On September 19, 1935 a Technical Institute course in forestry was offered at Lassen College. There was a lot of enthusiasm for the new course, not just from the college, but the timber industry who would benefit by its graduates. However, there were critics who thought the initial cost to implement it was expensive compared to other traditional vocational courses.
By the time the second semester began word had spread and there was tremendous interest from outside the region. When the fall semester of 1936 began the enrollment at the college had nearly doubled which was attributed to the forestry program. It was a turning point for the college. For the school to thrive it would need to seek out students from other areas, as the local tributary schools was not sufficient enough for the college to expand.
It was my original intention to include a photograph of Maud Tomb’s grave, when I wrote about her. When I went to visit the grave, the headstone needed so much cleaning, that I had to correct the situation. So with a pumice stone and plenty of elbow grease I set out to take care of it. After all, it has been my goal to do about a dozen graves a year, sometimes I do and sometimes I do not. It just depends on other obligations that I have to tend to.
In 2017 when I conducted the Lassen County Courthouse Centennial Cemetery Tour I wanted to include the grave of Lassen County Clerk Maud Tombs. I was prudent in the grave selection, because I had no idea what the attendance would be. If it was large, which it was, I wanted the selected graves easily accessible and eliminate as much possible potential hazardous features such as grave copings. Maud’s unfortunately did not fit into the easy accessible category.
Maud Edna Long was born on May 2, 1875, in Susanville, the eldest of ten children of John and Margaret Long. By the time she was born, her family already had an influence in the region’s history. The town of Longville in Humbug Valley, Plumas County, was named for her grandfather, William B. Long back in 1861.
On August 3, 1897, Maud married George L. Tomb. He was a native of New York and came to Susanville in 1890, no doubt influenced by the Pardee family, relatives of his. In 1898, George entered the politcal arena and ran for Lassen County Clerk and won. In 1902, he ran for a second term and was elected. Going for a third term, the voters rejected him and he was replaced by George Bassett. For whatever reasons, in early 1907, George sold his furniture/undertaking business and moved his wife Maud, and two daughters, Nadene and Gladys to Red Bluff. It did not take long for Maud to discover her husband’s dark side, a gambling problem. Before 1907 concluded Maud left him and returned to Susanville with their two daughters. Upon her return there was a distinct little name change in her last name, an “s” was added and she was now Maud Tombs.
In 1918, Maud decided to run for Lassen County Clerk against the incumbent George Bassett who had defeated her husband. Joining her on the ballot was Robert Kyle of Westwood and Elmer Winchell of Standish. The primary held on August 27 showed it was a race between Bassett with 73 votes and Maud with 66, the other two candidates combined only garnered 25 votes. The general election was a close race, and a problematic one on reaching out to the voters due to the outbreak of the Spanish influenza. Maud won the election with 991 votes with Bassett trailing at 976. Maud would go on to be elected seven more times. In 1951, she was succeeded by her daughter Nadene Wemple who would serve four terms as Lassen County Clerk.
Two final notes. Maud was the first woman elected to a county wide office. Secondly, for over a century a woman has always been elected county clerk.
Thompson Peak Fire Lookout, circa 1950–Courtesy of Margaret Purdy
September is a wonderful time to go out and explore, with mild temperatures and in many cases most of the back roads you will have all to yourself. An interesting excursion is the Thompson Peak Fire Lookout that looms above Janesville at an elevation of 7795’. It was built in 1931, and it is still a manned lookout. The view of the Honey Lake Valley and the surrounding territory is magnificent. However, due to the Walker fire it may be awhile before one can access Thompson Peak.
Train load of logs leaving Camp B, 1923–Courtesy of Dick & Helen Harrison
Yesterday’s topic was big timber before the arrival of the big mills. Well, that big timber became big logs. Camp B of the Fruit Growers Supply Company was located just north of McCoy Flat Reservoir. It was their second railroad logging and one of its largest. The camp operated from 1922 to 1925. Similar to Camp Harvey there are still remnants such as the concrete foundation of the commissary and service pits used to work on the locomotives.
Western Lassen County, circa 1915 prior to major logging by the Red River Lumber Company
The forested regions of northern Plumas County and western Lassen County remained in an almost virgin state until the early 1900s. Most of the logging done was for local consumption.
In 1849, an emigrant on the Lassen Trail noted that the forest could not be ignored and wrote, “The pine trees are 10 feet in diameter, and 200 feet high, are common sizes—and they are generally as straight as an arrow. Here the traveler may journey day after day, over needle-carpeted or grassy ground, mostly free of underbrush, amidst great clean shafts of really massive proportions, but giving a sense of lightness by reason of their color, symmetry and great height.”
The following is some promotional 1923 literature courtesy of the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce: Westwood is the big lumber town of the Red River Lumber Company and probably the most unique town in the United States. It is a modern town in every respect and entirely managed by the company. The company owns all the houses and operates all the business enterprises at a small margin of profit. But this system enables the company to furnish its employees with good houses, heat, light, food, education facilities and entertainment at low cost and keeps them satisfied.
The town is located in the midst of the timber area on a level plateau. It is laid out in wide streets lined with pretty homes with here and there a tall pine as a symbol of the industry which supports the town. The big company department store is the largest in Northern California and there is a cafeteria that feeds over a thousand men an hour, and a great club house where the men can spend their leisure hours.
The schools of Westwood are modern and maintain a high scholarship. There is a union church where all sects can worship, and a Catholic church; and there are libraries, clubs and fraternities. In no aspect is Westwood a lumber camp—it is a city built around one industry and it is a permanent city.
The Heath Ranch in Grasshopper Valley, north of Eagle Lake is on the market for $10.9 million dollars. Included in the deal is some 16,000 acres, two reservoirs—Cleghorn and Heath—two historic barns and corrals. If you want to live there, you are going to need some additional funds, since there is no house on the property.
Walker Mine was located in almost the geographical center of Plumas County, part of the regions copper mining belt. There is no connection with the Walkers of the Red River Lumber Company and the mine. In 1909, J.R. Walker, G.L. Bemis and A.H. Bemis filed on the mine site, but did not start development until 1911. It would eventually become a thriving community with over 500 men on the payroll. The good times did not last that long, and in 1942 the mine shut down. Today, not much remains there.
Big Jacks Lake presents a challenge as to how to describe where it is located. It is about six miles south of Dixie Valley, yet a lot of people are not aware of Dixie Valley is located. Big Jacks Lake is about eighteen miles northwest of Spalding Tract as the crow flies.
The size of the lake varies. In dry years it covers approximately twenty acres. In wet years it can swell up to over 300 acres. It was named prior to 1929 after Big Valley rancher, Hiram Courtney Jack (1878-1957). It should be noted that to the west is a Jack Lake and a Little Jack Lake.
Congratulations to Dave Zoller who correctly identified the lake.
