2017 Eagle Lake Levels

December 5, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Gallatin Beach, 1919. Courtesy of Wyn Wachhorst

Some may find this of interest. The lake has only dropped 1.59 feet this year and is 4.21 feet above this time last year. Several of my colleagues, including myself, thought this was rather remarkable. When one considers that the summer was abnormally hot this year, one would assume that due to evaporation the level of the lake would have dropped more. One explanation is that it might be possible that the springs underneath lake have recharged from the previous winter, thus offsetting the evaporation. I want to thank Don Willis, Lassen County Surveyor who on the first of every month monitors the lake level and provided this information.

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History

H.C. Stockton’s Grave

December 4, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Occasionally, I do a Now and Then segment. This one has a unique twist since it involves a cemetery plot. Those who either attended or reviewed the narrative of the Courthouse Centennial Cemetery Tour may recall the last grave visited was that of H.C. Stockton. As a refresher, Stockton was appointed Supervisor in May 1864, along with Eber Bangham and Alvaro Evans to organize the newly created Lassen County. As you can see in the above photograph is his original headstone and below is the replacement.

History

Wendel Post Office

December 3, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

It was a busy day for folks to obtain the last cancellation mark.

It was established on February 10, 1915 with Mrs. Gail H.V. James as postmaster. For the majority of the post office’s existence, Aldah Callahan Riesenman (1893-1978) served as postmaster and Florence Brandon succeeded her. The post office closed on December 3, 1993.

History

The other Westwood

December 2, 2017 Tim Purdy 1 Comment

Yes, there are two Westwoods in California. In the 1920s a subdivision known as Westwood Village was created in Los Angeles. It would soon become home of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Because of UCLA’s medical center, some time’s a person’s place of death is listed at Westwood and some times the Lassen County Recorder will receive an inquiry for a death certificate for a person that died at the other Westwood.

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Give the gift of Lassen County History

December 1, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Fruit Growers Supply Company, Camp 10, Pine Creek Valley, 1932.

Not sure what to give that special someone, but want to keep the budget balanced too? Why not a gift membership to tipurdy.org. At five dollars a month it is a bargain. You can decided whether for a month, quarter or even splurge for a year.
The recipient not only receives a daily email notification of the latest topic, but is entitled to hard to find papers on the Eagle Lake Ice Caves, too. On top of that they can partake in members only tours varying from a summer solstice observance at an ancient solar observatory to a light hearted Halloween Tour. Even if that person on your list is not local, they still receive materials associated with the tours.

Information on subscriptions is found right here. Have a question drop me a line at tim@tipurdy.org.

News

December Preview

November 30, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

There is plenty in store for this month. Some theorize there is link between the Red River Lumber Company and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, so you do not want to miss that post. Along the same lines, a feature about the other Westwood. Then there is the other extreme of the Wendel Séance and the slow dismantling of the Fernley & Lassen Railroad. As usual lots of interesting topics to be explored during this festive month.

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History

A Railroad for Milford, Again?

November 29, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

The Milford Post Office and Store, 1909. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

A month ago, we examined the NCO Railroad proposed railroad line for the west side of the Honey Lake Valley that was abandoned. By 1905, hope was on the horizon with the Western Pacific Railroad when survey crews came through the community. The Western Pacific had looked at two sites to cross the Sierra—Chilcoot or Fredonyer. Alas, Chilcoot was selected. Enter the Red River Lumber Company who wanted a branch line from Doyle to their lumber town of Westwood. It became close to a reality after the Chilcoot Tunnel caught fire in May 1912, but almost does not count.

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History

The 1902 City Speed Limit

November 28, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

South side of the 700 block of Susanville’s Main Street, 1901

The City of Susanville was incorporated in 1900, and with any new institution there was a lot of foundation work to be done. Take for instance speed limits. In 1902, the city passed an ordinance for speeding, the limit set an eight miles per hour whether motorized or not. However, an automobile had yet to grace the streets of Susanville. Bicycles were all are the rage then, some considered them a nuisance. In 1911, the city increased the speed limit to fifteen miles per hour, but it went ignored. On January 10, 1913 the Lassen Advocate noted: “Another man’s dog got under the wheel of a gasoline juggernaut this week. Sooner or later it will be somebody’s child that will fall victim to the speedomaniac’s disregard of the law. Then (maybe) our officers will recognize the difference between forty and twelve miles per hour.”

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History

Camp Lasco

November 27, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

To wrap of the long holiday weekend I share a couple of logging photographs of the Lassen Lumber & Box Company that are provided by Ron Linebarger . Lassen Lumber’s main logging camp, was that of Camp Lasco at the base of Peg leg Mountain that was more or less shuttered in 1929.

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Another shot of the No. 25. Courtesy of Ron Linebarger

History

Pyramid Lake, 1915

November 26, 2017 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Since it is a long holiday weekend, and many might have short attention spans I will keep the post brief. While sifting through the Otto Kratzer photograph collection who worked for a brief time for the Red River Lumber Company from February to May 1915 was this picture of Pyramid Lake. It was taken from the train while Kratzer was enroute to Westwood. While it may not look like much, those familiar with the lake will see the obvious as to how much the lake has dropped in the last 102 years.

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