In April 1952, Hannah Hulsman gave a unique gift to the community, though it would several months later when it became publicly known.  Without further adieu, the following is the editorial from the Lassen Advocate of July 17, 1952:  Lassen’s Grave.  “A long-time hope of many people of the area has been achieved with assurance of preservation of Peter Lassen’s grave for posterity.

“The entire community owes Miss Hannah Hulsman a genuine vote of thanks for her generosity on donating this historic spot to the Native Daughters of the Golden West. It is a public spirited move for which she will long be remembered.

“The Native Daughters are an appropriate organization to assume charge of the beautiful and history laden spot. It is a scene of beauty–the old and new monuments beneath the thriving pines, green meadows before and dark mountain range behind. Although the giant ponderosa pine on the property is dying and apparently must come down, the smaller pines around will still have a beautiful setting.

“The Native Daughters no doubt will have community cooperation if they need it, in helping make this grave site into an attractive picnic area. The Masons have a particular affection for the memory of Peter Lassen, because he started the first Masonic lodge in California. The monuments were erected by them. And the entire community is interested in such a memorable service project.

“Again many thanks to Miss Hulsman and the Native Daughters for making history continue by preserving one of its major California shrines.”

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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.

April 1, 2014 marked Lassen County’s 150th anniversary. My sesquicentennial gift to the county is a quirky, entertaining look of the past 150 years. As Jane Baxton Little of the Sacramento Bee observed: “Purdy, Lassen’s self-appointed historian, juxtaposes the rural area’s colorful history with its not-so-distant past. He pairs a 1910 sighting of the Honey Lake serpent with the Army’s efforts in 2003 to get rid of the lake and its new monster, reportedly oodles of explosive debris from decades of Army operations. Honey Lake eventually was sold to the state for $8.6 million, a figure Purdy reports was redacted in public documents.

“His sardonic account of the cycles of history does not flatter the democratic process. In 1915 voters approved a $125,000 bond to build a new county courthouse. Its $39 million replacement was completed in 2012 without voter approval.”

For more information about the book and to order click here.