History

Victor Robinson—An NCO Railroad Tragedy

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Robinson’s Coroner’s Inquest Verdict

Unfortunately, when it comes to the history of the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway (NCO) the majority of published accounts cover the basics. Yet, there is a tremendous wealth of material that remains untouched in a variety  of records, which researchers have neglected and this is just one example.

Today’s post is a perfect example of such research. The material comes from the Lassen County Coroner’s Inquest that involved a NCO train collision at Horse Lake. On February 23, 1915, Victor Robinson boarded a NCO passenger train at Lakeview, Oregon  bound for Reno, on his way to Sacramento. According to E.G. Ryder, the Traveling Freight and Passenger Agent for the NCO that the passenger train had stopped at Horse Lake Station and was just starting again when a NCO livestock train, consisting of fourteen cars loaded with cattle, also heading south, struck the passenger train. Ryder was in the caboose of the stock train, so he was not sure of all the details. Ryder stated, “That Robinson was caught between the two cars on the passenger train. There were two coaches and Robinson was between the two coaches on the platform.” When the collision occurred Robinson was ejected from the platform died immediately from injuries. The account is rather confusing, but I shared it with a person familiar with the NCO cars and he was under the impression that Robinson was thrown under the wheels between the two coaches upon impact.

Horse Lake Station, 1915. Courtesy of Nevada Historical Society

Ryder was the only person to testify at the inquest. The twelve men summoned for the coroner’s jury and this was their conclusion, “The Jury came to the verdict that death was caused by a collision of passenger and extra stock train through the negligent neglect of employees in charge of trains operated by the NCO.”

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History

Fruit Growers Logging Railroad Network

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Fruit Growers logging train, Pine Creek Valley, 1940–Russell Gilbert

If you ever spent much time exploring the region west of Eagle Lake, you probably have encountered remnants of Fruit Growers logging railroad system. From 1920 through 1952 Fruit Growers railroad logged, and like many operations, finally converted to truck logging.However, it should be noted railroad  and truck logging worked in tandem—transfer stations.

It was one of those days, that I had a lapse of better judgment should have, but did not take a picture of Shay’s Hole. However, about a mile down the road, we stopped to take pictures of these old railroad ties still in place, August 18, 2016.

In the future this will be a topic we will explore.

’Tim

History

Our Interesting Milestone Dates

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Lassen County Courthouse, circa 1890s. Assembled are county officials, along with the grand jury.

Today, is April Fool’s Day. In 1864, on that date Lassen County was created. Our neighbor to the east, the Battle Born State of Nevada was created on Halloween in1864. That also coincided with a shared birth date of Peter Lassen in 1800.  Susanville’s  founder, Isaac Roop died on Valentines Day 1869 of pneumonia. Hayden Hill’s namesake, Joseph W. Hayden died there on Christmas Day 1884.

There are score of local events that happen to occur on interesting holidays. Personally, however, that Lassen County and Nevada created in the same year, that then and now have so much in common, and the they share unique anniversary dates. It should be duly noted Nevada Day is no longer observed  on Halloween. What a shame, because back in the day and I can attest fun times were bountiful. On a final note, California no longer formally observes  its Admission Day of September 9, and government workers who had the day off then, traded it for Friday  after Thanksgiving.

Tim

History

Black Rock Toll Road Company

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Black Rock Road
Stockton’s recorded map of his proposed toll road.

Early toll roads were just not feasible around these parts. One could easily make a short detour to avoid paying fees. Where attempts to put one in, the road network was already in use by the public. This did not stop Lassen County resident, H.C. Stockton to propose a Honey Lake/Black Rock Toll Road. His one page description of his road was quite vague to say the least.  A portion of the route consisted of the Nobles Emigrant Trail. He did propose a new section of road starting at Wall Spring, and instead of following the old road and going around the base of the Granite Mountains, much like today’s road, he dreamed up some route over these rugged mountains. It should be noted he filed his claim and that was recorded in Humboldt County, Nevada on March 2, 1866.  Nothing ever materialized.

Stockton dabbled in many things in the Honey Lake Valley. In 1865 he built the first Milford Schoolhouse, which still stands, as a converted residence. He operated a sawmill, as well as a flour mill. Seasoned residents may have known two of his great grandsons—Abe Jensen and Jud Jensen.

