The inspection station at Jacks Valley, ten miles north of Susanville. It operated from 1931-1934. Many folks know the location as the cement water trough on Highway 139.
Most people may not be aware the agricultural inspection stations originated with an alfalfa weevil infestation in the southern portion of Lassen County in 1921. The county originally conducted the operations, and in 1923, the state took over.
The infestations spread and more stations were opened one just west of Susanville near the present day intersection of Highway 36 and Eagle Lake Road. Another one ten miles north of Susanville, just before approaching Willow Creek Valley. These would later be replaced and in 1953, the main station was at Long Valley. In 1976, when the segment of highway 395 was to become a divided highway, the station was in limbo, and the current one was put into place in 1986.
Last year’s invite to the groundbreaking ceremony.
Yesterday marks the second anniversary of the daily postings. The first topic I covered was Roosevelt Pool. At that time the pool was being demolished. A lot has happened since then. I asked Jim Chapman to provide us with an account along the way, and he obliged. So without further ado . . .
After almost two years of going thru every imaginable bureaucratic hoop, the JPA board was finally able to award a Design-Build contract to Modern Building Company Inc (MBC) of Chico for the new pool in late 2015. It must be noted that during the first couple of years of the existence of the JPA, considerable time was spent evaluating potential locations for a new pool, along with the demolition of the old Roosevelt Pool, so the process to begin constructing the new pool really didn’t begin until the middle part of 2015. Resolution 15-07 was adopted on December 3, 2015 authorizing Phase 1 for the design portion, based on months of discussion preceding the action. MBC had 120 days to complete that task. The 120 days ended around the first of April 2016. Based on their initial presentation, another 6 weeks was taken by Jared and his staff to narrow the proposal down to something that fit within the expected budget. One of the big sticking points that frustrated the JPA board was the fact that MBC in putting together the their design, they based it on communications from city staff, and initially designed the pool to be heated by the city natural gas service and not the geothermal resources that are available. Whether it was intentional or not will probably be debated for years to come. So a part of the delay in April and May was necessitated by the fact that MBC had to modify its construction documents to incorporate how to utilize the city geothermal heating system. To the distress of some of the board members, the on-site low-temperature geothermal well that produces 106˚ warm water is not being utilized in the new pool. The on-site well was the water that not only filled the pool, but it heated the original Roosevelt Pool. From its construction in the late 1930s until around 1985, Roosevelt Pool used the on-site well to fill it and keep it warm. Around 1985 the city shifted the heat source to the new city “hot” geothermal well (aka, Richardson-1) located on South Lassen Street near the Susan River producing 180˚ water. The old pool was served on the back end of the city geothermal system loop to maintain the heat in the pool. It is Richardson-1 well that will be the primary heat source for the new pool, with the natural gas system being considered a back-up heat source. One issue still to be worked out between the JPA board and the city is the cost of the domestic water being provided and then heated by the hot geothermal well. When the city operated the old pool, it was an in-house budget and finance issue. Now that the JPA is an independent agency, the city will be treating the service like they would with any other customer. The JPA will have, at some point, decide if it is more feasible to obtain water and heating from the city or to utilize the JPA-owned on-site geothermal well, which sits about 20 feet from the new pool and the new pool house.
Susanville Cemetery entrance prior to the February 5, 2015 windstorm
Two years ago, on February 5, 2015, I launched this website, without much fan fare. Partly due to the fact the region was hit with a violent windstorm, and by that afternoon the region was without power. Even when power was restored, it would still take several days to upload the various archive and cemetery records. In addition, it was a big learning curve for me, and still is, a little more about that later.
On March 1, 2015, I began doing the daily postings. It was not until April after I became a bit more proficient with the daily posts, that the subscription feature appeared. I do thank all of you who subscribe for your support.
Register/Member Log In Feature as some of you have experienced, its not quite functioning. There is a glitch somewhere, that I have not figured it out. At the moment nothing is blocked, but I want to change that so certain posts are available for subscribers only. In addition, I have a 1939 film of the Christensen Ranch operations, that I want to put up, but first I need to fix the register problem.
Main entrance to the Susanville Cemetery, February 8, 2015. A casualty of the windstorm three days prior. I have it on good authority that a new entrance will be placed this spring, or at the latest by Memorial Day.
