History

Horne Ranch, Lassen County

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Horne Ranch, 2003

It just never ceases amaze me, how some folks settled in an isolated location, when there were prime property to be had. A case example was Frank Eben Horne. When Horne came to California he settled in the Marysville region. By the late 1860s, he relocated to the Smoke Creek Desert, Nevada. In 1870, Horne became one of the first settlers of the Madeline Plains. He kept his Smoke Creek for summer pasture. Horne retired from his ranch in 1905 and turned it over to his sons. Actually, his son Will took over the home place, Arthur took Smoke Creek, and Frank, so the story got an education and moved on.

Will was quite the promoter. In 1914,  he came of with a Russian Colony scheme. About three dozen Russian families arrived on the plains. After all, it was noted, if these Russians could make a living  at farming in Siberia, than they could be really prosperous on the Madeline Plains. It did not work at well. Noted Madeline Plains historian, Don Garate, wrote the Russians were a lazy bunch.

One of the Horne’s family enterprises was the development of the Buckhorn Reservoir. In the annals of Madeline Plains history it was home to many irrigation/reclamation schemes.  On March 28, 1917, Frank L. Horne, William R. Horne, and Arthur T. Horne, along with Raglan Tuttle and Grant M. Lorraine, formed the Horne Development Company–a promotion of a reclamation project. Things did not go as planned and  on April 27, 1927, the Farmers & Merchants National Bank of Reno, Nevada, foreclosed on the Horne Development Company for $38,791.11 and became the owners of the Horne Ranch.

Horne Ranch Cemetery, 1985

In the 1990s, the Horne Ranch had a new lease on life when it was incorporated in R.C. Robert’s Spanish Springs development. This and other properties were made available to guests, whether their interest was equestrian pursuits, hunting, etc.

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History

Reno’s Wingfield Park

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Wingfield Park, 1936–C.H. Bennett Collection

This three-acre natural island on the Truckee River in the heart of downtown. Reno has an interesting history. In 1911, Reno attorney Lewis Hinckley began to develop it for an amusement park. He dubbed the location as Belle Island. In time, the island boasted a dance hall, a 700-seat open air theater among other things. The enterprise went bankrupt in 1916. In 1920, influential miner and Nevada banker George Wingfield purchased the property and donated it to the City of Reno. In turn the City of Reno’s named the property  George Wingfield Park.

Contrary to local folklore, when Wingfield sold his Honey Lake Valley summer home in 1924, he transported four buffalo that he had there to Wingfield Park. Wingfield did relocate the buffalo, but not to the park.

Tim

History

Use Your Telephone

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Susanville Hose Company, 1905–Lola L. Tanner

Susanville was getting a metropolitan airs since the railroad arrived in 1913. Prior to the Suanville Fire Department there was the Susanville Hose Company. In the spring of 1914, C.C. Hampton, the Foreman of the Hose Company issued the following statement and was widely distributed throughout the community:

“Use Your Telephone. Hereafter, in case of fire in town or in the suburbs, telephone calls may be direct to the Hose House in Susanville at any hour night and will be promptly responded to.”

Tim

News

Tuesday Tidbit – What I am Working On

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Spoonville aka Edgemont, 1905 – Courtesy of M.E. “Mel” Mulroney

Since the weather forecast calls rain and snow for the next six days , and I have a burst creativity energy, I thought some might like to know what is forthcoming.

Some of these are from events of 1925. The completion of PG&E’s Pit River Powerhouse No. 3 (Lake Briton) and its effects in Susanville. A fatal mining tragedy at Hayden Hill, that may have been the last occur to there, but do not quote me on that. The Spaulding Tract revival at Eagle Lake.  The Southern Pacific’s Railroad to standard gauge the NCO line, from Wendel to Lakeview, because of a 1962 publication that of that event carried erroneous information keeps getting perpetrated. The list goes on the Williams Brothers (Morgan & William), M.O. Folsom transition from rancher to a capitalist,  Fruit Growers vs Forest Service fire prevention debate, and so forth. That is a glimpse of my research activities.

The old Missouri Bend School, December 2020–Smith Properties

Oh, let I forget. The top photograph is of the former town of Spoonville located some three miles east of Janesville. It was the home of the Missouri Bend School, one of the landmarks that still exist.

