One of the things that impressed me about Fruit Growers Supply Company was they valued their employees and went the extra mile in taking care of them. What the company had learned early one, was how costly labor turn over could be. By providing the employees a bit higher wage, extra amenities, paid off in the long run, with a loyal and stable workforce.
The company’s logging camps were exceptional, besides the living conditions, even provided recreational activities. In 1922, motion pictures were offered at Camps B and C. In 1923, at Camp C a 500-seat outdoor arena was the site of professional boxing and wrestling matches. On June 23, 1923 at the inaugural wrestling match pitted Susanville wrestler Bill Mohler against Paul Kinney of Omaha, Nebraska.
One of the items that caught my attention about this particular photograph was the clarity of the skies. Notice that both lumber mills—-Fruit Growers and Lassen Lumber—were idle and not belching large copious s amounts of black smoke. In addition, look at the background behind the mills, as that area remained untouched from development.
The Highland School was a short-lived district, that was referred by the name where the school was located—-Termo. It is interesting to note that Don Garate’s book Termo to Madeline does not even refer to the school by its official name.
Information on the school is rather scant. When the petition was submitted on November 6, 1914 it contained the following signatures—Martha Cox, Elvira Smith, Mrs. C.C. Brack, Margaretta Drees,Wm. Boydston, Mrs. J.A.Shoaf, Mrs. W.H.Brown, and E.B. Coffin. Collectively, they had sixteen children. Which they met the criteria of at least having ten children. They also resided anywhere between six and thirteen miles from the nearest school. Thus, they met the second criteria of being more than two miles from the nearest school house.
The school district was approved on January 5, 1915. Its existence was brief, and in 1925 the Highland School was annexed to Ravendale. The following year, the school’s fixtures were transferred to the Madeline School only to be destroyed by a fire in 1927.
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Meteorological speaking March 1 is the first day of spring, which happens to be Monday. I hope you enjoyed these TuesdayTidbits for the past three months. With the daylight hours getting longer I am looking forward to spending more time outdoors. So as the old saying goes, which I never understood, “I will see you in the movies.”
This is a somewhat non-historical post. Blame it on Covid Cabin Fever. Amedee Canyon, located in the Amedee Mountains, is about halfway between Amedee and Wendel, near the archeological site known as Tommy Tucker Cave.
A view from one of the many caves to be found in Amedee Canyon
It was a late winter, many moons ago, that I hiked it. It should be noted, it is quite the hike to the entrance of the canyon. Before long inside the canyon, it is no longer a hike, more like a rock climbing expedition. Near the top of the canyon are interesting caves—one of which had ice.
A view of Honey Lake from high above in the Amedee Canyon.
The other reward for your efforts is the view from up high overlooking Honey Lake.
Some time during the night of March 27, 1906 an unknown individual(s) attempted to blow up the old Bremner Dam on Susan River with dynamite. The dam was built in 1886 in conjunction with the Bremner sawmill, about a mile west of Susanville. The damage was slight and it was reported that whoever did the deed was not familiar with explosives. The dam had fallen disrepair over the years, since the destruction the sawmill there in 1894. Some were of the opinion, that the dam was a hazard, especially to those downstream and it should be removed.
Bremner Dam Remnants, Susan River, 1977
That never happened and the dam quickly deteriorated and by 1914, most of it had washed away. However, during the drought of 1977, water level in the Susan River dropped to such an extent to expose the remnants of the dam’s foundation.
One of the most impressive sawmills constructed on the Susan River was the Bremner Mill. In 1886, Lawrence, Leavitt & Company was formed to construct and operate it. The site selected on the Susan River was approximately a mile west of Susanville. The firm built an imposing dam 250 feet long and 25 feet high. The dam created a reservoir that backed up water for a mile. That was beneficial for the company, since it would float logs down the river to the mill.
