My catalogue filing bin is perpetually overflowing. Truth be known, filing and cataloging is not my favorite chore. There are some gems in those boxes, and this recent one has a tremendous wealth of material in a four page document, that would put to shame modern day planning documents, too much verbiage and light on facts. Just for record, I served as Lassen County Planning Commissioner from 2009 to 2020, so I am familiar with the topic.

With that introduction, I examined the July 1958 Standard Industrial Survey Summary Report for Susanville.  To understand fully of the fact filled document it even includes humidity levels of a given starting a 5.a.m, Noon and 5 p.m.  As to the community’s ethnic makeup of those foreign  born were from Italy, France and Canada. During the late 1800s, the foreign born residents were from  Ireland, Prussia and Great Britain.

Tim

P.S. – Another instance  of the details was an exact break ground as to the community’s ethnicity. It showed that Susanville had two Negro residents. Seasoned residents will know who they were, and as a matter of  fact a street is named in their honor.. Subscribers will receive this additional information.

While here in Lassen County we are spared of elections in 2025. Other places in California will hold elections under the  Uniform District Elections UDEL). These elections include schools, fire districts, community service district etc. Under former Lassen County Clerk Theresa Nagel, opted to consolidate the UDEL’s with the General Election in even years.

Every region experiences close elections, and Lassen County has had its share. This story involves the 1914 election of Lassen County Coroner and Public Administrator. The two candidates were A.H. Taylor who served as the Registrar of U.S. Land Office. The other, was incumbent A.K. Philrook, who was the local undertaker.  Philbrook won the race by three votes. However, Taylor challenged the vote and asked for a recount. The result was unchanged and Philbrook would serve another four year term.

Tim

On September 27, 1879 the Big Valley Lodge No. 286 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted. It should be noted that in the summer a handful of Odd Fellows under the direction of Clinton “Doc” Philliber constructed the two-story hall in Bieber. It was completed on August 1, 1879.  On August 16, 1879, the Odd Fellows, even though not officially organized leased the first floor to the Brownell Brothers-Don Carlos, DeWitt and Duane-who opened a general merchandise store on the premise.

On Saturday, September 28, 1929, the Bieber Lodge celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in style. It was a truly community event. At noon there were was a picnic and reception. In the evening the lodge was packed to capacity by resident and visiting members. There was a special guest of honor-D.R. Brownell from Umatilla, Oregon. Brownell who was the only living charter member and just so happened the lodge’s first noble grand. That evening he presided over the meeting.

Tim