History

Twenty Years Ago—The Last Mill Closure

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Sierra Pacific Mill—Lassen County Times, December 18, 2003.

On December 11, 2003, Ed Bond, spokesman for the Sierra Pacific Industries announced the Susanville mill would close some time in early 2004. Bond stated a number of issues that led to the closure. One, of course, was a lack of available timber. It was noted that in 1990 the Lassen National Forest sold 108 million board feet of timber and by 2002 that number had dropped to 17.9 million board feet. Those who have an affiliation in this industry, were not surprised by the closure. Actually, many and my self included were amazed that it had not happened years earlier.

The community reaction was all doom and gloom. Fast forward nearly twenty years later, with the closure of the California Correctional Center and the commentary is the same. Guess what, the town has not shriveled up and blown away.

Tim

Note for the record: The mill closed down on May 3, 2004  and portions of the mill dismantled. One of the features that still remain is the water tower, which found a new life as a cell tower.

History

Wendel and the 1990s

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Remnants of the Wendel Post Office, to the left, January 26, 2020

For the small railroad community the 1990s was a transformative decade, but not in a good way. May be Wendel had developed an inferiority complex because it had so many prior names—Upper ot Springs, then Hot Springs Station, Smithon, Purser among a few a few and finally in 1915 Wendel.

Like many communities it experienced its peaks and valleys. Unfortunately, by the 1990s, the valleys got so deep, that the writing of its demise was just a matter of time. The first blow occurred on December 3, 1993, that last day the Wendel Post Office ceased to exist. To be quite honest, I was amazed it was not closed earlier. This was due because it was housed in a dilapidated old building, not safe for the last Postmistress Florence Brandon or the public.

It was a busy day for folks to obtain the last cancellation mark.

It was not much longer Wendel received its fatal blow. After numerous hearings the Union Pacific Railroad was granted permission  to abandon an 85-mile segment of railroad between Wendel and Likely.

In December 1996, the Union Pacific began demolition of many of its buildings in Wendel. One of which was the Mile Post Inn, a twenty four a day cafe that provided meals and housing for railroad employees—but the restaurant was open to the public. Personally, I enjoyed many meals, stopped there for breakfast on my way to explore to explore then desert, and stopping back for dinner on the return.

Tim

History

Susanville’s Hamburger Shack, 1937

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October 7, 1937–C.H. Bennett Collection

This was an interesting  photograph by C.H. Bennett of the Secret Valley CCC Camp. The only thing I know is what Bennett wrote was Mary Buckner, was the owner. I have no idea where it was located, but in. background is a two-story cement building, that I am unable to place. Label this post as a work in progress.

October 7, 1937–C.H. Bennett Collection

Fortunately, Susanville still has its own “hamburger shack” known today as the Frosty Mill on North Ash Street.  The food is great, prices you can not beat. Something one does hear much about, the establishment is now in its third generation of ownership.

Tim

History

A Strange Insurance Policy

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LLB
A 1930s view of Lassen Lumber & Box Company

In October 1917, C. Edgar Cotton of Spokane, Washington, R.D.. Baker of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and Charles McGowan of Klamath Falls, Oregon, spent two weeks in the region inspecting Forest Service timberlands. They became acquainted with Susanville businessman, M.O. Folsom. Their initial contact with Folsom was in connection with possible mill sites.

This time around, Susanville was not going to let this be the kind of missed opportunity it had experienced with Red River Lumber Company and the Western Timber Treating Company. On October 26, 1917 a citizen’s meeting was held. with approximately seventy people in attendance. Assemblyman A.J. Mathews presided over the meeting and gave an outline of the situation. McGowan and Cotton had already examined proposed mill sites. The proposed to build a sawmill, box factory and planing mill at Susanville that would initially employee 250 men. This, of course, was contingent on the residents donating the property. The site they desired was the Winchester property, located just east of the Susanville Depot.

