History

Those Guest Registers

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U.S. Government geologists resting at the summit of Lassen Peak, August 1923 – Carl Caudle Collection

Guest registers are unique historical document and they vary, since one size does not fit all. Today, we examine three.

Roop House Register. In 1856, when Isaac Roop established his trading post along the Nobles Emigrant Trail, which would become the foundation of Susanville, he kept a guest book. This allowed emigrants to write freely. Here is an interesting entry: Sunday, August 31, 1856.  “Another Sabbath has passed on the swift pinions of Time and we are a week nearer eternity.  A few more and we shall have passed smoothly down the stream of life and paid debt of nature. How different then will this far famed Elysian Valley appear! What great and stupendous changes will have taken place?  Where now stands Lassen’s log Cabin, a modern pig sty will have been erected and round the sage covered Ranch will be a rail-worn fence, composed of chiefly of piles of brush.  Who among this generation will be able to recognize this valley?  Echo answers “nary a buggar.”

Lassen Peak. In September 1865, Kendall Bumpass guided a party to Mount Lassen at the request of Watson Chalmers, publisher of Red Bluff Independent newspaper. When the Chalmers party scaled the peak, they found a bottle there that was used as an impromptu register. The jar contained various slips of paper left by previous climbers and the Chalmers party added their names to it. Over the years a guest register was placed on the peak for people to memoralize their trek to the summit. Sometimes the register was supplied by the Sierra Club and other times by the Siffords of Drakesbad. Periodically, the park service conducted surveys to see how many people were climbing it. In 1933, for instance, from July 1 to August 18, 24,561 entered the park. Of that number, 3,725 climbed the peak and written their names in the register. Park officials calculated then that 15 of every 100 visitors climbed the lofty peak.

Max’s Mausoleum. This is an obscure site, created during the filming of a major motion picture in the late 1920s. This was common for commercial movies to be filmed here, but that is another story. Max’s was located in a narrow canyon west of Astor Pass, which is between Pyramid Lake and Honey Lake Valley. A small tunnel was carved into the hillside, about seventy-five feet. An alter was installed. After the production ended, a register was placed.  It is my understanding the register was removed in the early 1970s and donated to the Nevada Historical Society.

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History

1898 Was A Dull Year

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Knoch Building
The 1898 fire that destroyed the Knoch Building

The 1890s were quiet times around these parts. The economy was slow to rebound due to the national depression. However, at that time, Susanville was served by two newspapers (Lassen Advocate and Lassen Weekly Mail) and those editors struggle for content. In the fall there were the county elections that were not dull as there were a full slate of candidates. There was, however, a major castrophic event when the Masonic Temple, that had only been constructed a little over four years ago was destroyed by fire. In the fall, Reno contractor, C.E. Clough inspected the standing stone walls and deemed it to be sound. He was awarded the contract to rebuild the structure.

Tim

History

Scott’s, Lassen County

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Scotts
Scotts, a Western Pacific station in Long Valley. Courtesy of the Nevada Historical Society

Yesterday, I wrote about Eslie Cann while working at the Nevada Historical Society would send information and copies of photographs from time to time. The above photograph was one of them. The story does not end there. In 2002, during the preparation of my book  Lassen County Almanac: An Historical Encyclopedia I contacted the Nevada Historical Society requesting permission to publish this photograph. Their reply was unexpected. They informed me that they did not have that photograph in their collection anymore. They stated that they discarded some border counties photographs.

As to, Scott’s it was a little known Western Pacific Station in Long Valley. It was located about three miles south of Constantia. It was so named for Charles and Franceska Scott who located there in 1901, from Fish Springs, Nevada. With the railroad station, they decided to open a general store and even established the Scotts Post Office. The post office only operated from 1912 to 1916. In 1918, they sold their 3,160-acre ranch to Antonio Saralegui.

Tim

History, News

Gratitude Day-A Remarkable Trio

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Knoch Building
Construction of the $20,000 Masonic Hal in 1893-Philip S. Hall

Today, is World Gratitude Day and I grateful for so many things. Of course, there have been so many people that have  enriched my life while researching and preserving this rich history.

While they are no longer with us, I want take this opportunity to thank a trio of people and who are intertwined–Eslie Cann, Philip Hall and R.B. “Doc” Tangeman.

Ramelli butter wrapper. Courtesy of Eslie Cann

Eslie was a part of the Ramelli family of Long and Sierra Valleys. When I first met her, she was working at the Nevada Historical Society. It should be noted, that I began my research at a very young age. Anyhow, whenever she spotted something whether it a newspaper article of the late1800s and or new photograph acquisition that pertained to the Lassen region she would send a copy  to me.

Two  Nevada Historical Society members, were Lassenites. Phil Hall, who was born at Constantia in 1909 and Doc Tangemen, a well known and respected veterinarian. It was through Elsie that I really got know these two fine men. Of course, things change. Eslie retired and moved to Long Valley, next to her daughter and son-in-law, Corinne and John Matley.  In 1994, Phil moved to Forestville to be near his family. Doc from time to time would visit Phil, and upon his return to Susanville, Doc would deliver to me a manila envelope from Phil of historic photographs.

