History

Susanville – 30 South Roop Street

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Lassen County Times, April 7, 1979.
In the early 1920s, chain stores began to make their appearance in Susanville. Reactions, or course, were mixed. Many a consumer enjoyed the new shopping experience with not only a wider selection of goods, but they found the price right, too. There were the loyalist crowd, that remained with their old independent pioneer merchant, who took care of the, through good and bad times, the latter that merchant would provide a line credit. However, changes were inevitable, one either adapted or perished.

These new stores also changed the appearance of the town. In the spring of 1940, Cliff Gledhill, moved a historic 1870s residence from 30 South Roop, to the farthest end of that street. Shortly thereafter, construction began on a small concrete building on the vacant lot he created. On May 22, 1940, Gledhill opened the doors there to his new enterprise, a Western Auto Store. Over the years, the building has had many occupants. Seasoned residents will know it as the office of Dr. C.I. Burnett, and for the past few decades it has been the CPA office of Carol J. Curry.

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History

Hotel Mt. Lassen Fire

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The aftermath. Courtesy of Margaret A. Purdy
It was seventy years today when the Hotel Mt. Lassen in Susanville was destroyed by fire. In 1902, Susanville passed an ordinance that all future buildings constructed in the business district be built of fire-proof material, whether brick, masonry or native stone. In time, this greatly reduced major fires. For nearly twenty years, the district did not experience any major fires, until one broke out in the basement of the Hotel Mt. Lassen on July 24, 1947. The building was completely gutted, two employees perished in the blaze and with damages at $700,000. It was the costliest fire to date in Susanville.

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History

Jensen Barn

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The Jensen barn, 1900. Courtesy of Abe Jensen
The Jensen barn, 1900. Courtesy of Abe Jensen

Over the course of time the region has seen a wide variety of barn styles. Some had lasted through time and others not, for one reason or another.

In 1864, a German immigrant, Jurgen Jensen located in Susanville, where entered into a partnership with William Brockman, to operate a blacksmith shop. In the ensuing years, the two men, went off on their own, each locating on property along Johnstonville Road.

In 1891, Jensen had a large three-story barn built on his ranch. On September 11, 1923, the barn was destroyed by fire and it was believed to be caused by spontaneous combustion. Stored inside was 200 tons of hay, valued at that time around $3,500. The barn was insured for $1,500, but it was not enough to cover the cost to replace it.

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History

Camp B – Fruit Growers

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Camp B
Camp B

When Fruit Growers established their Lassen Operation they purchased two billion board feet of timber to the west of Eagle Lake. In 1921, Fruit Growers established its second logging camp, designated as Camp B. Many of their camps were portable in nature, in that once an area was logged, the cabins and other buildings could be conveniently be put on railroad cars and moved to the next location.

log train Camp B
Train load of logs leaving Camp B

Camp B was unique as it was a mixture of both portable and permanent buildings. It was one of their largest camps that could house over 300 men. While the camp closed by 1926, its concrete foundations for the commissary, along with other remnants can still be seen today. Fruit Growers had a reputation of taking good care of their employees. This was evident at Camp B whereby motion pictures were shown. In addition, the logging camps even had their own baseball teams. This is rather amazing since these men who worked ten to twelve hours a day, six days a week still had the energy left to play ball.

 

History

Highway 36

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Highway 36 Fredonyer
The road over Fredonyer as it appeared in 1914.

In 1903, the first automobile traveled through Lassen County. Ten years later the car craze struck the region, as it did the rest of the state. These new car owners were anxious to travel, but the old wagons roads of yore, was not acceptable. In 1916, the voters of California passed an $18 million bond measure that led to the beginning of the state highway movement. Construction slowly began on Highway 36 and one of the momentous occasions occurred in 1923. It was the completion of the $45,000 concrete arch bridge over the Susan River at Devil’s Corral. In the summer of 1929, the last link of the highway between Red Bluff and Susanville was completed with a realignment of the roadway near Coppervale. The process to build the highway took nearly twelve years at a cost of a million dollars. The state initially designated as Highway No. 29 and in 1935 it was changed to Highway No. 36. Another important aspect when the highway was completed that state did snow removal to keep the highway open year around.

Devil's Corral Bridge
Devil’s Corral Bridge
History

Mill Creek Store

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Mill Creek Store. Courtesy of Margaret A. Purdy
Located in neighboring Tehama County, it is better known as the Mill Creek Resort today. It was established some time in the 1930s, no doubt influenced with the various improvements at Lassen Volcanic National Park. I do not have much information, but at least I wanted to share the photograph. In addition, if any one has information about this place they would like to share, here is a perfect opportunity.

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History

Where are we? The answer

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Pine Creek, June 9, 2017
The responses were rather interesting with a near split between Pine and Willow Creek. Yes, it is Pine Creek, taken on June 9, 2017 at the bridge on County Road A-1. Prior to the Brockman Flat Law flow of some 125,000 years, Pine and Willow Creeks were one. A portion of this lava flow extends to the east side of the lake near Bly Tunnel. It created a natural dam, and thus Pine Creek began to flood the area known today as Eagle Lake.

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History

Jackson Pollock

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Diamond Mountain Inn
Diamond Mountain Inn as it appeared in the 1920s and was located next to the Masonic Hall. It was destroyed by a fire in 1931.

In January 1920, LeRoy Pollock purchased the Diamond Mountain Inn, a 22-room two story hotel, along with 140 acres at Janesville from J.B. and Katherine Rice for $6,000. The Inn, was originally just known as the Janesville Hotel and was built in 1872 by Dennis Tanner. While the transaction was noteworthy, one of residents would later become well-known in the art world, Jackson Pollock. Continue reading Jackson Pollock →

History

Drakesbad & the Sifford Family

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Drakesbad, circa 1930. Courtesy of the Sifford Collection
Drakesbad, circa 1930. Courtesy of the Sifford Collection

In February, I inaugurated  a book-of-the-month, that featured Sagebrush Reflections. After all proceeds from book sales not only help support operations, but help finance future publications, in this case the stories behind the brands of the Pioneer.

Sixty Years of Siffords at Drakesbad is Roy Sifford’s memoirs of the six decades the family operated the famed resort inside Lassen Volcanic National Park.  How the family acquired it in 1900, happened by accident. Roy’s father, Alexander Sifford was a school teacher by day, and a bank accountant by night  In June 1900, he was just worn out. Friends suggested that he should, “Go to Drakes to camp, drink those hot and soda waters and it will help you.” And he did. So impressed by his experience, he convinced the 70-year old E.R. Drake to sale the springs and the rustic lodge. On June 20, 1900 the Siffords took possession and would remain at the helm until 1959 when Lassen Park took over Drakesbad. Of course, a lot things transpired over the years, it was in 1914, it was officially named Drakesbad, and in 1938, the original lodge was destroyed by the heavy snows, and a new one built.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past