For the first day of summer, I thought I would share this picture of Constantia taken on June 21, 1907. Unfortunately, I do not possess any other documentation and no reference made in the newspaper, other that it was unseasonably cold. I went through my various notes of Phil Hall, who provided me with the photograph. His parents at that time resided at Constantia. However, anyone who has resided around these parts, have experienced numerous strange weather events. In a related matter, Claude Wemple told me in a 1978 interview that Milford received four inches of snow on July 4, 1902.
Susanville’s Stewart House, 1881. It sometimes was used as a hospital. Courtesy of Dallas & Joyce Snider
Susanville’s first hospital was not built until 1883, and prior to that it was druggist that played a key role in medical care. In the summer of 1860, Dr. Zenas J. Brown arrived in Susanville and began dispensing drugs from a canvas tent. He met with commercial success and at 802 Main Street, he had an octagonal drug store built—which the locals gave him the nickname of Doctor Eight Square. The following year he was joined Dr. Robert F. Moody, and Moody would become sole proprietor of the firm within three years. Dr. Brown it should be noted introduced the first apple trees to the region, which at one time was a major export crop.
For indigent care, those person’s were housed in a local hotel, until they either recovered or not, which the county picked up the tab. For instance, in September 1864, Emanuel “Mike” Brannan, proprietor of the Brannan House, submitted a claim to the county in the amount of $75.31 for lodging, medical and burial expenses of John Tuskey.
Then there is Dr. Zetuz N. Spalding’s arrival to the region in 1857, and would later be the founder of the venerable Spalding Drug Store. One of Spalding’s earlier advertisements noted his many skills: “Z.N. Spalding, Physician, Surgeon and Accoucheur. Teeth extracted without pain, by use of Anaesthetics.”
On a final note, the Lassen County Historical Society’s April 2015 newsletter had a short piece on R.F. Moody. A little known fact, was Moody placed Lassen County’s first billboard back in the late 1870s on the Horse Lake Road. Carved in stone he advertised his Sagebrush Liniment.
Granville Pullen first came to Lassen County in 1870 and worked at various jobs. In the 1880s he located to Sonoma County, but made frequent visits to Lassen County to see his sister, Susan Goumaz. In 1901, he moved back to Lassen County and bought a ranch near Janesville. In 1914, at the age of 76, he retired from ranching and bought a house in Janesville.
Pullen had been collecting various artifacts and curios for over forty years. Not to be idle he opened a small museum in Janesville to display his collection. People fascinated by his collection began donating items to him. In 1920, Granville and his wife Mary, moved to Susanville and bought a home on South Roop Street. Next to his new home, he had a small concrete building built to house his museum. On June 18, 1921, he opened the museum to the public. When he passed away in 1926, and his wife kept the museum open for awhile, but she did not have the same passion as her husband. Over the years, she donated a portion of the collection to Lassen County. The items were displayed for a number of years in the Veteran’s building, and over time slowly disappeared.
St. Mary’s Chapel as it appeared in 1971. Courtesy of Robert Williams
Five miles south of Doyle is a place known as Constantia, though not much remains today. In 1896, Henry Butters purchased the ranch and gave the place its name of Constantia. Butters transformed the place into a small village and next to his home had a small Catholic church built—St. Mary’s Chapel.
As a child, Roberta Turritin Weaver lived at Constantia from 1913 to 1923 and recalled: “The church was beautiful with stained glass windows and the pews were made from the oak trees in back of the ranch. As long as were in the big house Father Horgan came out several times a year. We were all very fond of him. My twin sister, Catherine, and I considered him a good sport since he put up with all our didedos.”
By the mid-1920s services were discontinued and the church abandoned. In 1994, the Doyle Historical Society moved the church to Doyle and restored the building.
As a community service for the health and safety of those visiting the Lassen County Fairgrounds, no matter how careful one parks there are those reckless careful drivers that are of a different mindset.
Three years ago today, while part of the volunteer crew of the Lassen High Alumni Association in preparation of setting up for the all class reunion picnic in Jensen Hall, did I have one of those experiences. Some may recall when the fair manager backed into my parked 1964 TR4 Triumph.
Next came the trauma, or drama, to fix it. Needless to say, I was out thousands of dollars to repair it. More importantly, its all water under the bridge so to speak, and I am back to driving it again, though the intermittent rainy showers has made it a challenge with top down.
On May 30, 1914, Lassen Peak awoke with its first volcanic eruption causing quite a commotion. In one sense for the locals, it was not a total surprise, as there had been many signs indicating that one day it would happen. What no one was prepared for how many times the peak would continue erupting or how violent they might be.
For the so-called “looky-loos” this was an exciting time. The adventerous and curious could not stay away, and a number of thrill seekers climbed the peak to get a closer look. While the forest service, (the park had not been created), attempted to stop them, but to no avail. What truly was remarkable, that Lance Graham was the only person to sustain injuries while on the peak during an eruption. There was a related fatality when Thomas Roseberry was making the descent from the peak and died from a heart attack. Roseberry is a perfect example of the kinds of obstacles one encounters while conducting research. His death occurred in Shasta County. However, his death certificate used the nearest populated place of Drakesbad, which is in Plumas County. Yet, that document was recorded in Lassen County where he resided.
To learn more about the eruptions and the park history, you might want to get a copy of Lassen Volcanic, as it will soon be out of print, with less than 20 copies in stock.
The June 2, 1866 issue of The Sage Brush measured only 6 inches by 12 inches and was printed only on one side.
This toll road had a very short life, and that existed only on paper no less. However, when the company was organized they deemed a life span of twenty years, but from the only record indicates, it did not survive twenty days.
Nevertheless, it was an admirable undertaking. It was spearheaded by a group of progressive residents of Honey Lake and Indian Valleys. During the 1850s and 1860s one of the most traveled routes was a road from Gold Run going over Diamond Mountain and following Light’s Creek into Indian Valley. The gentlemen intended to put a toll gate at the summit. As required by law, they published their intent in the Sage Brush newspaper. On June 13, 1866 they held an organizational meeting in Susanville and elected A.D. Headly, President, James Ford, Secretary and W.N. DeHaven, Treasurer. The following day they filed their Articles of Incorporation with the Lassen County Clerk.
The company’s lasting legacy is attached to the articles of incorporation, was a copy of the Susanville, Sage Brush, the forerunner to the Lassen Advocate. This is the oldest known copy in existence. The paper apologized for the small size of the issue, citing their paper supplies had not arrived.
B.R. Zimmerman was a popular Susanville bar owner for many years. In 1919, he converted his famed Owl Saloon into a produce store.
Order of Camels was a fraternal organization opposed to prohibition. The camel was an ideal symbol as it could go for long spells without a drink. As we know they did not succeed in stopping prohibition. In a peculiar move, a local chapter was organized on June 10, 1920, nearly a year after prohibition took effect.
In the early 1890s, when the railroad town of Amedee came into prominence, led to many interesting developments. One of these was the discovery of lime deposits, then a key ingredient used in cement. In 1893, a lime kiln was constructed on the hillside above Amedee. However, due to the nation’s economic depression and the NCO Railroad’s refusal to lower freight rates the enterprise abandoned.
In 1913, with another railroad at Amedee and a surging economy, Susanville businessmen fired up the abandoned lime kilns. After over a year in operation, this they discovered was not the most prudent business investment, and once again the kilns were abandoned.
If you don’t succeed the first time, try again and again. In the 1920s, Janesville resident William B. Hail operated the lime kilns. In 1927, he used the lime for construction of the Bigelow Apartments in Susanville. After that it they were finally abandoned once and for all. Hail stated it was due to the poor quality of the lime.
