the building of a working church. The Sunday school had 255 last Sunday and the condition of the school in one of the old cook houses is such that the congestion prevents efficient work.”
Fletcher informed his father that a committee had organized to solicit donations. The committee discussed plans for a building, not only its seating capacity but that it should have a full basement to provide for a library, kitchen/dining rooms, and other rooms for sociable functions such as Y.M.C.A. meetings. After considerable debate it was determined that ideally the church should seat 600 churchgoers.
Once the committee agreed to the building’s size, they were able to calculate the cost. They estimated a price tag of $8,700—with lumber the most expensive item at $4,000. Fletcher thought Red River should donate the lumber to such a worthy cause. To finance the remaining balance, the committee had already secured $3,000 in pledges.
In conclusion Fletcher wrote, “We could have the Red River Lumber Co. build the church and direct the work along lines that were best for the Company, keeping in mind that we are against the I.W.W. and politicians as well as the Assessor, etc. That the labor market is a laborer’s market and that we must make Westwood attractive if we are to keep a crew without paying excessive wages. So from my viewpoint I think we should go ahead and build it and let the people use their money on the extra running connected with it.”
By the summer of 1917 the project moved forward with Red River donating the lumber and labor. The site selected was at 500 Cedar Street, which the Rev. R.G. Green described as a rock pile strewn with empty beer and whiskey bottles. By November 1917 the new church was completed.
Initially, it was a church with no name. Since it would serve the needs of variety denominations it was named The People’s Church. On Sunday May 19, 1918 dedication ceremonies were held with Dr. John Wilson, District Superintendent of the California-Nevada Methodist Conference officiating.
One of Red River Lumber Company’s early public buildings in Westwood was the auditorium located at northeast corner of Birch and Fourth Streets. It was in December 1917 when Red River unveiled the plans for a multi-purpose building. This much needed facility would house a fully equipped gymnasium, lodge rooms to accommodate its growing fraternal organizations, Billiard rooms and other spaces devoted for readings and meetings. The goal was have it completed by the spring of 1918, but Red River noted it could be delayed for a number of reasons due to the impacts created to meet the needs associated with World War I.
The Auditorium was put on hold, much to dismay of the residents. In January 1920, Garfield Oates, Red River’s resident engineer, announced that the plans for the Auditorium were being modified and construction would begin shortly. On May 29, 1920, the highly anticipated opening of the $30,000 Auditorium was held–by far the most expensive public building built in Westwood to date.
On the first floor was its most notable feature being a large dance floor measuring 48 by 96 feet. In the Auditorium’s later years the dance floor was converted into roller staking rink. By the early 1970s, the building was its showing its age. In 1973 the Lassen County Assessor deemed to building of no value. By the late 1970s the building was demolished. Many Westwood residents could not remember a year, but it has been gone by 1980, when the shuttered nearby Westwood Theater re-opened as the Red River Pub.
Fruit Growers Powerhouse under construction, 1920 – Courtesy of Ed Standard
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.
In today’s marketing world one of the most used terms is “brand.” However, the agricultural community, brands are more than a marketing gimmick.
One would not think a lumber company would have a brand for livestock. When Red River first set up shop in Mountain Meadows, Fletcher Walker’s goal that the entire operation would be self sufficient, as possible with certain limitations. It was an admirable goal.
Initially, Red River needed horses for logging, which they did not completely phase out until the late 1920s. Red River had its own dairy herd to provide for milk, etc which all was produced in its own dairy. Since Red River owned a sizeable portion of Mountain Meadows, they initially raised their own cattle. Due to the winter weather conditions there, the cattle had to be moved elsewhere. My grandfather, John Tanner, routinely during the 1920s would pasture a portion of Red River’s herd for the winter in the Honey Lake Valley.
It was only fitting that Red River’s used the initials of TB for its brand. For those not familiar with the company, the initials are of its founder, Thomas Barlow Walker, who routinely used his initials, “TB.”
Tunison’s advertisement in the 1937 Westwood Chipmunk
In the mid-1930s, Bill and Jeanette Tunison established very popular bar, restaurant and gas station five miles east of Westwood near Goodrich Creek.* Tunison, it should be noted had been a Westwood resident since 1916. The establishment became very popular in a short order, known for its good food and hospitality. As Marian Hull Herrick recalled, “People would call ahead to see if they serving were Jeanette’s Rum pie that night. People raved about the fried chicken and biscuits. Jeanette confided in me that they were made with Bisquick.”
*The free standing chimney along Highway 36, is the sole remnant of Tunison’s
A view of Westwood with Keddie Ridge in the background,, Dyer Mountain is northern post on Keddie Ridge. It is also where to Sierra Nevada ends and the Southern Cascades begins. 1955.
On November 7, 2000 the Lassen County voters approved a contentious ballot initiative to amend the county’s General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and the Westwood Area Plan to allow the development of a four-season resort near Westwood known as Dyer Mountain. It was proposed to build three golf courses, ski runs, along with thousands of houses, condos along with commercial retail projects. It became a heated issue fought by environmental groups. Plagued with financial and legal issues the project was derailed.
Robbers Creek, 1918, I do not think its near Susanville.
A few years back, I published this photograph. However, I could never figure out the location. Now, I know. It is crossing of Robbers Creek to the north of Westwood. Since this is some twenty miles away from Susanville, in my opinion, I do not consider that near. The photographer named Engel, who I admire his work. took some winter scenes at Westwood in1918, and instead of giving the location of that lumber town, Engel, as he did in the above photograph affixed the label “near Susanville.” I will be including a Westwood photograph by Engel in the 2025 Calendar.
T.B. Walker spent the winter and early spring of 1913 at San Francisco to monitor the progress of the construction of the mill and the future company town of Westwood. Not all was going well. Not only his son Clinton was adamant that Mountain Meadows was not the right place for the mill, contractor in charge agreed as well.
In the spring T.B. Walker was ready to return home to Minneapolis. He wanted to visit Westwood, but had to decline. He could not travel there via Susanville, since there was a movement on foot to relocate the mill. The other option was take the Western Pacific train via the Feather River Canyon. Walker had a fear of that canyon, that he could get caught in a rock slide.
It was not until the summer of 1917 that Walker made the trip. He had a special guest, John Andrus. Andrus was a New York investor who help finance T.B.’s acquisition of Northern California timberland. They formed the Waland Lumber Company with the intent to build a sawmill in their holdings. Andrus had never seen these holdings, thus Walker’s invite. On July 7, the entourage arrived in Westwood. It was a low key affair and most the time was spent touring the Northern California properties.
