Depending upon one’s circumstances in life, we all share a common ground with the passing of each generation. Leonard Pitts, a Miami Herald columnist recently wrote a story about this with the passing of Aunt, the last family member of his parent’s generation. I thought it was rather poignant and you can read the story here.
There are a handful posts that I repeat each year, and for good reason. With summer weather upon us, it is an ideal time to check out the many wonders that surround the residents of the Lassen Region. I hope this editorial from the Lassen Advocate of June 21, 1929 will inspire you to explore the wonderful country around us.
Know Your Country
If you were wondering what to do with your weekends this summer, have you ever given any thought to the fact that you don’t know your own county and the wonderful lake and mountain country immediately contiguous. Continue reading Go Exploring
First of all, today I want to extend a Happy 95th Birthday to Susanville native, Arthur Cahlan Mathews. Art’s father, Arthur J. Mathews, a San Francisco native went to investigate some issues in Reno, Nevada. There he met W.E. Hills and Scott Hendricks. In the spring of 1910 they formed the California Northern Telephone and Telegraph Company to provide for telephone service for Northeastern California. That fall the Town of Susanville granted the company a fifty-year franchise. On September 13, 1911, Susanville residents could call long distance anywhere in California.
1924 was one of the driest years on record in California. To have a better comprehension how dry it was, the highway between Susanville and Westwood remained opened all winter and it was not until the winter of 1929 when the highway implemented winter snow removal. In March 1924 when a few inches of snow fell in Westwood it was met with great excitement. By May with hardly any winter precipitation, problems no one thought would ever happen occurred. Duck Lake, the main water source for Goodrich Creek, which was Westwood’s water supply went dry. On May 10, Fletcher wrote “The water supply for the Town is failing us quite rapidly and it is now a race to get water from Clint’s Camping Ground Spring [Clear Creek] before the Goodrich Ditch water fails us.
“We are running the Town on meal hours so every one can get water for their meals and then closing it off. To do this requires water taken from the millpond. We are sure up against a real dry season as indicated by the Buck Brush and Manzanita leaves curling up and turning black. Springs that have heretofore been dependable are failing.”
As Walter Luff Jr., recalled during the 1924 drought they used the millpond water to bathe with and he stated the water tasted like turpentine. Relief came in the summer, when a pipeline was placed to bring water from Clear Creek to Westwood.
Susanville’s Farmers Market returns today for the season. It is temporary being relocated on North Gay Street, next to the Bank of America parking lot, while Pancera Plaza is being renovated.
It was my intent to share some interesting historical production figure from the Honey Lake Valley agricultural community in the 1920s. However, I have misplaced my notes. I was hoping to locate them over Memorial Day weekend, since I tackled a backlog of filings, but they did not surface. When they do, I will post the same.
This evening will mark the 110th commencement exercises at Lassen Union High School. One hundred years ago on June 1, 1917, seven graduates received their diplomas: Myrtle Doyle, Helen Woodward, Alma Frawley, Stella Glass, Pauline Ruf, Mildred Zimmerman and George Winchester.
It was a simple ceremony with a handful speeches, beginning with the invocation by Rev. R.N. Rowe. In between speeches were two different musical solos, one by Esther Gilman and the other by Dr. F.D. Walsh. The commencement address was delivered by Lassen County District Attorney, J.A. Pardee.
Juniper Lake located in Lassen Volcanic National Park’s east side, is the largest lake in the park. For park officials it was one of their troublesome “inholdings,” private property inside the park. In 1914, San Francisco resident Charles P. Snell purchased 475 acres that included Juniper Lake for $2,500. Snell was bound and determined to establish a Juniper Lake Resort, along with summer cabins, which he did. In 1924, he created the Lassen National Park Country Club and leased his properties to this entity. Snell thought it would give an air of sophistication to the place that would entice buyers for cabin sites. It did not work. In the future, we will explore more about Juniper Lake.
Normally, as a rule, I have thirty-day postings prepared, but this has been a chaotic year for me, so I am hoping that matters will finally settle down, and I can get some semblance back. Among the issues we will be exploring is Lassen High School’s 1917 graduation, the 1978 Westwood Cemetery Dispute, Lassen Volcanic Ash fallout and more.
Readers may recall back in January that I posed a question about Bly Tunnel and the geology. On the inlet side of the lake the tailing piles is a granitic type of sand, which is typical of Sierra Nevada. In April, I asked Michael Clynne of U.S.G.S. to explain some of the geology of the Eagle Lake basin. As it turns a portion of the basin is a spillover of Sierra Nevada. The Brockman Flat Lava flow occurred some 125,000 years ago, prior to the formation of the lake. It extended to what is the area of Bly Tunnel. In essence the lava flow capped over the Sierra Nevada, thus answering my question.
On February 5, 2015, the region experienced a major windstorm. One of the casualties was the main entrance to the Susanville Cemetery. The goal was to have a new entrance in place for this year’s Memorial Day. The goal now is for September 16, as part of the Lassen County Courthouse Centennial celebration, which yours truly will be conducting a cemetery tour on that date.
