History

Susanville’s Upper Main Street

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Susanville’s Upper Main Street – Courtesy George C. Lindholdt

To the untrained eye, one detects it is  an early day photograph of once was the Elks Lodge as the west send of Susanville. As the lodge recently sold, I am not sure as to the current owners has a given this landmark building a name.

This photograph was taken in 1923 or early 1924. In 1922, the highway department constructed the retaining wall in front of the of the Elk’s In the summer of 1924 a fire wiped out the pine trees on the bluff behind the Elk’s.

To the left, 502 Main Street, is still here, but it  was a remodeled in to a two-story building. Just above it on the corner, that house was moved to Janesville Grade for the realignment of the highway curve circa 1990.

Tim

History

In Case You You Missed It

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Exhibit A, early 1970s, Courtesy of the Lassen-Modoc Unit, California Division of Forestry

Recently Mike Cole wrote in the comment section of Susanville Helipad:

“1972 was the first year for Bieber Helitack. I was a firefighter on the crew. The guy in white shirt was our pilot, fresh out of Vietnam Nam, his first name was John ( can’t remember his last name). Next up is FC Jack Waters, FAE Jack Perdue, and FGT (FC) Dave McNamara. We were issued nomex jumpsuits, before firefighters had nomex. I retired from CDF in 2006”

Thank you Mike, Tim.

 

History

Tuesday Tidbit – Pioneer Changes Its Way

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Pio advt.
A 1920s advertisement for the Pioneer. It had to change its ways during prohibition.

With passage of the Volstead Act, i.e, prohibition certain businesses had to change to survive. Established in 1863, the Pioneer Saloon was one of them. It no longer dispenses alcohol, but it had its lucrative card games to fall back on.

Tim

P.S. – Still in search of a  home.

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Tommy Tucker Cave

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Sacramento Bee

As a rule, I I avoid Native American sites due to their sensitivity. However, some sites are well known and are routinely visited by many, and that is the case of Tommy Tucker Cave,

The cave was a significant archaeological site excavated by archaeologists from the University of California from 1949 to 1951. The cave is located 200 feet above the Honey Lake  Valley floor. It was named for Thomas “Tommy” Tucker (1895-1918), a Madiu from Big Meadows (Lake Almanor), and the second person from Lassen County to die in World War I. One can read Francis Riddell’s complete report here.

Amedee Canyon, June 14, 2023

Of note this somewhat a personal neglected hindsight. Riddell and I were friends, and on his twice annual visits to Susanville, at that time, he stopped by for a visit. Of course, we always had a lot to talk about. As the cave is attributed to the Paiutes, the one question I wanted to ask Riddell, why was it named for a Maidu individual?

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History

The Original Amedee School

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Invoice to Lassen County for the failed Amedee School Bond Election

In 1890, when NCO railroad’s terminus to be known as Amedee, no one knew, that initially it would become boom town. With the influx families, in the spring of 1892, residents of Amedee petitioned the Lassen County Board of Supervisors to establish a school. The Board denied it. Not to be defeated, the residents opened a private school in September with an enrollment of eighteen students. The residents again petitioned the Board to approve a new district. The Board granted it on January 27,1893, and appointed L.W. Brubeck, E.C. Brown and C.D. Hemmenger as trustees. Continue reading The Original Amedee School →

History

The tale of two Susans

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Susan Arnold and Anna Hall
Susan Roop Arnold and Anna Hall at Constantia-Courtesy of P.S. Hall

While it is fairly common knowledge that the City of Susanville was named for the town founder’s daughter, Susan Roop, who later married Alexander T. Arnold. Many assume that the Susan River that flows through the community would also be named after Susan Roop.  However, that is not the case, because the river was so named, prior to Isaac Roop’s arrival on the scene.

Susan River, February 1972

During the years 1851-1852, William H. Nobles located a new emigrant road from Shasta, California to Lassen’s Meadows, Nevada. This road passed through the Honey Lake Valley. Nobles named the Susan River for his wife, Susan Parker Nobles.  While we know a lot about Susan Roop Arnold, very little is known about Susan Parker Nobles. She resided in Minnesota for the majority of her married life, moving to California when her husband, Nobles, died in 1876.

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History

A Prattville Question

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Prattville, 1908–Sue Pratt

This falls under the category of Why They Came Here.  Recently, Jeanne Baldwin sent me this inquiry:

“I found your name on a list as I was looking for information about Prattville. I am researching a family that was located in Prattville in the beginning of 1903 and wondering what the community would have had to offer to a small family that had been living in San Francisco. The man was a merchant and not a miner so some business opportunity must have been made available to have him move his family to Prattville. What was Prattville like?  Do you have any thoughts about this?

“Patrick Lalor and his family ultimately settled in a rural community in El Dorado County where he lived for over 50 years.”
Thank  you for considering this, and I appreciate your time.
Jeanne Baldwin
Why people locate where they do, is a multi-pronge question. Some are obvious and others, like the writer pose, not so. Since Prattville was a small mountain resort community job opportunities were minimal and for the most part seasonal.  Since the inquirer did disclose any background information, it is mere speculation on my part as to the justification of the move. However, that is my option, and I invite readers share their views.
Tim
History

The Origin of Hallelujah Junction

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H Junction
Hallelujah Junction, 1940s

Since the 1850s, the region has always been referred to as a junction to Beckwourth Pass and the Sierra Valley. It has been told that emigrants in the 1850s, when they arrived at this spot, shouted “Hallelujah” whey they saw Beckwourth Pass—at 5228’ its the lowest pass over the Sierra. In 1932, Orville Stoy took up an 80-acre homestead there. Stoy built a gas station and it became a popular stop, known as Hallelujah Junction. In time, a bar, restaurant and motel were constructed. There was even the “Hallelujah International Airport” that consisted of a couple of airplane hangers and a runway that was an abandoned stretch of Highway 70. In 1973, the State of California purchased Hallelujah Junction. It was obliterated for the construction of the four-lane freeway from there to the Nevada State line. In 1991, a gas station and convenience store was built at the junction of Highway 395 and 70.

Hallelujah Junction
Hallelujah Junction

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History

Homeless by Sunday, April 12

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Miller Road Residenc

If this post is disjointed, because my thoughts are out of control. However, I was served eviction notice yesterday, to leave the premises by Sunday night, April 12. Long story, for another  time.

The old Baxter property on Miller Road, next to the cemetery, sound appealing, it being cozy. The agent, Cheryl Holmes,, unfortunately we have not been able to contact

If you have any short term and or either long term housing please contact as soon as possible.

If you do not hear back me, I have jury duty duty today.

Tim

 

Exploring Lassen County's Past