Onward we go, with a final note. In the month of March, there are a few posts from early 2015 that will appear, for many they will be new. I am hoping by the end of the month, to have sorted through everything in my mother’s house (estate sale pending) and when that occurs I can return to a more normal schedule.
The mill engulfed in flames. Courtesy of Fred Lendman
Susanville’s Paul Bunyan Lumber Company was located in the current neighborhood of Wal-Mart. It was built in 1936 and originally referred to the Cedar Mill, as it was operated by the Springfield Cedar Company.
In 1945, during the long dissolution process of the Red River Lumber Company, one family member, Kenneth Walker continued to carry on in the family business and he took over the Cedar Mill. He also retained Red River’s company Paul Bunyan logo, and he named his new enterprise the Paul Bunyan Lumber Company.
However, it was not too long when disaster struck. A little after midnight on May 22, 1946, Charles Bannerman, the night watchman, signaled the fire alarm. By dawn the mill had been completely destroyed. Like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes, Walker would build a new mill, which was placed into operation on February 16, 1947.
Flanigan, was a railroad town in far eastern Honey Lake Valley, in Washoe County.
Flanigan, 1976, courtesy of Christopher Moody
In the fall of 1909, the Western Pacific Railroad established a station in eastern Honey Lake Valley that they designated as Flanigan. Patrick L. Flanigan was a prominent rancher and former Nevada Senator who had also granted the railroad a right of way across his lands. In 1912, the Southern Pacific began construction of its Fernley & Lassen line, and at Flanigan, their tracks crossed those of the Western Pacific’s. On July 22, 1913, the Flanigan Townsite was recorded with Washoe County on lands that had been recently purchased by Charles A. Ross and George L. Warnken of Oakland, California. As land speculators, Ross & Warnken had high hopes for this town, but they never transpired. In 1916, there was the bright prospect that Flanigan would be linked to a third railroad—the Surprise Valley Railway—but it never materialized. In 1921, a hopeful oil discovery in the area fizzled. Flanigan existed only as a railroad town, its promoters hopes of grandeur diminished as the years passed by. On March 31, 1961, the Flanigan Post Office closed.
Milne Store
On January 2, 1969, the town’s most notable landmark, Gertrude Milne’s combination store and residence, was destroyed by fire. This was followed with another event that year that marked the end of the community. On June 19, 1969, the Bonham School, located at Flanigan, closed. It was the last one-room school house in operation in Washoe County.
Flanigan Real Estate Promotion sign, 1984
Note: This article originally appeared on April 3, 2015. I am selecting some early posts, to fill in while I get my Mother’s affairs organized.
The Riverside School was located near present day Leavitt Lake subdivision, which the area was referred to as Clinton. It was established on May 7, 1883, and was created from the eastern portion of the Johnstonville School District. The school remained in operation until 1958 when it was closed. During the mid-1960s, the schoolhouse was used as a day care center for handicapped children. In the late 1970s, the schoolhouse was moved to Sunnyside Road and converted into a private residence.
Native Daughter’s plaque for Fort Janesville site.
During the Pyramid Lake War of 1860, residents of the Honey Lake Valley took precautions and fortified themselves at different places. At Janesville, the residents built a stockade measuring 63’ x 90’ from pine logs that were12 to 14 feet high. After the fears of Indian attacks had subsided, the fort was used as a private school from 1861-1864. In 1865, the school was abandoned and area residents helped themselves to doors, windows and anything else they wanted. Asa M. Fairfield wrote, “The stockade stood for a good many years and fell down a log at a time.”
Pine Creek at the Spalding bridge, February 21, 2017
I am aware that there are a lot of folks anxious to learn about the level of Eagle Lake. When I have more information on the lake level, I will relay that information. In the meantime, though I wanted to share these two photographs taken recently by a friend of mine.
The flooded Standish district, with Honey Lake in the background, 1952. Courtesy of Betty B. Deal
A while back, I wrote about Hallett Creek, importing water from one basin to another. Well, a lot of folks have had their eyes on Honey Lake. Ironically, in 1868 and 1911, certain Honey Lake residents suggested that a canal be constructed between Honey and Pyramid Lakes. In those two instances, the level of Honey Lake was so high, that many farms around the lake were flooded and it was their intention to drain the excess water to Pyramid. Continue reading I will have that water, please!→
