History

Chester’s Transformation—Collins Pine

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Collins Pine, Chester

One of the most dramatic transformation for Chester came in 1941 with the announcement by the Collins Pine Company that it intend to construct a mill at Chester. This was going to be a radical departure for Chester from its peaceful existence as a summer getaway, and in the fall hunters briefly replaced the summer visitors.  Once winter approached, many of Chester’s citizens boarded up their homes and moved to warmer climates, then to return in the spring.

Collins Pine changed all that, providing an industry to stabilize a year-round community. It should be noted Collins Pine was not a stranger to the region. As a matter of fact, in 1902 the company had purchased 18,000 acres of timberland in the region. In 1940, the nearby Red River Lumber Company at Westwood offered to rent their mill. Collins was not interested. However, Collins in 1941 purchased the millsite near Chester and thirteen miles of railroad from Chester to Clear Creek Junction from Red River.  It was a slow process for the  construction of Collins mill due to World War II and the scarcity of machinery. Even with those adversities, on March 31, 1943 the first board was sawed at the new mill.

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History

Early Day Fire Trails

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Among the pines, circa 1925

In the fall of 1928, Lassen National Forest Supervisor W.G. Durbin came up with an ingenious plan for fire trails. He spent considerable examining old livestock trails and abandoned early day roads which could be put to another use as fire trails. Work began making improvements to these old routes that Durbin thought would be ideal in transporting fire fighters and equipment. There was the added benefit once the trails were cleared they would also act as fire breaks.

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History

Standish Methodist Church

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Standish Methodist Church, 1910—Prentice Holmes

During the early years of Standish religious services were held in Pringle Hall, By 1903, the Methodist wanted a church for Standish. Frankie Coffin remembers her mother, Mrs. Eva (Hartson) Cain and Mrs.H.R.T. Coffin went to house to house in that part of the valley to raise money for the church.By September 1903 enough subscriptions had been raised to build the church. It was constructed by James Pringle and John Hamilton and completed in the spring of 1904.

On June 12, 1904, dedication ceremonies were held for the new Methodist Church at Standish. A sermon was given by Rev. E.W. VanDeventer, Superintendent of the Nevada Mission. A fund raiser was held afterwards and raised enough to money pay all debts associated with the construction and extra $30 paid for chairs for the church. The Rev. C.G. Lucas was the first pastor, who was stationed at Janesville. He would do a circuit holding services at Standish, Milford and Doyle.

By the late 1920s, church membership declined and for a number of years no services were held. In 1938, saw revival and the Methodist Church at Standish was back in operation. How much longer it remained I do not know. Today, it is known as the Standish Bible Church.

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History

Buggytown, Lassen County

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Buggytown Ditch
Survey crew to enlarge the Buggytown ditch near Johnstonville, 1889. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

No doubt you never heard of it. It was not named for pesky insects or pushy people either. An irrigation ditch was named as such, too. Buggytown, in its unique way was not even a town, but more like a sprawling affluent neighborhood in the late 1800s, located to the west of Leavitt Lake.It was so named as one of the first settlers possessed a buggy when such luxuries were rare on the frontier. It would later become known as Clinton, which consisted of a store, post office and the Riverside School. In 1973, it was transformed when the first phase of the Leavitt Lake Subdivision began.

Tim

P.S. – Some where in my files is a photograph of Ben Leavitt, in his buggy, who was Buggytown’s most prominent resident. I am not sure which category/topic I filed it under.

History

Purity Store Update & More Thanks to You

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Purity’s advertisement for February, 1935

Recently, I received this comment: “Reading this from Australia, doing family history. Thank you for remembering what went on in these places. Kindest regards Pauline”

This is a two-fold commentary. This is a prime example, and there are many more, why there is no paywall on this site. A UNR fishery biologist was impressed that on this site, was the only photograph he was able to find of High Rock Springs near the border of California and Nevada in eastern Honey Lake Valley. Another came from an elderly woman battling cancer, wanted to use a image of the Westwood Hospital where she was born, as her grandchildren urged her to write her memoirs.

This is where I want to thank you the subscribers that makes this all possible.

Tim

History

The Belfast Colony

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Belfast Land Company subdivision map.

In the spring of 1922, with the anticipation of the completion of the Bly Tunnel brought Belfast back to the forefront. Captain C.A. Merrill one of the original instigators of the tapping of Eagle Lake spent twenty-five years on the project that in hopes one day it would be transformed into a major agricultural center. So nearly fifty years later, Charles Emerson and D.G. Beale planned to resurrect Merrill’s dream by acquiring 4,360 acres at Belfast from the B.F. Porter Estate. It was their intention to form a “colony” and sell 40-acre tracts. The two men formed the Belfast Land Company to orchestrate their goal. The major obstacle, of course, was financing. The Porter Estate wanted $100,000 for the property and the Belfast Land Company could not arrange financial backing. Thus, another land development project went bust.

Tim

 

History

Interesting Advertising Copy, 1907

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Emerson’s Store, Left to Right, Bill Lewis, Jim Mapes, Todd Hemler, 1916. Courtesy of Prentice Holmes

This is a bit different, I came across an interesting display advertisement in the Lassen Advocate for Charles Emerson’s store. The store’s motto by the way “We Are Here to Stay.” By 1907, Emerson’s enterprise included his hotel and store in Susanville, as well as a store and creamery in Standish. Below is the ad copy, I found it amusing, may be its a personal taste.

”The mummy aint had no fun fer more’n than five thousand years.” Moral: Don’t be a mummy.

Probably what you need right now is a pleasurable vehicle. We have lots of them and want to get vid of ‘m all. (Old Man Studebaker told us confidentiality we could have a few more when we paid for these.)

Your best girl or your mother-in-law may be pining for fresh air. Our mission in life is to separate you from your wherewithwall so if you want anything with wheels we can make a quick trade—Emerson.

Tim

 

History

Susanville’s Shasta Street Then & Now

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Shasta Street,Susanville, 1921

The area south of Railroad Avenue to Modoc Street was a housing development of the Lassen Lumber & Box Company for its employees.  The above photograph I received from someone back East who found the photograph in a book at a garage sale. One never knows where a piece of history will show up.

Shasta Street, Susanville, September 22, 2022

It should be noted that the Lassen Lumber & Box Company designated this particular area as its “Italian Quarters.” Both Lassen Lumber & Fruit Growers Supply Company hired numerous immigrants, at one time there was a large Filipino population.

Tim

 

History

The Hayden Hill Fire of 1910

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A view of the western portion of Hayden Hill, 1909—Dallas & Joyce Snider

In 1908, a new vein of gold was discovered at Hayden Hill and another resurgence was on its way. The Golden Eagle, the Hill’s largest mine, hired 100 men for the initial operation and more were added to the payroll. In addition, the Lassen Mining Company’s Juniper Mine enjoyed good fortune and they had over 100 men on the payroll.

It was one of the brightest moments in the town’s history, followed by one of its worst disasters. On September 11, 1910, a fire originated at the Lassen Mining Company’s boarding house, which erupted into an inferno. The town had always had an inadequate water supply and there was not much anyone could to do fight the fire, and just watched the majority of the businesses and residential sections on the west side of the Hill go up in flames. The fire resulted in layoffs and over 150 miners left since there was no housing. The town would never fully recover.

On a rather peculiar note, the fire devastated the town’s cemetery. All the markers in the cemetery, including Joseph Hayden’s the town’s namesake, were all made of wood and the fire wiped those out.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past