The Panama Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) held in San Francisco during 1915, was a very big deal for California. Not only would it show case the Golden State as a whole, it went the further step that each of California’s 58 counties would be recognized. Not only would each county would have to maintain a manned exhibit, that every county would have a designated day at the Exposition. Before his passing, John DeLaHunt gave me an original panaroma print of Lassen County Day at the PPIE.
Lassen County retained the services of Russell Brownell to handle the county’s representation and exhibit. He entered into various contracts for the year long event. One of his first contracts was with Pittville resident George Louks. Louks would provide the exhibit with some fifty stuffed animals ranging from a bear, a bald eagle, two skunks among the various list. He was paid a total of $150 at increments of $12.50 a month.
Brownell’s next contract was with Susanville resident, Viola Roseberry, for her collection of some 300 Native American baskets to be displayed. She, too, like Louks, was paid the same amount. However, she was also hired at $27.50 per month to work at the exhibit. Just think how times have changed. After all she could live in San Francisco on less than $30 a month.