The ruins of the Methodist Church and Emerson Hotel, August 6, 1915
On August 5, 1915 a devastating fire destroyed the Emerson Hotel, Hyer House Hotel and the Methodist Church. between Main and and Cottage Streets. The three-story Emerson Hotel would not be rebuilt. The Methodist Church on the other hand were able to salvage the burnt out hull of their building.
The aftermath of the 1915 fire.
It would be a slow tedious process. Due to financial constraints the church did not want to take on any more debt. In 1917, the church was completed and fully functional. The one alteration was that the steeple was not replaced.
The application of “fort” to this landmark is somewhat of a misnomer. It had no military affiliation. It started out originally as a trading post on the Nobles Emigrant Trail.
In 1863, the abandoned structure became the focal point in the skirmish known as the Sagebrush or Boundary War. The Honey Lakers fortified themselves in the log cabin during a short battle with Plumas County authorities. Hence the “fort” appellation. The building is sometimes referred to as Fort Defiance.
The so-called war was a political dispute between Plumas County officials and the residents of the Honey Lake Valley. At issue was who had jurisdiction over the region—Nevada Territory or the State of California. While it was known that California’s eastern boundary from the Oregon border to Lake Tahoe was the 120th meridian. The problem was no one knew where it was. For a complete version see Sagebrush War.
On August 4, 1984 some 500 members of the fraternal organization known as E Clampus Vitus descended upon Susanville. The occasion was the chartering of the Neversweat Chapter #1863 of the E Clampus Vitus and the dedication of the Pioneer, the oldest establishment in Northeastern California. The organization has been around since days of the California gold rush, and was a spoof on the more refined fraternal organizations of the day. In the 1930s it went through a revival and focused on marking historical sites and having a good time while doing so. The Neversweat Chapter was not the first for Susanville, as a lodge existed in 1868. In the early 1880s there were several lodges in Modoc County.
Neversweats chartering festivities at the Pioneer, August 4, 1984.
Back to that day at hand, the Lassen Advocate summed it by reporting, “By 7:30 a.m. most area residents were awakening for breakfast and routine Saturday tasks, the revelry at the Pioneer was already in full swing. Clampers were 3 to 4 deep at the bar, the beer was flowing and festive mood in the air. The celebrants began arriving at 6:00 a.m. and spilled from the sidewalk into the eastbound lanes of Main Street. Traffic was undoubtedly light during the early morning celebration.”
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The Round Barn, Little Valley, Lassen County, prior to it being moved to Fall River Mills. Courtesy of Tom Glunt
Little Valley is a quirky place in northwestern Lassen County located south of Big Valley and west of Dixie Valley. It was originally known as Little Dixie Valley but over time Dixie was dropped. Accordig to Fairfield (1916), in 1870 Samuel Graves, Joseph Layton and Old Man Ralston were the first settlers. Fairfield stated that George W. Long purchased their holdings, but no official record exists of that transaction.
In the fall of 1871, James K.P. Eldridge (1840-1912) located there and became a well known stop for travelers. Eldridge resided there for the next thirty-six years. In 1914, his widow, Arabella sold the property to R.L. “Bob” Johnson. It was Johnson who built Little Valley’s most iconic landmark the Round Barn. In 1916, R.L. “Bob” Johnson constructed the “Round Barn.” Johnson needed a structure where he could train horses during the winter months, as they were in great demand in World War I. Over the years, the elements, etc., took a toll on the building. By 2004, the Fort Crook Historical Society had started a movement to relocate the barn to their museum complex at Fall River Mills. It was a slow process, but they succeeded, and is now restored to its glory.
Little Valley School, 1916.
Of course, every rural region back in the day had its own school and Little Valley was no exception. The Little Valley School District was established in 1885. In 1926, due to a decline in population the school was abolished. In 1929, Mary Gassaway purchased the abandoned schoolhouse from Lassen County for $75.
In 1930, Little Valley came into prominence with the arrival of the Western Pacific Railroad. Lively times were all the rage, but that is another story.
Since it is August, one of my favorite outings is a venture to Plumas Pines Resort on the west short of Lake Almanor, in the area referred to as Prattville. This, Prattville is not to be confused with the original town of Prattville that was destroyed in 1914 to make way for Lake Almanor. This current Prattville had its humble origins dating back to 1916. It was none other than the forest service who offered 88 lots for a special use permit fee of ten dollars a year..
