In 1970, the Lassen County American Indian Organization held its first annual All Indian Basketball Tournament. In 1976 during the nation’s bicentennial a special championship trophy would be in the memory of Thomas Tucker, a Maidu. Tucker fought in World War I with Company L, 363 Infantry, 91 Division of the U.S. Army. He was killed in action on September 28, 1918 in France. Susanville’s American Legion Post 204 was named in his honor. Oh, and by they way, the Bridgeport Renegades won the tournament by crushing the North State Hawks of Redding, 100 to 53.

Tim

Today marks the first day of meteorological spring, though the spring equinox does not occur on March 20. On the other hand Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 8.

The old saying  goes March comes in like a  lion and goes out like a lamb. Around these parts, March weather can be extreme. March  1907 was one for the records. It started with heavy rains and then by March 22 forty inches of snow blanketed Susanville. The total precipitation that month was thirteen inches.

On March 24, 1924 a snowstorm dumped 18 inches of snow in Susanville and a similar amount in Westwood. What made this event remarkable, was it was the only storm for the winter of 1923-24, one of the driest since Anglo settlement. The parched earth created the perfect setting that summer as forest fires ravaged California like never before.

Tim

P.S. The search still on for my relocation. Please spread the word.

Leonard Clark was one of those interesting Never Sweats who went on to live a very colorful life. Clark was born in 1907 in British Columbia, but was raised in the Honey Lake Valley, as his mother was a member of the pioneer Brubeck-Grass-Litch families of the same place. After he graduated from Lassen High School in 1925, he was struck with wanderlust. By the early 1930s he had explored Asia extensively and wrote his first book, A Wanderer Until I Die. The book published in 1937, as one review began, “Aviator, soldier of fortune, mountain climber this young American has adventure in his blood. From tiger and python hunting in China, treasure hunting in Malaysia . . .” The following year he married Jean Wingfield, daughter of Nevada tycoon George Wingfield.

Because of his vast knowledge and contacts in China and Mongolia, during the early stages of World War II, he was recruited by the American OSS, the forerunner of today’s CIA to conduct espionage and guerrilla warfare in those two countries. After the war, he continued with his adventures and now focused on South America. In 1952, his most popular book, The Rivers Ran East was published, which is his account for the search of the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola in the Peruvian Andes. It was also in South America where he met his demise. On May 4, 1957, Clark drowned in the Caroni River, Venezuela while on a diamond mine expedition.

Tim

Actually, it is somewhat of a misnomer, as it is actually more like a peninsula. What I am referring to is a large area that encompasses approximately 13,000 acres that is surrounded on three sides by Honey Lake. Between 1905 through 1919, there were numerous homesteads there. In 1911, the Honey Lake Irrigation Company constructed a water pumping plant and several miles of irrigation ditches on the east side of the Island to reclaim the sagebrush lands using water from Honey Lake. The project failed for several reasons. There was a federal court injunction that prohibited the Company from using governmenrt lands as right-of-ways to convey the water. This was a matter that first had to be resolved at the State level. California law had never addressed this issue—how water from a lake with no outlet could be appropriated for irrigation. It took the State two years to render a decision. By the time the legal issues had been settled, interest in the project had waned. Additionally, in 1917, Honey Lake went completely dry.

I have a 1915 soil survey map shows the irrigation canals and such, but with my housing crisis, it will be awhile before I can access that file.

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Housing whether lack of and/or affordability has been an ongoing issue for well over a hundred years. Since it is an election year many politicos will be yapping on this issue.

In the 1870s, the Williams Brothers (Morgan & William) stepped up to the plate, so speak and built rentals in Susanville. We will explore this issue and how it was dealt with over the years. In 1915, California had a Commission of Immigration and Housing. I guess some things never change.

Tim

Last year we learned story behind the Lucky Land of Lassen slogan. For a refresher, here is the link. While sorting old documents of the 1910s I recently came across a letter dated 15 December 1915 from Wm. Lucas of the California Land & Power Co to the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce. Lucas interested to have more cards that the Chamber distributed at the Panama Pacific Exposition,  which he stated as “Lucky Land of Lassen Where Milk and Honey Flows and the perfect Apples Grows.” Lucas continued this was very good advertising for Lassen County. It was his desire to secure an additional 1,000 cards and was willing pay to pay the printing costs. Unfortunately, I do not what the outcome was.

Tim

The Arnold Planing Mill was situated at the intersection Mill and South Weatherlow Streets, Susanville. You can  read about its the history here. 

When it was destroyed by fire in 1915, due to its picturesque setting at the time it was believed the most photographed landmark of the Susanville vicinity. Recently, I located the above photograph. It caught my attention because of the angle it was taken. One can see the sawdust piles on the right side of the mill.

This photograph was taken by Herman Brince. This is unique since the Susanville Grammar School appears, many people may know the location as the Washington School and later Credence.

Tim