Tim

 

 

History

High Rock Springs, Lassen County – Update

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High Rock Spring, April 1975

These springs in eastern Honey Lake Valley and near the Nevada border are quite unique. They are an ancient spring dating back to the time when the area was covered by Lake Lahontan in the Pleistocene epoch.

The second reason is it is a warm water spring with a constant temperature of 86F.  The springs supports two kinds of fish. First is the Lahontan tui chubs.  This, of course, is rather remarkable that the fish have adapted over the years to thrive in constant warm water in a confined space. Water from the spring then goes underground and re-surfaces 100 yards distant, maintaining a constant cooler temperature at 76F. At this point, again, which is also unusual, is found the Lahontan speckle dace, that was to be on the endangered species list. The Lahontan speckle dace in this spring is no more. In the 1990s, the spring  used as a fish farm. Some one planted  exotic fish in the springs channel, thus caused the speckle dace there to be extinct.

I found the newspaper article of interest from the Lassen Advocate May, 15, 1914 – Here From High Rock. Jas. Mapes and Jas. Dudley were there from High Rock last Monday. Mr. Mapes was proving up on his desert land claim before the officers of the land office. Jimmie is very enthusiastic over prospects down there, and is a very busy man. He says he has the dandy water system of the county, and the water problem is one which will not be a great worry him in the future. He has a chain of three dams, and these, by giving out their waters one at a time as needed, will probably prove sufficient for all purposes. In addition, however, he is contemplating building a dam to impound the waters  of the one spring, which will be a valuable addition to his water supply.

A portion of the tunnel outlet of High Rock Springs. April, 1975

It should be noted that in the 1920s, William Dicting was hired by the Rees Jenkins to develop the springs. He spent eight years to hand drill through the rock to develop the water tunnel to increase water flow.

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History

High Rock Ranch

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High Rock Ranch in eastern Honey Lake Valley was a popular gathering place for rodeos in the late 1800s. Courtesy of Madelyn Mapes Dahlstrom

The High Rock Ranch in eastern Honey Lake adjoining the Nevada state line, owes a lot of its existence to the springs. Water in the desert makes a big difference.

Interesting enough, on February 7, 1862, U. Johnson Tutt laid claim to this remote outpost. Tutt made no improvements and abandoned his claim. In the late 1860s and 1870s, High Rock was a scene of rodeos, not quite the same as our modern day version. During this era, very few ranches had fences. It was customary, especially in the winter months to let their cattle and horses roam in search of feed. Each spring several localities were chosen for sites for round-ups and rodeos, and High Rock was one. Once the stray livestock were herded to a specific location, they were separated and branded. Continue reading High Rock Ranch →

History

My Dinner With E.V. Spencer

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E.V. Spencer—Ivajean Wheeler

Ephraim Van Buren Spencer (1836 -1904) was a fascinating individual.  In his 1906 biography, as a testament this is the beginning sentence, “No name is more intimately associated with the history of Lassen County than that of Judge Spencer.”  I am going highlight four aspects of his life.

Roop's Mill
Roop’s mill taken in the early 1860s

The Lumberman. In 1859, E.V. and his brother, Luther Spencer, settled in Susanville. An opportunity arose, and they purchased the Roop Sawmill on the Susan River, just below Hobo Camp. Very little known as to mill’s operation. It should be noted that it burned down in 1868. What really intrigued me was one of the mill’s employee-Lemericus Wyatt. In April 1859, Wyatt along with Edward Clapper and Peter Lassen were on a prospecting trip in the Black Rock Desert. There was an early morning ambush that claimed the lives of Clapper and Lassen, and Wyatt escaped. Wyatt confided to E.V. Spencer what happened.

An artist sketch of the lynching of Holden Dick and Mexican Ben.

The Attorney. Spencer was a sawyer at the mill. He suffered a major arm injury that resulted in a career change. He became a lawyer. In 1864, he was elected the first Lassen County District Attorney. He only served one term. He was proud of the crackdown of gambling, and while it subsided, it never went away. As an attorney he was noted for his eloquent speaking abilities. He had an illustrious career as an attorney. One of his clients was the infamous Holden Dick who was accused of the gruesome murder of Samuel Shaw in 1883. Thus, the legend of the Holden Dick Mine was born. It was purported that Dick gave Spencer a map to the mine’s location.  A bit of trivia, Dick’s first name came from Thomas Holden, who was Spencer’s  wife’s relations..