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History

Lassen’s So Called Mobile Home Culture

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Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart Church on Richmond Road, 1905. In 1909 it was moved to Union Street.

This post has nothing to do with manufactured homes. This, being Holy Week, my intent was to write the 1909 story of moving Sacred Heart Church to a different location, i.e. making it “mobile.” Numerous structures, locally, and mainly residential were moved from one location to another. This practice to this day, goes on nation wide.

Moving a house from South Lassen Street to. Foss Street, 1976

How it works today. A property owner has an old house, which is in the way of a planned development.  Instead of a paying costs for demolition, offers the house for sale, usually one dollar. Of course, there is a catch. To buy the house at that price, one has to pay the cost to move the structure to a new location.

Happy Easter to my friends, Hannah who lives in a 1920s mobile home and my friend Scott, with his architectural expertise, has to deal with my definition—eye roll please. Not intentional, but it may torment Scott, since I send a occasional message with a photograph of such structures.

Tim

History

A Short-Lived Knights of Columbus Council

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A portion of the local Knights of Columbus assembled at the Elk’s Lodge, 1924. Courtesy of Jean Kern

Any one who has ever been involved  with a organization, whether community oriented or fraternal, knows full well that they have a tendency to have peaks and valleys. However, there times when the organization reaches a low point and never recovers.

This was the case with Mount Lassen Council #2549 of the Knights of Columbus—Susanville’s first catholic organization.  Unfortunately, there is not a lot of records about this particular organization.  Its initial membership was 70, with men recruited from Susanville, Westwood, Quincy and Portola. Delegates from Chico, Los Angeles and Reno were on hand with the formation of Mount Lassen Council #2549 of the Knights of Columbus.  It was instituted on March 26, 1924.  After Mass was celebrated, the members paraded up Main Street from the Sacred Heart Church to the Elks Lodge to have their photograph taken. From there they went to the Knoch Hall were various degrees were conducted, and to organize the new council. The day was topped off with a banquet at the St. Francis Hotel.

Initially meetings were rotated between Susanville and Westwood. However, by 1930 interest in the organization had waned, and on the eve of its tenth anniversary of formation the chapter was dissolved.

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History

Lassen National Park—Thinking Outside the Box

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Cinder Cone and Lassen Peak, 1911

When Lassen Volcanic National Park was established in 1916, Congress only approved an annual budget of $5,000. This meager funding was a far cry from what was needed for basic improvements in a park that had none.

Yet, Lassen Park advocates were a persistent bunch and they explored a variety of avenues. Whatever the case may be, their lobbying tactics, however, were unsuccessful..One of the park’s boosters came up with an interesting idea upon the passing of  former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt who died in 1919, It was suggested to rename the park after Roosevelt. Not only would it be a memorial in his honor, but it was considered a venue to overcome its financial dilemma with Congress. An interesting thought that went no where.

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History, News

Tuesday Tidbit – T&A Update

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Lassen County Fair Parade, with the T&A in the background—Margaret Purdy

Note: I did come across this picture of the T&A, so I wanted to share.

Some one wanted to know about the history of Susanville’s T&A Lounge located on the corner of Main and Sacramento Streets. In 1939, my grandparents, Ira and Margaret Purdy bought the Main
Street frontage between Sacramento and Spring Streets. My grandfather had a gas station and garage on the corner of Main and Spring Streets. Ira sold the vacant lot on the corner of Main and Sacramento to Tony Tonin and Al Surian—hence the name T&A. It was a short lived partnership, but Surian’s son, Gino, still owns the establishment.

Tim

History

Those Late March Snowfalls

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Main Street, Susanville, 1927. Note you can see where the fire burned above the Elks Lodge in 1924.

Late spring snowfalls are not unusual. Just like their counterparts of early fall snowfalls, they share a common trait—the snow melts quickly.

On March 25,1924 the Susanville area received anywhere between 18 inches to two feet of snowfall. Within twenty-four hours there was not a trace of snow. The local farmers rejoiced over their short-lived bounty, it being the driest winter on record to date. Spring rains were practically non-existent. It was a prelude of thigs to come. California would experience its worst forest fire to season to date.An interesting tidbit, the region did receive any measureable precipitation until September 15.

Tim

Exploring Lassen County's Past