Susanville’s Distinct Southern Pacific Depot

July 31, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

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.

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.

Depot 78 — 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.

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History

Logging Camp Remnants-The Harvey Line

July 30, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

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

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History

Camp Harvey Photo Gallery

July 29, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

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.

loggers cabin — Camp Harvey – interior of a logger’s cabin

Tim

History

Eagle Lake & Park Fire Smoke

July 28, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

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.

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!

Tim

History

Susanville City Council’s Pay Day

July 27, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Flora Neuhaus, served as Mayor of Susanville, 1926-27–Phyllis Beard

For over three decades since the founding of the City of Susanville, the council members were true volunteers. Serving in such a position can be a thankless job at times. In 1936 it was the topic at hand. On April 14, 1936, voters not only were asked to vote for two new council members, but whether the city the council members should receive some form of minimal compensation for their time and effort. Of the 141 votes cast, it was approved to pay the council members with 82 yes; 53 against and 16 who declined to vote on the issue. The mayor would receive a sum of $30 a month and members of the council $20 a month.

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Champs Flat, Lassen County

July 26, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

This sagebrush flat located west of Spalding Tract was an active place back in day for summer grazing of livestock, mainly from Tehama County. In 1873, the Champlin Brothers: George (1827-1903) and Lester (1848-1907), Tehama County stockmen, incorporated this area for summer range for sheep. George Champlin, a ‘49er, was associated with Leland Stanford, aka Stanford University etc. Stanford’s attorney, Ariel Lathrop, who happened to be Stanford’s brother-in-law and partner, with a Vina, Tehama County ranch. In May-June 1899, Champlin and his partner, John Boggs, sold their Lassen County property to Jane Lathrop Stanford for $8,000, who immediately transferred the property to the Stanford University.

In July 1924 the university sold the summer range to J.J. Fleming of the Honey Lake Valley and for whom the state wildlife unit at Honey Lake is named for.

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History

Reflection Lake—Lassen Park

July 25, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Reflection. Lake is. located in the northwest corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a short distance east of Manzanita Lake. The lake was originally known as Stockton Lake. It was so named after John Stockton, a Shasta County physician, surveyor and civil engineer. In 1875 Stockton, along with William Coffey had plans to develop it into a fish farm, but that proposal never went anywhere.

In 1926, B.F. Loomis purchased a 40-acre parcel near Reflection Lake. Loomis an avid park supporter offered the property. to the park, in hopes the park would make the headquarters there. In 1927, the park announced Mineral would be the site for the headquarters. The decision did not deter his support of the park. Loomis went ahead and built a museum there. On February 4, 1929, Loomis donated the property to the park. That summer the park in consideration of the donation, granted Loomis a life estate to five acres that allowed to him continue to maintain the museum and gave him the privilege of building a residence and photographic studio. Loomis died 1935.

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History

It Was Hot In 1931

July 24, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

It has been toasty warm around these parts in July. It should be noted the summer of 1931 was of Susanville’s hottest and driest on record. A heat wave lasted nearly two months, with little respite. In July and August, only eight times did the high temperature dip below 90. In July there were nine consecutive days when the high was over 100. On July 19 and 20 was it ever hot, both days registered 106. It was also dry. On June 16th .03 inches of precipitation fell. Not another raindrop fell on the town for the next four months, until October 17th when .30 inches was recorded.

In cae you were wondering the first week of July 1876, incidentally witnessed Susanville’s hottest ever recorded temperature–108 degrees–and it was reached on three different days.

Tim

News

Tuesday Tidbit Update

July 23, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Ash Valley School, as viewed from the cemetery, 2002.

For your summer time treat, starting next Tuesday, July 30 through mid-September there will be Tuesday Tidbit post. One can thank Mother Nature and the heat wave for that. This has not been ideal conditions for outdoor explorations.

Tim

History

Susanville’s Fruit Growers Townsite

July 22, 2024 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

A family residential section of Fruit Growers, 1921—Ed Standard

In 1919, when Fruit Growers Supply Company planned to build a mill at Susanville, they saw many benefits. Instead of the situation they had at Hilt, a company town they inherited. They felt confident that Susanville entrepreneurs would fill void, especially when it came it to housing. Nothing went according to plan. First of all, Fruit Growers hired 1500 men, the majority with families, which that figure was larger than the population of Susanville.

Fruit Growers dormitories, 1921–Ed Standard

Fruit Growers had to go plan B and build affordable housing for its employees. A residential district, Fruit Growers Townsite was laid out to the west of the plant. Half the townsite contained 80 cottages, the other half dormitories and apartments. It cost Fruit Growers $245,000 to build the housing project. While Fruit Growers is gone today, many of these buildings remain. Another item are the street names, a legacy of the state’s citrus landscape—Sunkist, Monrovia, Upland, Orange, Limoneira to name a few.