The Assemblyman. In 1894, Spencer was elected to the California Assembly.  While he only served one term, he was admired by his colleagues who referred to him the as “Lassen County’s Grand Old Man.” One of his causes was the suffragette movement. He was instrumental in getting Amendment 6 on the ballot in 1896 to approve women’s rights in California, but the measure failed.

The Railroad Man.  Spencer was the probably the strongest advocate to have Susanville serviced by a railroad. It was his contention that Susanville would be just another “sleepy hollow” without one. In 1885, the residents of Susanville raised $500 to send Spencer negotiate with the Morans, the new owners of the Nevada & California Railroad (later to become the NCO). to build the line to Susanville. The Moran’s informed Spencer that they did not have the money to extend the line north. Spencer was optimistic, since the railroad did a preliminary survey along the west side of Honey Lake to Susanville. On March 31, 1887 Edgar Heriot the new general manager of the railroad announced they would commence work of 45 mile extension from Junction House to Brubeck’s Ranch on the east side of Honey Lake. Spencer did not sit idly by about the news of the bypass. It’s an interesting story for another time. In 1899, Spencer lobbied the railroad to build a branch line from Hot Springs (Wendel) to Susanville. It would be a most interesting dinner discussion about Spencer on this topic.

Summation. Spencer’s life was hardly dull. For instance, in the late 1880s his family would vacation at Drake’s Springs, today known as Drakesbad. The seed for creation of Lassen Volcanic National Park was planted via his son-in-law Congressman John Raker.

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History

Susanville’s Purdy’s Garage

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Purdy’s Garage, date unknown. Courtesy of Margaret Purdy

In June 1926, my grandfather and my name sake, Ira I. Purdy drove up from Sacramento to Susanville in search of employment. He was a mechanic by trade, a master one at that, which I may have inherited his name but not his mechanic skills.  He found employment at Doyle & Hunsinger’s, operators of the local Ford car dealership. Once settled in he moved his wife, Margaret and young son, James, to Susanville. My father, Leroy,  was born the following year on March 7, 1927 at Riverside Hospital, so hence this post on the annivasry of his birth.

Purdy's Garage, no date. Courtesy of Margaret Purdy
Purdy’s Garage, no date. Courtesy of Margaret Purdy

Like so many others Ira yearned to have his own operation. In 1939 he left Doyle Motor Company, (Hunsinger had moved to Reno), to establish his own service station. He purchased several lots on the north side of Main Street, between Sacramento and Spring Streets and established Purdy’s Garage. It remained in operation until the mid-1950s, when health conditions forced him to retire.  The property, that was Purdy’s Garage,  would later become the home of the Lassen Advocate and that building sits vacant.

Of note, in 1989 Caltrans did a major reconstruction of Main Street. Caltrans consulted me as gas tanks were. It should be noted that by 1960 there were some 17 plus service (gas) stations on Main Street. Caltrans removed some, though Purdy’s Garage gas tank was actually located underneath Main Street, Caltrans even aware of that fact, did not remove it. Will it become a future sink hole?

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History

The Three “S” Dilemma

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The sign entering Drakesbad—Sifford Collection

Lassen Volcanic National Park has a complex early history. Of course, funding was a barrier. Nearly a decade after the park’s inception, progress was made. Since the park was  virgin territory,  planners, such as George Goodwin, Civil Engineer of the National Park Service had a grandiose plans. There was a problem which I labeled it the three “S” dilemma. Many of key attractions inside the park boundary were privately owned, i.e. – Sifford of Drakesbad; Snell of Juniper Lake and Supan the Sulphur Works.

Snell’s advertisment of lots for sale at Juniper Lake

Access to the park was extremely limited. There were three stub roads-Drakesbad, Juniper Lake and the Sulphur Works. Goodwin initially proposed a highway through the entire park, that would also encompass the three private properties. It was noble idea, but it had a major flaw. The road development of the three “S” properties would increase their values making difficult for the park to acquire them.

1935 signage for the sulfur works.

There was a silver lining. Goodwin had negotiated with the Supan family and was able to secure of right-of-away through their property for one-dollar. Back to the drawing board for a park road.  It was a scaled back  grandiose plan from Goodwin. The route would be a north/south venue. The highlights were access to Lassen Peak and Bumpass Hell. It should be noted before the Park’s Highway, the easiest way to access Bumpass Hell and Lassen Peak was via Drakesbad where one had to pay to entrance fee.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past