History

The County Purchasing Agent

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In 1916, when the Lassen County Courthouse and the County Hospital was under construction, the Board of Supervisors were faced with a new challenge-how to furnish them. They were concerned that every elected official to occupy the new building would run amuck and end up with a hodgepodge of furniture and equipment. Cost was an issue too,. The solution to create a new county position- a purchasing agent. It did not go over well, but the board stood by their controversial decision.

Elmer F. Koken (1871-1968) held the position for decades. During the financial depression of the 1930s, critics wanted the position eliminated as a cost cutting measure. The board said no. The board stated the purchasing agent scrutinized every purchase and saved the county money. Mark Totten served as the last purchasing agent. In the late 1980s, the position was abolished with the creation of a County Administrative Office who assumed that role along many other functions.

Tim

P..S. It is August 1. In Susanville, it is historically the hottest week of the year..

History

Painter Creek Irrigation District

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Painters Flat Courtesy of Greg Johnson

In 1897, California approved legislation for the formation of public irrigation districts. It was fairly simple two-step process. The organizers first had get approval of the county board of supervisors. When that was accomplished, the California State Engineer’s Office would review the proposal whether the water source was sufficient and that the project was financially feasible.

In January 1918, W.G. Wilds, A.L. Lincoln, W.D. Grivel, F,M. Dinsmore, H.O. Edwards, Carl Wirth, Peter Anderson, Joseph Gronoski, James Godman, Bruno Wirth and W.H. Evans all of Ravendale petitioned the Lassen County Board of Supervisors for the formation of the Painter Creek Irrigation District. Painter Creek &  Flat is a remote location east of Madeline Plains.

On March 4, 1918 the Lassen County Board of Supersviors approved the formation of the Painter Creek Irrigation District. The County Clerk was instructed to notify the California State Engineers Office who had the final say. No doubt that office must have bewildered by the proposal. This agency denied the proposed irrigation district.

Tim

History

The Woman Who Named Drakesbad

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Drakesbad, circa 1930. Courtesy of the Sifford Collection

Drakesbad, to those not familiar, is a small resort in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  The Alex Sifford family owned it from 1900 to1959 when it was sold to the park. It was originally known at Drakes Springs for the founder E.R. Drake.

At the end of 1913 season, Alex Sifford was at a crossroad with the resort,  Sifford’s road and resort improvements resulted in more business, though there was lot more needed. Sifford consulted with Susanville banker, Jules Alexander as to what do do. Alexander and Sifford formed the Drakes Spring Company to sell stock to raise capital. They hired Juan Brambilia to manage Drakes, and to relieve some of the burden for Sifford.

Rae Alexander holding her granddaughter Janis Worley at Drakesbad, June 1914

For marketing purposes it was decided to rename Drake’s Springs. It was Rae Alexander, wife Jules, and a shareholder of Drakes, who came up with a new name. It was the general consenus to retain the Drake name. Mrs. Alexander’s parents, (David and Fannie Knoch) were from Germany and the German word for spa and baths is bad. In June 1914 the announcement was made that the new resort would be known as Drakesbad.

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History

Name That Lake

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David Martin sent this postcard of an unknown lake. The photographer Engel who was in the Westwood area in 1918/1919. Actually, Engel is one of those photographers that I have had a difficult time locating information. On the other hand he did capture such unique scenes of region including an early day photogtaph of Homer Lake and the Westwood Depot.

Westwood Depot, circa 1918—David B. Martin

If anyone can shed some light as to the lake or the photographer it would be truly appreciated.

Tim

History

Tuesday Tidbit – Old Town Rents

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A portion of the OldTown lease

On October 1, 1935 Maria Ramos signed a lease for a home in Old Town (Westwood) with the Red River Lumber Company.  The rent payment would be deducted from her pay check. One could not rent in Westwood without being a Red River employee.

Westwood’s Old Town. Courtesy of Hank Martinez

For those not familiar with Old Town, it is now referred to as a Pine Town. In an essence it is the original town of Westwood, while the latter was still under construction on the other side of the millpond.

Tim

History

Barry v California

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The flood March 1953, nearStandish Courtesy of Betty Barry Deal

In 1937 the State of California reconstucted Highway395 between Standish and Litchfield. At the lowest section around Susan River the State raised the road bed by two feet. In doing so, they blocked numerous culverts and redesigned the bridge over Susan River.