In December 1887, Charles Bremner, a lumberman from Maine, purchased the mill. His two sons, James and William, arrived from Maine to assist. On December 8, 1888 Bremner sold a half interest. in the mill to Alex McCrimmon. The partnership short-lived. McCrimmon was not pleased with Bremner’s management of the company funds, and sold his interest to Leavitt & Woodsum for $1,800. Bremner was plagued with financial problems. In 1892. with Bremner unable to pay his debts, William Greehn foreclosed on the property and became the new owner. Greehn, however, retained Bremner to operate the mill.
Bremner sawmill, Susan River Canyon, 1891. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
In 1891, to take advantage of the water power from the dam, James Anthony installed a power plant, to generate the first electric power for Susanville. The generator had a capacity of 30 horsepower, enough to provide power for40 arc lamps.
On Tuesday night, August 14, 1894, fire broke out at the mill. It went unnoticed by the several people who were at the mill. Once it was discovered the building was in flames and it was too late to suppress it. The mill machinery and Anthony’s electric plant were a total loss. The origin of the fire was never determined. The mill was not rebuilt, and Anthony built a new electric plant half a mile down from the dam.
In 1969, the Pyramid Lake Task Force was established to seek solutions concerning the shrinkage of Nevada’s famous desert lake. In 1971, the Task Force submitted a proposal to Lassen County officials for their consideration. They obliged. The plan called for the exportation of 50,000 acre-feet of Honey Lake water to Pyramid Lake. The two lakes, both remnants of Lake Lahontan, are relatively close, though Honey Lake is 190 feet higher in elevation. It was their intention to dry up Honey Lake, except in the northeast corner. There a 4,700-acre freshwater reservoir would be created for a wildlife sanctuary. Adjoining it would be a holding reservoir with a capacity of 27,000 acres. A pumping plant would be built near Amedee, where the water would flow through a twenty-four mile long aqueduct to Pyramid Lake. The Task Force considered this plan the most feasible of all considered. Construction cost was estimated at $12 million, with an annual operating cost of $200,000. This did not include any litigation fees with affected properties for rights-of-way or damage payments to lakeshore owners. The adverse effects of Honey Lake being permanently dry drew heavy criticism from the local residents. The lake is enjoyed for its aesthetic beauty when full. When the lake is dry, it is a scene of numerous dust storms. Opponents were also concerned with the loss of humidity and its effects on agricultural crops. At a November 8, 1971 public hearing the Lassen County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing the project. After all these years later, the problems with Pyramid Lake’s water level still has not been solved.
A portion of Marith Reheis 1999 U.S.G.S. Map of Lake Lahontan
Maybe you are aware of the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board that has a lot of influence on water issues in Lassen County. If you are more Nevada oriented, you might be familiar with Lake Lahontan, a reservoir near Fallon, Nevada. Continue reading Lake Lahontan Explained→
Snow Shovelers clearing the right-of-way in six feet of snow, January, 1914—B.R. Zimmerman Collection
On January 29, 1912, the Red River Lumber Company and the Southern Pacific Railroad entered into an agreement for the construction of the Fernley & Lassen Railroad. Time was essential, with completion date of two years. Red River already had a contractual obligation with Great Western Power Company to remove the timber from Big Meadows, which would be flooded to create Lake Almanor in 1914..
The line would extend from Fernley, Nevada to a point west of Susanville to be named Westwood Junction. At that point a nine-mile spur would be built south to the soon to be company town of Westwood.
A daunting snow removal task on the Fernley & Lassen Railroad, west of Susanville.—-B.R. Zimmerman Collection
By the fall of 1913, the tracks had reached Susanville. The most formidable task was the Susan River Canyon, wherein the Southern Pacific put 1,000 men to work to meet the January 1914 deadline. However, Mother Nature had a mind of her own, and lashed a series of record breaking storms. Even with eight feet of snow in Susanville during January 1914, was not a deterrent for the construction. Though due to the unusual circumstances Red River and Southern Pacific agreed upon a two-month extension to the deadline.
Construction of the Fernley & Lassen Railroad, west of Susanville, January 1914. Courtesy of B.R. Zimmerman Collection
On February 21, 1914 the rails reached their destination to Westwood. It would not be until fall when all work was completed such as ballast and sidings.
Bremner Dam, 1906—George McDow Jr.
