If this post is disjointed, because my thoughts are out of control. However, I was served eviction notice yesterday, to leave the premises by Sunday night, April 12. Long story, for another time.
The old Baxter property on Miller Road, next to the cemetery, sound appealing, it being cozy. The agent, Cheryl Holmes,, unfortunately we have not been able to contact
If you have any short term and or either long term housing please contact as soon as possible.
If you do not hear back me, I have jury duty duty today.
Twice in Lassen County’s history there have local militia units of the California National Guard. The last time was during World War II. Initially, there was to be one large unit for Lassen and Modoc counties. That plan was neither feasible or practical and was dropped.
A new strategy was drafted. Inside each county, especially in large rural counties like Lassen, several local militia units would be formed. There duties were to protect the area in case of enemy invasion. Their involvement was confined to the boundaries of the county. Uniforms, guns and ammunition would be provided to each unit. They would also be trained in guerilla warfare. In Lassen County it fell upon the Farm Advisor (T.S. Brown) to organize these units.
On May 20 1942, the first organization meeting was held in Susanville. Local units were created for Susanville, Bieber, Doyle, Janesville and Standish. By the first of June, the Susanville Militia had 70 members. It became known as Thomas Tucker Militia—named after Thomas Tucker the first casualty from Susanville in World War I. Fortunately, this volunteer force never had to be activated. At the conclusion of the war, each individual’s enrollment in the militia was automatically cancelled.
Susanville’s Methodist Church, circa 1896. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall
It being Easter Sunday, I thought it would only be appropriate to provide some of the early history of religion in our region. The Methodist Church had a profound influence on the Honey Lake Valley. In 1860, this church held their first service in Susanville. By 1905, there were Methodist Churches in Janesville, Johnstonville, Standish and, of course, Susanville, more than any other denomination.
The altar at Sacred Heart Church, circa 1911
The Roman Catholics first made its appearance in 1868, holding Mass at the home of Ned Mulroney a short distance south of Susanville, near Gold Run. The Catholic population in the region was small, so in many instances they may only see a priest one or two times a year. In 1892, they built their first church on Richmond Road. In 1909, it was moved to the site of the present church on Nevada Union Streets.
Other religious affiliations slowly made their presence known such as the Church of Latter Day Saints who first made their presence in Big Valley in the 1880s, before slowly drifting south towards Susanville. The Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and others followd suit.
Things do changes and some times rapidly. When I was out to the Smoke Creek Ranch, in 1979, the ranch house was still there and three years later it was gone.
Smoke Creek Ranch, September 29, 1979
For those who did know where this place is, it is located just across the Lassen County line and In Washoe County, Nevada. Actually, the upper portion of where the reservoir is located, a portion is located in Lassen County.
The bunk and cookhouse, Smoke Creek Ranch.
There is no longer public access to the ranch property.
The Lassen Flouring Mill, 1901. Courtesy of the A.J. Mathews family.
Back. in its day, it was a notable landmark. It was the second flour mill constructed in the Honey Lake Valley. Work began on the mill in the spring of 1864 near Johnstonville, approximately where the defunct Gables is located. The machinery came from a mill located on Cow Creek, Shasta County, which belonged to John Briceland. The operation was leased to various individuals and it was not until the 1870s that stability of the ownership came to be. In 1875, William Hall and Henry Snyder became partners and remained until it closed.
In 1907, Snyder desired to retire and move to a milder climate. Hall purchased Snyder’s interest, but he too, decided to retire and by 1908, the mill shut down. The mill sat idle for over a decade, and in 1919, as part of the liquidation of Hall’s Estate the mill was sold to M.A. Taylor of Oakland. Taylor attempted to sale it, but there was no interest. He gutted the machinery and took it to the Bay area. Sam Alexander of Standish, salvaged some of the lumber from the building which he used to build a barn at his place.
When the decision was finally made by the Red River Lumber Company to locate a mill at Mountain Meadows, there was still the obstacle of a railroad. Actually, the selection process was a volatile one, which one can read in Red River: The Early Years. On January 29, 1912, Red River entered into a contract with the Southern Pacific Railroad to construct a 125 mile railroad from Fernley, Nevada to Mountain Meadows, to the town that would be named Westwood. As an incentive, Red River guaranteed the Southern Pacific that all their freight would be handled by this line for a period of five years. In addition, it was understood that once Red River was ready to expand north, the Southern Pacific would extend its line to Klamath Falls, Oregon. However, that is another story, though Red River gave serious consideration to build a second mill near Lookout. Continue reading Westwood’s First Train→
Byers’ old Baxter Creek general store that was later moved his Tule ranch and operated by his nephew, Jim McClelland, May 1975
Today, is Lassen County’s birthday, it being created on April 1, 1864. Many people may not realize but the original proposed name for Lassen County, was Byers County. So who was Byers, and why was he to be honored? In 1858, James Davis Byers (1825-1902) purchased some property along Baxter Creek near Janesville. However, he remained a Quincy resident for sometime. In February 1863, Byers served as a Plumas County Deputy Sheriff, and played a significant role in the Sagebrush War. The final result of that conflict led to the creation of Lassen County the following year. Plumas County Assemblyman Robert A. Clark introduced the legislation to create the new county. Clark proposed to name it Byers County, but Byers declined. Byers suggested that it should be named after Peter Lassen, and thus the Lassen name was applied to the new county.
Byers would spend his entire life in the region, engaging in cattle ranching. He passed away in 1902 at the age of seventy-seven.
Situated on the southern edge of the Smoke Creek Desert is Sand Pass. Personally, I like stop there, because of the view of Smoke Creek. At the summit there is a very large gravel pit. The purpose was to provide ballast for the Western Pacific Railroad.
After Fruit Growers Supply Company closed their Susanville mill,it initially appeared that it would be sold to a liquidation firm. Fruit Growers had been in negotiations with Crook & Emmerson to sale them the mill, but negotiations stalled. Finally on June 12, 1963 they reached an agreement and the mill and adjoining residential section was sold to Crook & Emmerson for $875,000.
June 13, 1965 —Hank Martinez
Crook & Emmerson’s new enterprise was known as the Eagle Lake Lumber Company. All went well until the early morning hours of June 13, 1965 when a fire broke out in the planing mill. The sprinkler system there was inoperable as the structure was being renovated. By the time the fire department arrived, it was too late, as a large portion of the plant was engulfed in flames. After three hours, the fire destroyed the planing mill, the dry kilns, the abandoned box factory and an estimated five to six million board feet of finished lumber. The estimated loss was between $5 to $6 million.
The aftermath—FGSCo.
It should be noted that Eagle Lake Lumber Company evolved into Sierra Pacific Industries.
It is always fascinating what one may come across in the most unexpected places. A lava cave near BlyTunnel was converted into a dwelling of sorts by construction workers at the tunnel, and then abandoned after activity ceased there. Jim Martin, a travel writer for the Sacramento Bee did a feature article on Eagle Lake in 1968 and made mention of this unique residence and wrote: “But before you get there, you will notice a metal tank on your left. If you park there, you will find a trail nearby. By following this trail you will come upon a lava cave which has been converted into living quarters. It looks like a place for gnomes or some characters from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. It once was used by construction workers and goodness knows who else. It is deserted now.”
The old Baxter property on Miller Road, next to the cemetery, sound appealing, it being cozy. The agent, Cheryl Holmes,, unfortunately we have not been able to contact
