Today marks the beginning of meteorological summer. In advertising circles, Memorial Day Weekend is in the unofficial start of summer. Yet, it the Summer Solstice does not occur on June 20, this year.
Whatever the case may be, with longer daylight hours, warmer temperatures and the school year coming to an end, a lot of people have the tendency to travel. California is a large and geographical diverse state. It has 58 counties and 280 state parks. Yet, five counties do not have a state park–Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Sierra and Siskiyou. The other common trait of these counties that they are border counties.
Log rolling contest at Willards. Couresy of D.B. Martin
In the late 1940s, Paul Bunyan Days was a logging competition held not only at Lassen College, but other community colleges that had forestry programs. Tom Gilfoy who graduated from Lassen in 1951, said it was Ralph Throop who was instrumental in starting Paul Bunyan Days at Lassen. At that time it was held behind the high school, since the college was located on the same property. Tom stated they made an impromptu dam on the Susan River for log pond events that included log rolling. Other contests involved burling, pole climbing and two-man bucking saw., In 1950, Rex Coalson was the overall winner, followed by Ted Pankey in 1951.
Some time in the late 1960s, no doubt due in part that Lassen College separated from Lassen High School, the Paul Bunyan Days was moved to Willard Creek. It was rather fitting since in 1938, it was the forestry students who developed the Willard Hill ski area, later converted into a sled hill. Mike Moyers who later taught at Lassen stated that around 1981 or 1982 was when the last Paul Bunyan Days was held. In 1984, the forestry program at the college was terminated due to lack of students.
When Lassen Peak first erupted on May 30, 1914, it grabbed the nation’s attention. Of course, poets and writers had a field day exploring the topic. The above poem is an example.
One of Red River Lumber Company’s early public buildings in Westwood was the auditorium located at northeast corner of Birch and Fourth Streets. It was in December 1917 when Red River unveiled the plans for a multi-purpose building. This much needed facility would house a fully equipped gymnasium, lodge rooms to accommodate its growing fraternal organizations, Billiard rooms and other spaces devoted for readings and meetings. The goal was have it completed by the spring of 1918, but Red River noted it could be delayed for a number of reasons due to the impacts created to meet the needs associated with World War I.
The Auditorium was put on hold, much to dismay of the residents. In January 1920, Garfield Oates, Red River’s resident engineer, announced that the plans for the Auditorium were being modified and construction would begin shortly. On May 29, 1920, the highly anticipated opening of the $30,000 Auditorium was held–by far the most expensive public building built in Westwood to date.
On the first floor was its most notable feature being a large dance floor measuring 48 by 96 feet. In the Auditorium’s later years the dance floor was converted into roller staking rink. By the early 1970s, the building was its showing its age. In 1973 the Lassen County Assessor deemed to building of no value. By the late 1970s the building was demolished. Many Westwood residents could not remember a year, but it has been gone by 1980, when the shuttered nearby Westwood Theater re-opened as the Red River Pub.
Fruit Growers Powerhouse under construction, 1920 – Courtesy of Ed Standard
In 1910, a partnership was formed between Abel Bunnell, L.R. Cady and J.E. Pardee known as the Lassen Electric Company. It should be noted, in 1901, electrical service were offered to Susanville residents. The anticipated growth with the imminent arrival of the railroad meant a larger more reliable electric plant was needed. A solution was found at Bunnell Springs, six miles west of Susanville The springs could provide sufficient hydro power. A plant was constructed at Bunnell Ranch and placed into operation on June 11, 1910. It had a capacity of 150 kilowatts, twice the capacity of the old system. In 1920, the Lassen Electric was sold to the Red River Lumber Company. This was done to meet the demands of the fast growing community. Red River, after all, had its own extra power to supply Susanville. In the summer of 1920, Red River spent $100,000 to build the transmission lines from Westwood to Susanville. In 1924, Lassen Electric reached an agreement for Fruit Growers and Lassen Lumber Box to provide for back up power.
