On March 1, I will start posting on a daily basis. In the meantime, go to Tim’s Blog to see what has been posted so far. In addition, at the bottom of each post is a tag. These are beneficial once a number of postings exist, you can click on the Westwood tag for example, and it will display all the posts about Westwood.
Staff of the Lassen Advocate, Christmas, 1878. Standing (L-R) Charlie Ward and A.L. Shinn. Seated (L-R) R.L. Shinn, Edward A. Weed and Rowena Mallett*
*In 1870, the Shinn brothers moved with their parents to a homestead they located on Upper Smoke Creek. A most interesting family, besides the Shinn Ranch itself, both another story for another time.
From time to time, I will post local news, since so much coming and goings in the region go unreported. With three different news outlets, one would assume that there would be considerable coverage.
Amedee, January, 1916 courtesy of Marie Herring Gould
Amedee Sold. While this event is a year old, it is still unknown to many. On February 24, 2014, the Humphrey family that owned Amedee Hot Springs, the abandoned townsite and surrounding ranching property for nearly a century sold it to Hays Ranches for $450,000. It should be noted, that the Humphreys were involved in the McKissick Cattle Company that purchased the Amedee holdings in 1915. By the late, 1920s the town had been abandoned, save for a caretaker. However, visitors would stop by to take advantage of the old bathhouse for a soak from the hot springs.
When the Red River Lumber Company established its company town of Westwood in 1913, it had to provide numerous amenities due to its remote location at the time. It was necessary to not only attract employees, but to retain them, as the lumber industry experienced a high turn over rate in labor. The Westwood Club was one of several facilities designed to meet the recreational needs of its employees. It included a restaurant, lunch counter, soda fountain, cigar and newsstand, barbershop, reading room and a billiard room.
Westwood Club, 1920
On early Friday morning, March 31, 1944 a fire broke out in the Westwood Club though the cause, was never determined. Within twenty minutes the whole building was engulfed in flames. The heat so intense, that Nick Kannier’s automobile which was parked in front of building, burst into flames. Even neighboring buildings from across the street were smoking, on the verge of spontaneous combustion, which with quick action by the fire department prevented the same.
The J.R. Bartlett Company were the concessionaire of the Westwood Club, which included the clubhouse, cafe, pool hall, bar and lounge. There were four other tenants in the building—Ehorn’s Pharmacy, Quitman’s Apparel, Westwood Market and Kilpatric’s Used Furniture department. Estimated loss for all parties was placed at $125,000.
Johnstonville School was one of the original Lassen County school districts established in 1864, but was originally named Susan River School District. In February 1878, the name was changed to Johnstonville. On January 20, 1961, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to build a new school to replace the old one. School board members, Harry Reuck, Mary Barr and Leroy Cramer, broke the ground for a new four-room schoolhouse which would cost the district $134,518. When completed the old school house located on an adjoining parcel was sold and converted into a private residence.
Having spent a good portion of my youth working in the woods with my father, Leroy W. Purdy, this topic comes naturally to me. In addition, I have authored several books on the topic, such as the Fruit Growers Supply Company and the Red River Lumber Company. Over the years I have gathered considerable material on not only those companies, but the smaller mills that existed prior to these large lumber outfits. In a future post, I will explore the 1907 logging bonanza of the Honey Lake Valley region. It was the first major exportation of lumber, as prior to that date, must lumber produced was for local consumption. Believe or not Honey Lake played an important role and finished lumber was shipped across the lake from near Buntingville to Amedee for shipment on the NCO Railroad. Stay tuned.
Welcome, to the new site and hope you enjoy it. Beginning on March 1 , I will be posting on a daily basis, sometimes about an historic event or sometimes about a current news matter. In addition, most all posts will contain a pertinent photograph or two.
Herman Brince was a photographer in Lassen, Modoc and Plumas counties during 1878-79. I have always been impressed with his photographs, though only dozen or so are known to be existence. Whatever, became of his negatives is unknown, but we do know that he died in New Zealand in 1882. However, in 2003, one of his photographs, an 1879 picture of Susanville’s Masonic Lodge surfaced on Ebay, which I purchased, but that is another story.
Adin 1879
The picture depicted is that of Adin, taken in 1879. The town was named for Adin Gainey McDowell, who in 1869 was the first person to settle on the east side of Big Valley. Adin flourished during the 1870s because of its close proximity to the mining town of Hayden Hill. As a matter of fact, it was Modoc County’s largest town for awhile.
