Note:  This is a perennial post, because in a rare instant, it is a viewpoint that has merit. In Susanville’s early years as an incorporated city, it was remarkable what the council did. One of their actions, I still support today, and that is the prohibition of fireworks. The first time they banned fireworks was in 1906, following the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. It was also a nod to the insurance companies who suffered tremendous loss from that event. It was their belief, as well as many other communities, that this preventive measure would reduce the risk of fires.

In 1912, the City once again banned fireworks. The Lassen Advocate applauded the city and wrote: 21 June 1912 – “No Fireworks on the Fourth. We desire to congratulate our Board of Town Trustees on their action in placing the ban on all kinds of fireworks on July 2, 3, and 4. This action has been taken by large and progressive cities for years past, and we are greatly pleased to note that the smaller places are falling into line. Fireworks do no good and may do a world of harm. Fires may be started that will blot out blocks of cities or towns; little boys and girls all over the United States have lost fingers, hands eyes and in many instances, their lives from the dangerous pinwheel and firecrackers. Let them yell all they will, let them spend their money for ice cream, candy—anything on earth but the fireworks.”

In 1916, the Monticola Club appeared before the Susanville City Council asking for a ban of fireworks for the 4th of July. Their answer was no. The council assured that the utmost care would be done, but they were not going to deprive children of the festivities. In 1926, for some unknown reason the City banned fireworks for fire, health and safety reasons. In a near future post we will explore how a forest fire in late June 1926 threatened the town.

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Yesterday’s feature about the Winchester barn brought to my mind, Anson Winchester, whose descendants still reside in the region.  Anson Winchester was born on December 3, 1790 at Worchester, Massachusetts. He was an elderly man when he came to the Honey Lake Valley, when his son Elliott located there in 1864.

Anson died on September 19, 1877 at Johnstonville and is buried in the Susanville Cemetery. He is one of about dozen individuals interred there who were born in the 1700s. It is remarkable to think that four centuries are represented in that cemetery!

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