In 1932, Adelaide and Fred Smith established the Plumas Pines Resort. The Smith’s operated it for the next twenty years. Since that time it has had numerous owners, but its always worthy a visit.
For several years prior to 1912, the Pioneer had a biergarten next door. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall
Earlier this year I wrote about how the Pioneer Saloon was moved from 722 Main Street to 924 Main Street. You can read about it here
924 Main Street, Susanville, July 2024–Jim Chapman
I wrote how the building has been modified over the years. A reader wanted to know what it looks like today.
In 1902, Susanville passed Ordinance No. 17 that prohibited the construction of wooden buildings in the heart of the town’s business district–Main Street frontage buildings from Roop to Gay Streets. In 1912, the ordinance was amended to include all buildings to Weatherlow Street.
Susanville’s Southern Pacific Railroad Depot on Richmond is unique in many ways. By the time the railroad reached Susanville in 1913, the company had already adopted a set of standard depot building plans.
In 1913, the residents wondered what kind of depot they would have. As far as the Southern Pacific were concerned it would be a modest structure, since in their opinion, Susanville was a small community that had no industry. A wooden 26 foot by 62 foot depot was built, being part passenger depot and part frieght shed. It opened to the public on September 14, 1913 with C.B. Morton’s the first depot agent.
Susanville Depot, 1970.
Times quickly changed and by 1921 Susanville boasted two large lumber mills—Fruit Growers Supply Company and Lassen Lumber & Box Company. The original depot was no longer able to meet the needs. In 1927, the Southern Pacific constructed a 75-foot addition and unlike other depots its exterior was stuccoed.
Susanville Depot, September 1978.
Times were rapidly changing, especially with the State of California’s ambitious highway construction plan. As automobile travel became the preferred mode of transportation, travel by train declined. In 1933, rail passenger service at Susanville was eliminated. In 1979, Southern Pacific closed the depot.
In 1942 this railroad logging line had its origins at Halls Flat, near Poison Lake, headed into an easterly direction towards Harvey Mountain. By 1949, its entire length was just a bit over forty miles ending near Slate Mountain. A culinary workers strike abruptly shut down this line. Camp Bunyan was the initial camp at Halls Flat, established by the Red River Lumber Company. It was a mixture of portable permanent structures and housed some 350 men.
Remnants of the water tower tower and pump house at Camp Harvey, June 15, 2024-Cyndi Bera
In 1944, Red River sold to Fruit Growers Supply Company and they continued with operations until the 1949 closure. As previously mentioned in an earlier post on this topic, it depends on who owned the site where the camps were located and what type of conditions included as to removal.
Does any one known what this Camp Harvey remnant is? June 15, 2024 -Cyndi Bera
In 2024, there is hardly any remnants of Camp Bunyan, Puls Camp or Camp Stanford. Camp Harvey is an entirely different story. Fruit Growers had an agreement with Shasta Forest, who managed the property for the heirs of the Red River Lumber Company, that they could take their time in removing the structures–the agreement stated they had up to 1967. Most all of the logging cabins and related structures were removed in 1952. It was mutually agreed to keep the water tank tower with its 10,000 gallon redwood water tank, along with the pumping house and pipes in place for fire protection.
Another 2024 Camp Harvey remnant, June 15, 2024-Cyndi Bera
Tomorrow’s featured post concerns the remnants of the railroad logging Camp Harvey, east of Poison Lake. that closed down in 1949. On a personal note, my father worked there and when his brother returned from World War II they formed Purdy Brothers Logging Company.
A view of Eagle Lake from the summit of Heartfailure Grade, July 25, 2024
On July 25, 2024, my companions and I went for an exploration expedition to two different sites. By the time we entered the Madeline Plains the visibility of the smoke from the Park Fire that originated from Chico (Butte County) dropped to less than five miles. Since our two intended destinations were a bust, we trekked back home via Termo, Grasshopper and Dry Valley.
Eagle Lake, July 25, 2024
Reaching Highway 139 we decided to head south, and make our way around Eagle Lake. Approaching the north shore, the lake’s surface had a gray appearance as if it was dry and it was surreal. At the top of Eagle Lake summit, overlooking Susanville it was blue skies!
