Those skinny Susanville kids

Lincoln School
Lincoln School, 1924
Today, there are frequent news reports about obesity in children and adults. This was not always the case. In January 1930, 682 students of the Susanville Elementary School District were weighed and measured and it was found that over one-fourth were under weight. This was considered an alarming figure and it was decided that the children be give proper rest periods after school. In addition, it was recommended the children be given milk and lunch at school.

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Sheep Camps

McCoy headquarters at Bridge Creek, circa 1906. Courtesy of the Worley/Crum family.

As mentioned about the story of the Worley Ranch, how the sheep industry played a prominent role in Lassen County. Many of these outfits used the region for summer range, returning to lower elevations for the winter. Many of these camps were rather primitive, usually just a log cabin. As shown above was the camp of Galen Clark McCoy whose headquarters was at Bridge Creek and for whom the nearby McCoy Flat Reservoir is named for. Stanford University had two sheep camps along Pine Creek, north of Camp 10, which was unusual. The majority of these camps were abandoned in the 1920s, and nature has reclaimed the sites.

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Life in the fast lane

Susanville photographer Jervie Eastman was certainly in the slow lane the day this photograph was taken. Courtesy of Eleanor Vandeburgh.

As the old saying goes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” While doing some research, I came across this short, but interesting tidbit in 1930, that many people had hectic lifestyle.

“And you think we live in fast times. Its not the high speed of present day civilization that is causing many persons to die of heart disease. Such is the belief of Dr. George E. Bright of San Francisco, member of the state board of health. More persons die of this ailment he says because people are living longer than they formally did and heart disease an affliction usually associated with old age, carries them off.”

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All those bars!

The Bank Club, Susanville. Courtesy of Hank Martinez

Yesterday, I duly noted the large number of gas/service stations, well there was a large concentration of bars in the uptown district. From Weatherlow Street to Roop Street there was: Manuel’s, Marion’s, Round Up Room, the 802, State, Pioneer, Western Room and the B&B. There was the Bank Club, but that was before my time. Then, if you wanted to be discreet, you could get a drink at the Grand Cafe. Today, there is only one, Lassen Ale Works at the Pioneer.

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Gas Stations Galore!

Hudson’s Service Station, 504 Main Street, Susanville, California.

Seasoned residents will recall that it seemed like there was a gas station on nearly every corner of Susanville’s Main Street back in the 1950s and 1960s. Actually, the proper term at that time was “service station.” If one approached Susanville from the west, one of the first items they would see, was not one, but two service stations at the intersection of Main and Roop Streets.  At 504 Main Street was a Union 76 Station and kitty-corner and next to Doyle Motors was a Shell Station.

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A Lonely Job

George Moore digging out a speeder at Camp 10, January 10, 1952.

Fruit Growers Supply Company’s Camp 10, located in Pine Creek Valley, west of Eagle Lake was a lively outpost from spring through fall, where over 200 people called it home. For a time it could even boast its own voting precinct. Yet, when the logging season ended, Camp 10 was de-populated, except for one lone soul. A caretaker was hired to keep an eye on everything. In the winter of 1951-52, George Moore was Camp 10 sole resident. The position would soon be eliminated as at the end of the 1952 logging season Camp 10 closed for good.

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Camp 10 cabins, January 10, 1952.

Roosevelt Pool Revisited

800 South Street, Susanville

Three years ago today, I started the daily postings. At that time the hot topic was the Roosevelt Pool that was in the final stages of demolition. Each subsequent March 1, I did a follow up on the status of the replacement pool. The Roosevelt has been reincarnated as the Honey Lake Valley Community Pool. It is a joint effort between the city and county and I will spare the dear reader of the gory details of meetings that finally led to its creation. More importantly the community now has a swimming pool, located adjacent to the site of the old one. When the temperatures starts rising this summer, stop by and check it out.

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March Preview

Pete’s Creek, 1916. Courtesy of Betty B. Deal

As usual there is an interesting line-up of topics for March.  There is Eagle Lake Architecture, the Red River Lumber Company’s rumor mill, the proposed dumping ground in eastern Honey Lake Valley of the 1960s, the Amedee Lime Kilns to broaden one’s horizon about the area’s diverse and rich heritage.

However, fasten your seat belt, because it is going to be a bumpy ride. I am in a transition period between my old computer and a new one.  There might be some interruptions or other items that go haywire, due not only to the upgraded software, which also effects the particular Word Press that is used for this site.  The last few months have been a substantial learning curve and I still have a ways to go.

Thanks not only for patience, but your continued support.

Tim

Rosendale – Lassen County

Amedee, 1913. Courtesy of Tom Armstrong

While today, the east side of Honey Lake may look bleak and barren, it was not always the case and there were numerous attempts to develop it. In 1915, Rosendal Minster envisioned a Scandinavian settlement south of Amedee. Minster had a lease/option to purchase the lands and the pumping plant of the Standish Water Company. He then formed the Farmer’s Land Company to operate the holdings.. The properties were split into 40-acre tracts with a price range of $45 to $65 per acre. The new settlement was named Rosendale. While Minster vigorously promoted the project, but due to debts he quickly accrued, he abandoned it the following year.

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Hayden Hill’s Last Hurrah

Hayden Hill. Amex

In 1991, Amax Gold Inc. proposed to Lassen County officials their intention to again start up the mining activity at Hayden Hill. It was their intention to literally remove the hill and to extract gold and silver with a cyanide leach ponds. Amax formed a subsidiary company, Lassen Gold Mining, to undertake the enterprise. Lassen Gold carried out the mining operations on the Hill from 1992 to 1997. According to Company figures, approximately 510,000 ounces of gold and 1.4 million ounces were extracted.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past