A Living Memorial

Lassen Co. Courthouse
Lassen County Courthouse, 1940. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

Today’s topic evolved from a trip to Susanville Supermarket last month. I thought I could manage a quick trip in and out and go on my merry way. Lo and behold, while trying to make my get away, I got lassoed. Anna Stewart who needed some information about Native American Veteran Thomas Tucker, that they want to feature in their newspaper ad, scheduled for July 7.  I, of course, obliged.

Thomas Tucker was the first casualty from Susanville in World War I. Numerous records has him listed as the first Lassen County resident, but that distinction belongs to Westwood resident Clyde McKea who died almost two months earlier than Tucker. Continue reading A Living Memorial

Susanville Reporter

Gay Street
Looking north on Gay Street, Susanville, circa 1863. Courtesy of Gil Morrill

Last month I wrote about the area’s first newspaper, the Richmond Times. The next newspaper, also a handwritten one, the Susanville Reporter. This paper made its debut in February 1861, with Andrew Ramsey at the helm. When the second issue made its debut, the paper changed hands with Isaac Roop, as editor. As the Butte Record noted Roop penned some amusing article such as, “A Hint to Parents,” Something to be Remembered,” and Uncle Sam and his boys.” It would not be for another four years, when the first locally printed newspaper was published—The Sage Brush.

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Upper Smoke Creek

Upper Smoke Creek
A small feeder stream to upper Smoke Creek

Okay, folks, I am playing hooky today after 126 straight days of postings. After all, it is Sunday of 4th of July weekend.

For those adventurous folks Upper Smoke Creek is a fun, but out of the way destination. Not only is there Bruff’s “Hieroglyphic Canyon,” but the historic Shinn Ranch. Alas, all the times I have been out there, I never took a photograph or two, of the cottonwood grove. I am almost a little leery to head out that way, since the devastating Rush  Fire of a couple years ago.  

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Leon Bly

Leon Bly
Leon Bly sounding Eagle Lake. Courtesy of Wyn Wachhorst

It is only fitting to note that today’s marks the 100th anniversary when Leon Bly embarked on sounding Eagle Lake to determine the feasibility of an Eagle Lake irrigation project. Since the 1870s, there had been numerous failed attempts. No one knew the true depth of the lake, though many presumed it had depths ranging from 300 to 1,000 feet. Bly spent the summer sounding the lake in Oscar Rankin’s The Pelican and determined the lake’s deepest point at 105 feet, but felt the lake had potential as an adequate water supply for an irrigation project.

Of note, up until the 1980s, this boat was undergoing restoration at Janesville, but since it is not known what became of the project.

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Dunham Photography

Willow Creek School
Willow Creek Valley School, 1886 is a Orley Dunham photograph

Orley and Murry Dunham were photographers in the region during the 1880s and 1890s. They both started in Plumas County. Orley married Maggie Ford, a member of a Indian Valley pioneer family. In 1886, Orley opened his studio in Susanville. During that year, he took a number of photographs of the Lassen County Schools. He left Susanville in 1891,to work for a large photography studio in San Francisco. Continue reading Dunham Photography

Murrer’s Upper Meadow

Murrer's
Murrer’s Upper Meadow, circa 1900.

In 1873, the Murrer family located at Round Valley, between Susanville and Willow Creek Valley. On September 24, 1898, Joseph Eddy sold the meadows to the Murrer Brothers–Jacob and edward–for $1,200. Jacob “Jake” resided at the meadows that the family referred to as the Upper Ranch. Jake is best known for an event that occurred there. On September 2, 1907, Jake literally blew up the five-room house he was living in. This feat was accomplished with twenty-five pounds of dynamite. The dynamite had been stored at the nearby Eagle Lake tunnel works of Merrill & Marker. When questioned about the explosion, Jake professed ignorance and stated he was lying on the sofa when the blast occurred. However, this could not be, as nothing remained but shattered pieces of the house with pieces of the fabric from the sofa hanging on the nearby cottonwood trees.   Continue reading Murrer’s Upper Meadow

Forthcoming Posts

Camp 38
Camp 38, Red River Lumber Company

Here is a glimpse of forthcoming posts from July 1 to July 15.

Murrer’s Upper Meadow 7/1/15
Westwood Millpond 7/2/15
Murray Dunham 7/3/15
Leon Bly 7/4/15
Upper Smoke Creek 7/5/15
Camp Bunyan 7/6/15
Susanville Reporter 7/7/15
Black Rock Toll Road 7/8/15
Steward House 7/9/15
World War I Living Memorial 7/10/15
Drakesbad 7/11/15
Janesville Flour Mill 7/12/15
Eagle Lake Bass 7/13/15
Brand Project Update 7/14/15
Jurgen Jensen Family 7/15/15

Piute Creek

Piute Creek
Piute Creek, April 9, 1938. Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

It was originally named Smith Creek. In August 1854, Isaac Roop called it by that name, when he claimed the water rights to it and began construction of a ditch to divert its water. The Roop ditch was the original water supply for Susanville. In 1872, it was replaced by the Susanville Water Company’s ditch from Cady Springs. In November 1855, Moses Mason, the second person to file a land claim in the Honey Lake Valley, claimed 400 acres along what he too designated as Smith Creek. On September 12, 1856, Captain William Weatherlow took up Mason’s abandoned claim, noting that the creek there, formerly called Smith Creek, was now called Piute Creek. However, on April 15, 1857, when Atlas Fredonyer filed his claim to Isaac Roop’s property, he referred to the same stream as Smith Fork. Who Smith was is not known.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past