The grave of Charles Crawford, July 1, 2020—Larry Plaster
During the spring of 1858 relations between the Maidu and Washo tribes and the Anglo settlers were tense due to the Indians driving away the Anglo’s livestock. In May 1858, the Indians drove a yoke of oxen from Manly Thompson, near Janesville and for whom Thompson Peak is named for. The oxen were driven over the mountain. A posse of nine men formed to search for the animals. Eight traveled on foot, while Charles Crawford, a very heavy set man, rode a mule. Once over the mountain near Last Chance, they encountered an Indian camp, but there were no signs they had anything to do with oxen. Later they encountered another group of Indians, who fled, and a pursuit ensued. Crawford had a encounter with one, who shot him with a arrow, that deeply penetrated his chest to the extent, it nearly went through his body. In the end, the other men made a make shift of stretcher to carry Crawford back over the mountain to Janesville. It was an ordeal for them due to his weight. There was little that could be done to aid in his recovery and he died three days later on May 21, 1858, and his grave became the nucleus of the Lake Cemetery.
Forthcoming is the story of the murder of Harry Gordier, the next internment what would become known as Lake Cemetery, that later in the same year, but there is no marker for his grave. Gordier’s lasting legacy is that of his hidden gold cache that still fascinates treasure hunters to this day.
As it is Memorial Day, I thought I would share this photograph of the Lake Cemetery a couple miles south of Janesville. It is the oldest cemetery in Lassen County dating back to 1858. In 1916, Asa Fairfield, Lassen County historian, requested that the county fence the cemetery. The Lassen County Board of Supervisors approved Fairfield’s request, and the cemetery was fenced. It should be noted, that it was not a public cemetery per se, and it was located on private property.
Fast forward to 2021, the cemetery was a victim of the Dixie Fire. From my understanding, as I have not been there since the fire, the majestic pine tree and the fence were destroyed. Hence this photograph with the tree.
May 13, 1973 was a historic day for Lassen Community College. A formal dedication ceremony was held for the new campus. At 12:30, it began with the Grand Lodge Officers of the California Free and Accepted Masons with the cornerstone laying ceremony. A time capsule was included to mark the event for posterity. It was then followed by a barbecue. At three p.m. the formal dedication program began at the Sports Center with College President Robert Theiler, as the initial speaker. Theiler was followed by an assortment of dignitaries giving their blessings for the monumental occasion.
Since it is Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend, I am busy making the rounds of the local cemeteries. Today’s photograph is an interesting scene depicting one log loads was taken in 1949. It was part of the Purdy Brothers Logging operations. In 1977, while working with my Dad, at that time, L&M Logging, there was a rare opportunity to harvest a massive sugar pine near Swains Hole. While it was ordeal to put that log on the trailer bunk, that was only half the battle. It turned out, while Dad drove the logging truck to the mill, it was so over weight, that along the way he experienced four blown out tires. Upon arriving at Coin Lumber they were not amused that the size of the log, since over the years the sawmill machinery had been modified for smaller logs.
Tim
Later today, is a subscriber exclusive who will receive an anecdote story involving Philip Hall, the Lassen Museum and today’s photograph.
Lef to Right: Olive Murrer, Sally Finefrock and Hilda Bennett at the Lassen College 70th anniversary.. Thank you Linda Kennedy
While Lassen College has been celebrating its centennial this month, this evening will mark its 98th commencent. The college’s centennial gradation and its commencement will occur in 2027. Of note, my Aunt Olive Farwell Murrer was a member of the College Class of 1927. Her sister, Hilda Farwell Bennett a member of the College Class of 1928.
On a personal note, I served on the Lassen College Board Trustees for ten years. Graduation was a special and joyful occasion. As trustee its a wonderful moment, not just to the student’s hard work paying off, but as trustee with the hard work behind scenes made its extremely worthwhile.
