Hope those that attended had a good time, and for others hope you enjoyed the narrative. We ended up with ideal weather conditions. In addition, Jim Chapman informed those in attendance of the work being done to replace the old archway entrance that was destroyed in the February 5, 2015 windstorm when two trees were toppled and demolished the old entrance. Continue reading Oktoberfest Cemetery Tour
Tis’ that time of year for calendars. This is a bit of deviation from past years. In 1977, I supplied vintage photographs for the Lassen High School’s Graphic Arts calendar. I did that until 2000 when the program was cancelled. In 2011 I resurrected the calendars for the Lassen High Alumni Association, though there interest has gone by the wayside. However, many individuals have expressed interest and so the calendars continue as a solo endeavor.
As always, there is a great line-up historic photographs. Some scenes include the Columbia float in the 4th of July parade of 1906, the 1891 log slide in the Susan River Canyon, Drakesbad 1920s, Gallatin Beach, 1960, Camp Lasco, 1923, the Lassen Monuments, 1920, the Big Store, 1915 and more.
Once upon a time, a person was not confined to deer hunting in a particular zone. By the 1940s with significant improvements to highways and automobiles opened a lot of territory to hunters, once the domain of locals.
The Fruit Growers Supply Company operated lumber mills in Hilt, Susanville and Westwood. While researching its history, I always came across some interesting material. Fruit Growers’ Annual Reports are a wealth of information. Before you think I am losing my sanity writing first about deer hunting and then lumber mills, there is a common thread.
The following is a most interesting excerpt from Fruit Growers’ 1946 Annual Report:
“Much of the country in which Company timber is located is considered to have good deer hunting, and the deer season opens at a time when the woods are in the driest conditions and when the fire hazard is the greatest. The handling of the large influx of people into the general Northern California area during the deer hunting season constitutes a very serious problems to all owners and agencies interested in timberlands. In 1946, hunters and their parties were registered as they entered Lassen County area, and during one week’s time, close to 5,000 automobiles and 13,000 individuals registered as potential deer hunters. Thus more hunters were checked into Lassen County than its normal population. Despite this, the Company was fortunate in its 1946 experience with forest fires.”
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.
Untold Stories will surprise you with a line-up of interesting authors with stories you never heard about. The collection includes tales of buried treasure, hot springs hanky-panky, murder, divorce and more! A variety of untold facets of Lassen County comes to life whether it be Zamboni Hot Springs or Lassen’s Monuments, but not the man. Milford takes center stage during the early 1950s with fire, flood, and snow. In the 1930s, the Army used Honey Lake for aerial training. Military might of the late 20th century comes to light with an ode to the bombing detonations of Sierra Army Depot. In other developments don’t miss Doctor Compton’s failed mineral spring resort for Susanville and Chauncey Smith’s Elixir Springs legacy.
| Untold Stories | 10/1/16 |
| Deer Hunting | 10/2/16 |
| 2017 Calendars | 10/3/16 |
| Susanville’s Kirmess Festival | 10/4/16 |
| The Scottini Family | 10/5/16 |
| Ox Teams | 10/6/16 |
| Susanville’s Banking Crisis | 10/7/16 |
| Where are we? | 10/8/16 |
| Pat O’Dea – The Kangaroo Kicker | 10/9/16 |
| Susanville – Pine Street | 10/10/16 |
| Dixon’s Willow Creek Dam | 10/11/16 |
| Lassen County – Hackstaff | 10/12/16 |
| Susan River Ranch | 10/13/16 |
| To be announced | 10/14/16 |
| Your Topic | 10/15/16 |
| Indian Basket History | 10/16/16 |
| Missouri Bend School | 10/17/16 |
| Moran’s Quest | 10/18/16 |
| Conklin’s Sawmill | 10/19/16 |
| Lassen County – Rongstock Canyon | 10/20/16 |
| Anna Stiles | 10/21/16 |
| Durbin Nursery | 10/22/16 |
| Walker’s Then & Now | 10/23/16 |
| Scottini’s Arrastra Mill | 10/24/16 |
| Standish’s Landmark Store | 10/25/16 |
| Westwood in the movies | 10/26/16 |
| Longville – Plumas County | 10/27/16 |
| Lucerne School – Lassen County | 10/28/16 |
| That old photograph | 10/29/16 |
| Fun, Fun, Fun | 10/30/16 |
| November Preview | 10/31/16 |
Some ranches retain their original name, after the owner is long gone. A perfect is the Bare Ranch in Surprise Valley. In 1864, Thomas Bare established the ranch, sold it in 1880, and it is still known over a century later as the Bare Ranch.
The Lonkey Ranch is not one of those ranches. It was originally known as the San Francisco Ranch, the owners from that city. Lonkey was in the middle, followed by Five Dot. For those not familiar, this ranch is located approximately twelve miles north of Susanville in the Willow Creek Valley. Continue reading Lonkey Ranch
During Red River Lumber Company’s expansion to California, they had number of hurdles to overcome. Since they would be using a different species of pine, than what they had previously used in Minnesota, they had to monumental task to educate their customers. Part of the duty fell to Archie Walker in Minneapolis, and he contacted his cousin, W.B. “Bill” Laughead, who was doing some free-lance advertising work to assist him. At this time, Paul Bunyan was a little known folklore, associated with loggers. The two came up with the idea of Paul Bunyan, and prior to this no one had rendered a drawing of the mythical logger. Continue reading Introducing Paul Bunyan
While many are familiar with McCoy Flat Reservoir along Highway 44, there is another McCoy Flat in Lassen County, This too, was named for another Tehama rancher, Leo Lewis McCoy (1850-1936) who used this area for summer pasture from 1874 to 1913. When he retired in 1913, he sold his ranch of 27,000 acres to Alden Anderson for $150,000.
For the record, this McCoy Flat is located along Pine Creek, just east of Eagle Lake. In 1952, it was the scene of the last of the railroad logging operations of the Fruit Growers Supply Company.
Unfortunately, time had a way passing by, and to date, I had not put together the East Side Honey Lake Tour. Many expressed when I first posted about the proposed tour, that a self guided one, seems best suited to meet everyone’s schedule.
Before you know it, winter will be here, so I will put together a Self Guided East Side Honey Lake Tour. Many may not be aware, but the Eagle Lake Ditch built in 1892, extends all the way to Amedee, so I want to put all these items into the guide. This will allow me plenty of time to give additional contemplation, and I just may make a run on my own to give it a test.
In addition, if there another self guided tour you would like to see developed, let me know.
The details:
Saturday, October 1 – That’s next Saturday!
Time & Location: 1 p.m. the main entrance to the Susanville Cemetery at Pine and Court Streets.
Each of the German immigrant graves we will visit has a unique story, just as individuals we have our own identity. Take for instance that of Daniel Cramer. He was a Civil War veteran, a former Lassen County Supervisor, who was a resident of Modoc County when he passed away. His sister was Effie Jensen, another family that will be discussed, among others. Hope to see you then.
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