These folks were so precious, and I am forever grateful to them.

Tim

 

History

Lassen County Courthouse Dedication

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Lassen County Courthouse, spring 1917. Courtesy of Elberta M. Fraley

On Friday September  21, 1917 at 2:00 p.m. dedication ceremonies were held for the new Lassen County Courthouse. It was a grand affair, as it was the Second Annual Meeting of Northern California Counties’ Association that was held in Susanville. Those counties included Modoc.Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity. The dedication was a short affair, only three speakers, the notable one was Attorney Grover C. Julian.* The public was  then invited to tour the building.

It should be noted, that many offices were not fully furnished, and that would not be accomplished until late October. The sidewalks and the retaining walls were not built until 1918.

Note: The initial building took 18 months to complete at a cost $125,000. In 2019 the courthouse renovation began, not to be confused, with a  restoration. Its been six years now, at a cost of  well over $8 million and the building sits vacant

Tim

*Ask me when you see me, I can inform you about courthouse Julian collection.

History

A Rare Portrait – Mattie Jackson Ives

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Mattie Jackson Ives, circa 1895 – June Chappuis

It was a rarity for local Native Americans to have a professional photographer take their portrait in the late 1800s. This was case of Mattie Jackson, a Maidu. She was born circa 1878 in Susanville, the daughter of Sam Jackson and Chief Daughter. A number of local Maidu and Paiute women worked as domestic for their Anglo counterparts. Her employer, might have been instrumental is having this professional photograph taken.

In 1900 Mattie married Pete Ives. who he was of mixed race, his father was Anglo and his mother Native American. They had one child, Douglas.

Mattie’s death certificate

The Ives family spent their life between Janesville and Willow Creek Valley. Mattie died at Willow Creek  on September 2, 1932 and is buried at the Indian Cemetery near the Jackson family home in Willow Creek Valley.

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History

Terrace, Shadow and Cliff Lake, Lassen Park

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Shadow Lake

It is shoulder season for travelers, hikers etc. It is excellent time for adventures. The trio lakes at Lassen Park–Terrace, Shadow and Cliff- is the perfect opportunity to visit.  Situated at 8,000 feet, in July one can still encounter snow. Terrace and  Shadow close by and are only a half mile from the main park road. Cliff is about a mile beyond that, and they all have their unique qualities.

Tim

History

Eagle Lake – The Fritter Orchard

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J.W. Fritter (left) and John Hamilton (right) at Fritter’s peach orchard, Eagle Lake—-Rev. C.R. Fritter

In 1884, J.W. Fritter located on a 160-acre homestead on the northeast end of Eagle Lake.  In 1903, he planted an apple and peach orchard. Whether growing fruit or vegetables, Eagle Lake’s elevation and short growing season present a challenge. Fritter’s orchard was a sought after commodity.

Fritter Ranch, Eagle Lake, 1921. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

The Lassen Advocate of September 1914 reported: “Fine Apples From Eagle Lake. The Advocate is pleased to acknowledge receipt of some fine apples on the Fritter place at Eagle Lake. J.S. Hamilton has the placed leased and brought the apples in a few days ago. They are of the Bellflower family, one of them is known as the Summer Bellflower and other  as the Red Bellflower. They are large and beautiful specimens of the fruit grown on the Fritter place, over five thousand feet above sea level. Such apples have the prime requisites, color, flavor and keeping qualities.”

Tim

History

Oregon Short Line Railroad

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Southern Pacific Railroad surveyors sitting on the front steps of Amedee Hotel, 1911-Aldah Riesenman

In 1900, the Oregon Short Line Railroad was organized. It proposed to build a railroad fromThe Dalles, on the Columbia River to Lakeview in the same state. From there it remained undecided as to a final destination in California. For reasons unknown the Oregon Short Line was “mothballed” for several years. Then, out of nowhere, the project was revived. In the fall of 1907, the Oregon Short Line sent thirty surveyors  to examine the territory and locate routes from Alturas in a southwest direction to Vina, Tehama County, a distance of 179 miles. The survey crew also examined other routes, one being through the Susan River Canyon into the Honey Lake Valley, just as the Western Pacific had done.

On April 28, 1908, the Goose Lake & Southern Railway took over the Oregon. Short Line’s California route. It proposed a main line from Alturas to Anderson, Shasta County, a distance of 227 miles, and a branch line from Alturas to Vina, via western Lassen County and Deer Creek. In the fall of 1909, the Goose Lake & Southern announced the surveys were completed and that applications had been made for rights-of-way across government lands.

On February 28, 1913, the Goose Lake and Southern Pacific Railway granted the proposed line to their parent company the Central Pacific Railway. By this time, the Central Pacific had another subsidiary in operation, namely the Fernley & Lassen Railway. That line was already in the process of being  constructed and the Goose Lake was abandoned.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past