History

Honey Lake’s Dragoon Bridge

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Looking north along Willow Creek towards the site of Dragoon Bridge, April 19, 2016.
Looking north along Willow Creek towards the site of Dragoon Bridge, April 19, 2016.

In the fall of 1856, Levi Breed set up a trading post on the Nobles Emigrant Trail where it crosses Willow Creek, just north where the current Lassen County road A-27 crosses Willow Creek.  It was second one for the Honey Lake Valley. The following year he located to Janesville and became that community’s largest merchant for a number of years.

It was the military that came along next to locate on Breed’s abandoned post. In 1859, a military station, under the leadership of First Lt Milton T. Carr, A 1 Dragoons, was established at the Willow Creek crossing. Its main purpose was to protect the travelers on the Nobles Emigrant Road.  “Dragoon” is the name for a mounted soldier or cavalryman.The following year, it was replaced by Soldier’s Bridge which was located further to the east and along the Susan River.

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History

Susanville – Brashear Street

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The Brashear Residence on the corner of South Lassen & Brashear Streets. Taken on June 11, 1979 when the house was being torn down.
The Brashear Residence on the corner of South Lassen & Brashear Streets. Taken on June 11, 1979 when the house was being torn down.

In 1906, Brashear Street became the first new street inside the original town plat. There would be only three other streets inside the original city limits to be created. There is something the reader can contemplate which were the others.

William Brashear owned all of Block 32 and segments of Blocks 24 and 31. These had never subdivided into lots. With the pending arrival of the railroad, that all changed. It was prime residential property, as it provided some of the best views of the area.  In 1911, J.W. Scott, a realtor subdivided the lots on the east side of Gay Street around to Brashear. It became one of the town’s first upscale developments. The initial deed restriction required all houses built cost at least $1,000.

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History

Madeline Plains – Horne Ranch

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Horne Ranch, 2003
Horne Ranch, 2003

In 1870, Frank Eben Horne became one of the first settlers of the Madeline Plains. Horne retired from his ranch in 1905 and turned it over to his sons. On March 28, 1917, Frank L. Horne, William R. Horne, and Arthur T. Horne, along with Raglan Tuttle and Grant M. Lorraine, formed the Horne Development Company. On April 27, 1927, the Farmers & Merchants National Bank of Reno, Nevada, foreclosed on the Horne Development Company for $38,791.11 and became the owners of the Horne Ranch. It should be duly the Glade Post Office was located there from 1908 to 1918.

In the 1990s, the ranch had a new lease on life when it was incorporated in R.C. Robert’s Spanish Springs development. This and other properties were made available to guests, whether their interest was equestrian pursuits, hunting, etc.

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History

Horse Lake

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Horse Lake, 1916. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal
Horse Lake, 1916. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

In 1916, William L. Wales, engineer for the Honey Lake Valley Irrigation District, looked at non-traditional water supply sources to reclaim the desert lands of eastern Honey Lake Valley. After all, other sources of water had been claimed.

Wales examined Horse Lake and wrote: “Horse Lake and it’s watershed of 115.2 square miles, laying just east of Eagle Lake, offer very good opportunities for a portion of the water supply. This lake has an area of 3520 acres at an average depth of six feet. According to a statement of a man living near the lake, it has not been dry but twice in sixty years. A shallow cut has been dug through the east rim connecting with a creek leading into Pete’s Valley. No doubt more than enough water has flowed out through this cut to offset the deficiency of the dry years.”

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History

Susanville’s Sierra Theater

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Sierra Theater. Courtesy of Hank Martinez
Sierra Theater. Courtesy of Hank Martinez

On August 7, 1934 during a special session of the Susanville City Council they condemned the Liberty Theater, after state inspectors stated it was unsafe. Two day’s later the theater would close, and it was only fitting the film shown that day was “The Party’s Over.” It should be noted that the Liberty was built in 1921 and in 1924 it was purchased by T & D Enterprises.

In late September, demolition began on the Liberty Theater and it was announced a new theater would be built on the site of the old one, to be named Sierra Theater. Construction on the concrete re-inforced theater began in October, and the owners noted it was earthquake proof, the first of its kind in Susanville. On Friday, March 8, 1935 a grand opening was held for $75,000 theater. The first showing was appropriately a film named, “The Whole Town’s Talking.”

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History

Lassen High Alumni – 2016

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Lassen High faculty and student skiers, 1917. D.M. Durst Collection
Lassen High faculty and student skiers, 1917. D.M. Durst Collection

Something a little bit different. On the third Saturday of June, the Lassen High Alumni Association holds it all alumni picnic in Susanville. Alumni come far and near to attend this event, some 400+. For me its always been fun, and I can conduct a lot of historical research in one afternoon. For your reading enjoyment, I provide you with the Alumni’s April newsletter, which has a lot of interesting reading material, including a Remember When column penned by yours truly.  Clink on the link below to open the PDF file.

Alumni Newsletter Apr 2016-3

 

News

Your Topic

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Flanigan
Flanigan. Courtesy of Robert M. Hanft

On a quarterly basis,  I ask you, the reader, if there is something you would like to learn more about or maybe its something you heard but question its validity.  So here is an opportunity to participate. I will do my best to answer any questions. It should be noted, it may take awhile for the answer to appear as a post. The primary reason, many of the daily posts are done nearly a month in advance. For instance, this item was composed on March 3, 2016.  So by the time you read this, I am already working on posts in the middle of June. Whatever the case may be, I look forward to hearing from you. Of course, it should be noted that paid subscribers requests receive priority. In addition, you can always send an request at any time.

The topics readers wanted to learn about are a wide range from the Susanville Coca Cola Plant to the Shinn Ranch. However, recently I have received a request about the Lone Pine Mine on Gold Run which ties in with the Wild Horse Mines of Smoke Creek. Also of note, mining on Diamond Mountain is one of the many topics to be discussed on the forthcoming Inspiration Point Tour.

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News

A new Susanville book

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Jonas470

Sandra Jonas who has spent years researching Susan Roop Arnold has come full circle and published her work. While I recently purchased a copy, and I have not yet had an opportunity to read it. As a matter of fact, I have a bit of back log of reading material. It has been nearly a month now since I received the last of Glenn Wemple’s memoirs to review, which I do need to focus on, along with a host of other matters.

Sandra will be doing a book signing on Saturday April 16, 2016 from 1-3 at Margie’s Book Nook, 722 Main Street, Susanville. If you are out of the area or cannot make it give Margie’s a call, 530-257-2392 to have them reserve a signed copy for you.

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History

Ravendale

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Early day Ravendale. Courtesy of Dorothy Capezzoli
Early day Ravendale. Courtesy of Dorothy Capezzoli

It was the last of three towns established on the Madeline Plains.  It was reported that the end of February 1910,  that the new station of Ravendale  was rapidly being built and rumor had it that it was to become a division point for the NCO railroad.  It was also stated that J.H. Williams and G. Horton were surveying a town plat.  Whatever the case may be, it was not until  November 15, 1913, the official town plat of Ravendale, on lands owned by Jim Coe, was surveyed and recorded with the County. According to Madeline Plains historian, Don Garate, the name Coeville had been suggested for the new town, but Laura Coe already chosen a name—Ravendale.

By the way, in Susanville you can purchase Don Garate’s book Red Rock to Ravendale at Margie’s Book Nook.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past