The flooded Standish district, with Honey Lake in the background, 1952. Courtesy of Betty B. Deal

In 1952 the region experienced heavy snowfall. On March 25, 1952 floodwaters from Willow Creek and Balls Canyon, nearby tributaries to Susan River, surged and the redesigned highway acted as a levee. flooding the farm lands of  Hardin & Edith Barry, Chris & Marie Miller and L.F. & Lura Dozier. The flood water did not recede until nearly sixty days later. The three couples sued the State for damages related the floodwaters.  In 1957 they settled out of court with Millers receiving $2,000; Doziers, $2,500 and Barrys $1,000.

Tim

History

A New Sacred Heart Church

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Groundbreaking ceremony at Sacred Heart. Courtesy of Mario and Pauline Vial

After a decade of Father Moran’s since 1939  announcement for a new church it became a reality.

In the spring of 1948, it was announced that work would begin that year for the new church–the plans modified for a Spanish-American architecture style building. The new church would be three times the size of the current one.

Sacred Heart Church

In the summer of 1948 the old church was advertised for sale, but there were no takers. It was decided to dismantle it as quickly as possible so construction would begin. However, delays were encountered and groundbreaking did not occur until September 3, 1948.  On Sunday, July 9, 1949 the first Mass held in the new church, though there was work still to be done. On May 21, 1950, the new Sacred Heart Church was dedicated by the Most Reverend Robert J. Armstrong, Bishop of the Sacramento Diocese.

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History

All Those Maps . . .

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Fruit Growers Cut-over map

Maps like their counterpart photographs add another dimension to the story. It does not matter whether drawn by cartographer or a simple hand drawn its all relative to illustrate a point. Then there is an instance where a map shows the unexpected. The government soil survey of the Honey Lake Valley (1915) depicts a NCO railroad station known as Italy south of Amedee.

The above illustration is the 1920 Cut-over timber map of the Fruit Growers Supply Company near McCoy Flat Reservoir.  These maps were done on an annual basis. The Lassen National Forest Service had a similar map, since the timberlands of the forest service and Fruit Growers were co-mingled, that Fruit Growers was awarded a huge timber sale known as the Pine Creek Unit that the duration was thirty years.

Tim

History

The Decision, What To Keep & Discard

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Westwood, 1945

The 1950s were challenging times for the Fruit Growers Supply Company., especially with its sawmills. They were faced with dwindling timber supply and equally important the conversion from wooden box to cardboard. There was no need for three mills, each required costly upgrades.

The Fruit Growers’ Board of Directors had an Operating Committee. One their tasks was an annual inspection of the mills and the company’s timber resources. In the fall of 1954, when the Committee arrived at Westwood the hot topic as to wether to keep Susanville or Westwood open. It was the consensus one would have to close.

Fruit Growers’ Susanville mill.

Westwood had an upper edge with recently installed Craveneer plant. The Committee withheld their decision until they returned Los Angeles, but it was  apparent that Susanville would close.

After serious consideration it was decided to close Westwood  and to build a Craveneer plant in Burney. It was noted Susanville still had sufficient timber resources, so it was spared. In 1955, Sunkist, the parent company of Fruit Growers announced complete conversion to  cardboard and the wooden box as a shipping container was relegated to the past. It is interesting to note, that Fruit Growers considered converting the Susanville mill into paper/pulp plant to manufacture cardboard boxes.

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History, News

Pete Biscar & The Biscar Fire

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Back row fourth from the left is Pete Biscar. Front row second from the left is John Best “Buster” McKissick, 4th of July `9`2, Secret Valley – Courtesy of Lena Trumbull

As I write this, the Biscar Fire in eastern Lassen County is now approaching 70,000 acres. Unfortunately, the maps published lack descriptive features. It has been stated the fire started in the area of Snowstorm Road and Vincent Canyon in the Biscar Reservoir area.

The name is attributed to Pierre “Pete” Biscar who was born on January 28, 1881 at St. Etienne de Baigory, France. He arrived in the United States in1901 at New York City and in 1904 came to Secret Valley, Lassen County.  In 1909, he constructed the first reservoir at the mouth of Snowstorm Canyon. In 1915, it was washed out by a flood and subsequently rebuilt*.

Upper Biscar Reservoir

Biscar had hit hard times in the 1930s. He was arrested on a cattle rustling charge and served time in the Lassen County Jail. In 1937, he lost his property to a county delinquent tax sale. He eventually moved to Susanville and lived in one of  Frenchy’s cabins on the Susan River across from Paulsen’s Welding. He died on February 2, 1947, a pauper. He is buried in the Lassen Cemetery, his grave does not have a marker. At the time of his death, he was survived by a cousin J.P. Insarquarat of Stockton, California

Tim

*Today, there are two small reservoirs that are part of the 548-acre Biscar Wildlife Area.

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Exploring Lassen County's Past