It being Valentine’s Day, I thought I share something a bit different. In the way back yonder, how real property was exchanged, was done in a variety of ways. During the late 1890s and through the early 1900s, transactions between spouses carried the clause “in consideration of love and affection,” to deed real property, which in most instances was the title to the family residence, as seen in the illustration above.
Tim
The following is an excerpt from article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times on February 11, 2024.
“In parts of California and much of the Great Basin, land owners have declared war on pinyon pines and juniper trees, clearing them from rangelands with chains, bulldozers, saws and herbicides. At the same time, the trees are drawing increasing interest as a source of renewable energy — such as in California’s Lassen County, where 150,000 tons of the trees are fed into the Honey Lake Power Plant each year to generate energy for customers including San Diego Gas & Electric.”
Tim
The Western Pacific Railroad’s Highline also referred to as the Northern California Extension went from Keddie, Plumas County north to Bieber, Lassen County where it connected with the Great Northern Railroad. A major disappointment to many was that regular passenger service was never instituted. Continue reading Western Pacific’s Snowball Special
Smoke Creek is a desert stream that is approximately twenty-six miles in length with an equal portion in California and Nevada. Its headwaters is Big Springs at the southern base of Observation Mountain. The creek descends into a small canyon that early day explorer J. Goldsborough Bruff in 1850 dubbed as Hierioglyphic Creek, due to the numerous petroglyphs on the canyon walls. From there the stream enters a much larger deeper canyon.
On the Nevada side, the lower end of the creek was a welcomed sight for weary travelers of the 1850s and 1860s on the Nobles Emigrant Trail. The water flow decreases the closer one gets to the Smoke Creek Desert.
The terminus of the creek varies as to the kind of water year. It can spread over the scrub brush terrain. I can attest since I played at a golf tourney there over Labor Day Weekend. One of the course’s many hazards were the mosquitos, and they were a hungry lot.
Tim
Since I am repository of a variety items, lately I have been rummaging through the local Clampers file, i.e. the Neversweats Chapter #1863, E Clampus Vitus. In 1990, they proposed to place a plaque at the Susanville Oddfellows Building located at 701 Main Street. For whatever reasons it did not happen. However, they submitted price quote for the cost of a bronze plaque with the following wording:
”Organized in 1879, the Silver Star Lodge No. 135 of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, is one of Susanville’s oldest fraternal organizations. In that same year, the lodge purchased this property for $4,000. This structure built in 1896 was the first two-story red brick building constructed in Susanville. C.E. Clough, Architect & Contractor, Reno, Nevada.”
The proposed plaque had a dedication date of August 4, 1990. Fast forward to 2023, the local Oddfellows organization disbanded years ago. If any one happens to know what year it folded, let me know, so I can do an update. It should be duly the local Clampers chapter went by the wayside a long time ago.
Tim
In 1913, the Lassen Weekly Mail published a special Railroad edition extolling all the virtues that Honey Lake Valley had to offer. In that same year B.R. Holmes purchased the Janesville Hotel. He renamed it the Diamond Mountain Inn. He made numerous improvements and placed wood shingles for the exterior.
The following is a description of the place that appeared in the Mail’s special edition:
”Situated at the foot of Diamond Mountain, in the beautiful and picturesque Honey Lake Valley this hotel offers every attraction that the tired and worn out city denizen can desire. Sparkling mountain water, direct from the snow clad peaks of old Diamond, pure as Nature itself, is piped throughout the hotel.
“Everything modern that goes to make for the comfort of guests is provided, and no better place in the state of California to spend the summer months. Fresh, crisp vegetables are served direct from the garden and purest milk and cream and other farm products will always be found on the table.
”In Janesville will be found some of the finest gardens in Honey Lake Valley and those belonging to the hotel are among the best. The Diamond Mountain Inn is not compelled to serve canned vegetables to its guests, neither does it supplies lay for days in commission houses and the baskets of green grocers.
The hotel is surrounded by a fine growth of old elms, which adds beauty and comfort of then hostelry.
“The Diamond Mountain Inn is the ideal headquarters for the sportsman. Game of all kinds abound in the nearby mountains. Deer may be found within easy distance and opening of every season finds sportsmen on hand. Wild fowl are plentiful and no difficulty getting the limit. Within a few miles my be found cold streams teaming with game mountain trout.”
Confusion happens, Since, many topics,I know so well, I can omit information, not intentionally. During the Ask Tim segment the issue of Antelope Grade was a prime example. What I wrote about last fall was the construction of the grade during the 1940s, the road we know today. What I neglected was information about the original grade. which I will now correct that matter.
In 1867, a crude wagon road was constructed over Antelope. It should be noted prior to then, and even afterwards the preferred route north was via Rice Canyon Road. With the discovery of gold at Hayden Hill and the increased settlement of Big Valley the travelling public clamored for improvements to the grade. In the fall of 1878, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors sent a survey crew to plot a new road over the mountain. The county estimated the cost of the new grade at $1,000. Of that amount individuals had already contributed $300 to the cause. The county budgeted $300. The county stated the balance would have to come from donations. A campaign to raise funds from Big Valley and Hayden Hill provided the balance. By the summer of 1879, most of the work was completed, with volunteer labor making up the workforce.
Tim
Last week, I went through the process to upload newly scanned photographs. I came across this particular one, of the south side of the 700 block Main Street, Susanville, which was not scheduled for any story. A lot of changes have occurred. The former Spalding Drug building was destroyed by fire in 2005. At the far end of the block, the Pioneer, Grand Cafe and what was formerly known as the State do not appear in this photograph since those changes occurred in 1920 and 1934.
Tim
This site was launched on February 5, 2015. Two interesting events back in February 2015. One was the demolition of the Roosevelt Swimming Pool in Susanville. Then, on February 5 there was wild wind storm that in my opinion was very memorable. I never seen so many trees blown down by the wind.
Of course, the web hosting service wants renumeration, and with a very substantial fee increase to boot. Ouch! The bottom line, I renewed for another three years.
Tim