It is a Tuesday and only a few more to go before we start a new year. The crossing of Susan River from Susanville was necessary for commerce. It should be noted on the north side of the bridge is where South Weatherlow Street ends. On the south side bridge is the beginning of Richmond Road.
Tim
In the spring of 1887, the NCO Railroad abruptly fired its General Manager, Edgar Heriot. This coincided with railroad’s desire to build 45-mile extension north from Junction House, better known today as Hallelujah Junction. Heriot was replaced with Erasmus Gest. The 67-year-old Ohioan was known as a cantankerous individual. The plans revealed the railroad was to bypass Susanville. While Moran’s heard that town’s pleas, Gest had made up his mind. Gest stated it was a waste of money to build to Susanville, referencing to it as a “no place.” His replacement, T.F. Dunaway remarked Gest’s judgment to bypass Susanville “. . . one of most monumental blunders, I have ever known a sane man to commit.”
While the railroad construction moved forward to end up at Amedee on the east side of Honey Lake. Economic conditions stalled for an another extension for nearly decade. When work was resurrected again in 1899, Susanville clamored for a feeder line, and Gest was not about to let it happen. In July 1899, Gest testified at the California Board of Equalization hearing and with total frankness said “The people in Susanville don’t deserve a railroad.” Gest’s animosity towards the town was odd, since he never visited it.
Tim
This is will be ongoing search for 2026. No documented information has surfaced so far. Individuals consulted have sketchy recollection or peripheral knowledge. Who knows may be some one will share this post to a person that could enlighten us.
Tim
In 1862, William J. Young opened a photography studio, the first of its kind in Susanville. It was. located on the north side of Main Street’s 600 block. In the same year, he was elected Justice of Peace, Honey Lake Township, Plumas County. Little is known about his photographic work. If the fall of 1863, he sold the business to a man by the name of Townsend, first name unknown. By 1865, Young had moved to the Idaho Territory with its mining bonanza underway.
In the fall of 1869, Young did make appearance in Susanville. This time with a stereopticon show. The local newspaper stated Young lack the skills of a good “orator” and that he should stick with photography.
Tim
Goumaz, located 16 miles west of Susanville was a former railroad siding of the Fernley & Lassen. In 1927-28, Lassen Lumber & Box Company established a. logging camp there, that employed 75 men. Today, it has been transformed into a small campground of the Lassen National Forest.
Tim
Once you pass Eagle Lake north on Highway 139, the next broad expanse you see to your right is Grasshopper Valley. When intrepid explorer J. Goldsborough Bruff in 1850 noted it was lake, who later in 1876 stated it had to be what was later Eagle Lake. In wet years, the lower portion of the valley is flooded, and back in Bruff’s day especially so, since there were no dams at Said Valley or Slate Creek, so even a greater flow of water in the basin. Continue reading Grasshopper Valley, Lassen County
In this day with the internet, some might think is quaint. However, the postal service provided a key role for people to communicate. Actually, there are several people that I still exchange letters the old the fashioned way. Personally, I think it is rather nice, to check the mailbox and there is a letter for me.
The Susanville Post Office was established in 1859. A little known fact, it carried the postal cancellation of Susanville, U.T., as in Utah Territory. Nevada had not yet been created and Utah’s western boundary was that of California.
The biggest problem for the new post office was receiving mail for distribution. On March 3, 1860, Susanville resident wrote to Col. F.W. Lander in Washington, D.C. about the state of the postal affairs: “There is an effort being made to have a daily mail established from Oroville from the first of June to the 30th of November, and semi-weekly for the balance of the year. Now Sir, if you could get the same service continued on through Indian Valley which needs a P.O. having about three hundred inhabitants through Richmond to Susanville with a P.O. at each place you would confer a great favor on the people here about five hundred in number and constantly increasing (There having been rich mines discovered here since your departure.)
“There was three routes established last year, one from Shasta, one from Oroville (the route you went down) and another from LaPorte all arriving at Susanville. There was however been no service on either of them and if we could get the above route from Quincy it would answer us better than all three of those which were recommended by Judge Crane without knowing the actual wishes of the people.”
During the 1860s witnessed improvements with the Idaho-California Stage Company that had the mail contract from Chico to Idaho via Susanville. In 1869, conditions for receiving mail was stabilized with the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
In July 1925, United States Postal Inspectors paid Susanville a visit. They deemed that residential mail service should be implemented. There was work to be done. At least, in 1923, Susanville had implemented a housing number system. The postal service would provide residents free of charge mail boxes or the other option they would cut a mail slot in the front door. In November 1925, Postmaster C.D. Mathews ordered the installation of street signs.
On December 1, 1925 residential mail delivery was instituted. E.F. Unruh had the route that included the areas associated with the Fruit Growers Supply Company and Lassen Lumber & Box Company. He made his deliveries on a bicycle. R.C. Connor had the Halltown and Milwood districts and was provided an auto to make his deliveries. Herman Liidner had the incorporated city limits and he did his deliveries on foot.
A subscriber, some months ago sent me some old logging postcards printed by Susanville’s Eastman Studios. Many assumed they were attributed to Red River Lumber Company’s logging/sawmill operations at Westwood. These photographs depict the operations of the Shasta Land & Timber Company east of Redding. In 1897, it became known as the Terry Mill. In 1917, the Terry Mill at Bella Vista suffered major fire damage and was a financial blow to that company. In 1920, the Red River Lumber Company acquired Terry. Red River only operated the mill for a couple of years. In 1925, the logging railroad at Round Mountain was pulled up and the rails were sent to Westwood.
Tim
