It is Christmas Eve, and what better way to take a moment to relax with this picturesque postcard of Butte Lake. The lake situated in the northeast corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park and is accessible from Highway 44 with a turn off to a dirt road, of about six miles. Because it is off the beaten path, there are no crowds and it does not feel like you are in a national park. If you never been there, or has it been a long time since you last visited, you might want to include in next summer’s list of places to go and see.
In 1987 an informal regatta was held on Honey Lake.
Lassen Advocate – 9 March 1899 – Milford Murmurs. Gus Grunt and Capt. John Hansen are a building a sail boat for hauling wood across the lake to Amedee, and while we appreciate their enterprise, we can predict but failure, since the winds upon the lake are not reliable upon, and we advise that they take a small tug along in case of adverse winds or a calm.
A picnic at Wendel Hot Springs, circa 1917.—Betty Barry Deal
Lassen Advocate, 31 January 1927 – Jack Rabbit Drives. We had never given the jack rabbit drives that have been held in Lassen County lately much thought until last Sunday, other to realize that killing the number of rabbits that they were of value to the county and the farmer.
“Last Sunday the drive at Milford brought out between 400 to 500 people, men, women and children and each and every one not only helped the agricultural interest of the county by their presence and assistance, but had a good day’s sport to boot. Many of those at the Milford drive Sunday stated then and their intention of taking in the drive at Wendel the coming Sunday.
“Try and make arrangements to attend the Wendel drive, we our assuring that you will have a good day’s sport, you will be of service to your county and the farmers, and they will be glad to see you. No guns are allowed. All you need to bring is a good stout club, pick handle etc. No need to bring a lunch as “hot dogs” cooked in the hot springs will be served to all.”
Note: The organizers of the Wendel drive were overwhelmed when 1200 people showed up, out numbering the rabbits.
Arnold Planing Mill, Richmond Road, Susanville, 1913.
Today brings a smile to my face, for it marks at least one turning point of the winter season, even though it takes a few weeks to actually see it progress. One of the things I dread about winter are the short daylight hours and now knowing that the pendulum will start working its way to bring more daylight. Actually, for those serious folks, on December 15, the sunset locally starts to get later, by a minute on that date. However, the sunrise keeps getting later, and does not reverse the trend until January 9.
Around these parts, historically the coldest and snowiest months are just ahead in January and February. Nearly all the record breaking snowfalls occur in mid-January. For those interested in forthcoming storms and especially the snow conditions I recommend The Tahoe Daily Snow.
During the Civil War of the 1860s, communities in support of the North, applied Union to street names, squares, etc. Susanville was a perfect textbook example.
Typical of the era, map makers were one dimensional. Susanville’s original plat, shows Union Street extending beyond Cottage and connecting Weatherlow Street at the Richmond Road bridge. There were two problems. First the proposed street would dissect the block that was home to the Susanville School District. The other was the physical restraint of the hillside for Union to connect with Weatherlow. During the messy title problems of the 1870s, caused by the town’s founder, to rectify this particular situation, that segment of Union to Weatherlow was abandoned.
During the Civil War of the 1860s, communities in support of the North, applied Union to street names, squares, etc. Susanville was a perfect textbook example.
Typical of the era, map makers were one dimensional. Susanville’s original plat, shows Union Street extending beyond Cottage and connecting Weatherlow Street at the Richmond Road bridge. There were two problems. First the proposed street would dissect the block that was home to the Susanville School District. The other was the physical restraint of the hillside for Union to connect with Weatherlow. During the messy title problems of the 1870s, caused by the town’s founder, to rectify this particular situation, that segment of Union to Weatherlow was abandoned.
This is a tale of how many hospitals were established in the 1910s. In 1914 California adopted the Workmen’s Compensation Act. This affected large industrial employers such as lumber mills in our region. Companies had two options for medical insurance to their employees. They could self insured or buy a policy through the State. Fruit Growers and Red River adopted the self-insured approach the employees were charged one dollar a month for health and medical care. This insurance covered every member of an employee’s family. This was how the Riverside Hospital was built in Susanville and the Westwood Hospital. The Act was amended in 1944 and both Red River and Fruit Growers opted out of the self insured plan, and paid into the State Workmen’s Compensation Fund.
Construction of Riverside Hospital, 1920. Courtesy of Ed Standard
A little bit of trivia is this how Kaiser Permanente was formed. Kaiser initially were ship builders and they too originally opted for the self-insured policy.. They also dropped the self-insured policy, and in 1945 Kaiser Permanente was established.
The mine appear as a late as 1950 on this Plumas National Forest map.Note: This post appeared on November 6, 2020. This post is in memory of Chuck James, a one-time archaeologist on the Plumas National Forest, who passed away on September 8, 2025. He was responsible for me to research this mine.
The Plinco Mine was located in the Last Chance area of northeastern Plumas County. Doyle in Lassen County was in part beneficiary of the mining operations due to the access with the Western Pacific Railroad. From the mine to Doyle was approximately thirteen miles.
The initial mine was discovered in 1905 by Joseph Novak of Utah and Orlando McNabb of nearby Milford, an avid prospector. Attempts to develop the mine languished. In the fall of 1915, J.F. Cutler, a Midwest capitalist began an ambitious project to develop the Novak Mine. On November 2, 1915 Articles of Incorporation for Plinco Copper Mine were filed in the State of Nebraska. Cutler stated at that time he had ten men working on shafts and buildings investing some $16,000 in the venture. There does not appear to be much documentation about the Plinco mine. In late August 1919 a massive forest fire, to be named the Ferris Fire ravaged the Last Chance country and destroyed the Plinco Mine buildings. The operation then ceased to exist.
This is the last of 1960 color negatives. The good news hopefully I will have scan of color slides from the 1940s to the early 1980s that will preview beginning of January 2026.