In a democratic manner, C.E. Emerson, Jules Alexander, M.O. Folsom, L.R. Cady and Russell Brownell were elected by ballot as the general operating committee. It was proposed to offer the company 40 acres, with water rights and an 8,000 cash bonus.. McGowan and Company, after all, had the option to build its plant in the vicinity of Westwood Junction to reduce the cost of transporting the logs to the mill.

It was not until the first week in March 1918 that the news was released to the community that McGowan and Cotton would establish its mill at Susanville. By the end of the month construction of the mill began.

Lassen Lumber & Box Company’s mill under construction, 1918–Belle Dorsey

This new enterprise incorporated as the Lassen Lumber & Box Company. To protect the interest of the Citizen’s Committee, an agreement between the committee and Lassen Lumber was negotiated. The foremost provision was the company build a sawmill with a daily capacity of 70,000 board feet. In addition, if for some reason for mill should be destroyed fire before January 1, 1921, and the company did not rebuild, the property would revert back to the town.

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News

Last Call for 2024 Calendars

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Willow Creek flume, 1925,  is a featured photograph.

Just a friendly reminder to buy your calendar, as inventory is low at this point. Margie’s Book Nook has ten, and I only have one available. This particular calendar features one of the most unique selection of historic photographs I have put together. As one person noted, “You really picked a nice variety of unknowns for us Lassen County amateur historians.”

Tim  

History

The Tax Man Cometh

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With the first installment of county property taxes due shortly, let’s take a look back in time.  In the first year of Lassen County’s operation, 1864-65,  there was a total assessed valuation of $239,558 in land improvements and $439,301 in personal property. The County had an original tax rate of $1.25 on each $100 assessed value for County purposes, plus collected another $1.25 on each assessed value for State purposes. The total collection in taxes amounted to $16, 971.47 of which the County received $8,485.57.

In the County’s first year of operation, the District Attorney attempted to collect $958.95 in back taxes, which represented nearly eleven percent of the County’s budget. The District Attorney filed lawsuits ranging from A.H. Hardin who owed 90 cents in a special assessment levied by the Janesville School District  to $164.40, which Isaac Roop owed on his municipal Piute Creek water system.

Tim

History

You Asked-Susanville’s Compton Park

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The former Compton House,North Weatherlow Street, Susanville—Jere Baker

Compton Park name implies it is a recreational facility, when in a fact it is a small housing tract. It is located along Chestnut and Weatherlow Streets. On November 1st, 1945 the Compton family took possession of the 110-acre Taylor Ranch, which comprised a region on North Weatherlow Street. It was soon after that, Claude Compton and his son James began to subdivide the property for homesites. It did garner attention, as it was the first subdivision in Susanville since 1922.  On January 15, 1946 the Compton Park subdivision was approved containing twenty-three lots.

 Tim

History

A Two Beer Limit

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Fruit Growers Camp Harvey Commissary, 1947–FGS Company

While yesterday we explored Rev. Parsons’ attempt to make Susanville a “dry” town” the Fruit Growers Supply Company did something unusual in their logging camps after Prohibition. Fruit Growers in their logging camps did something radical—they served beer.  However, since it was known many loggers over indulged in alcoholic  beverages away from camp, Fruit Growers was well aware of that fact. However, Fruit Growers’ policy then understood the value of taking care of your employees, they reciprocated the same to their employer.. To prevent any kind of over indulgence, one could only have two beers. As a preventive measure, for some one to sneak passed that limit, one was served the two beers at the beginning. People who worked in those Fruit Growers logging camps that I interviewed stated there were no issues or associated problems with the beer. There were some that thought. it was a nice amenity and stated how well they were treated by the company.

Tim

 

History

Rev. Parsons’ Anti-Saloon Crusade

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Methodist Church, 1905
Susanville’s Methodist Church, 1905

In January 1908, the Rev. N.M. Parsons of the Susanville Methodist Church began the first official prohibition movement in the town. The issue had informally been discussed since the early 1880s when there was a local chapter of the Women’s ChristianTemperance Union. Parson began his campaign by focusing on the social ills caused by alcohol. He circulated petitions to have the issue placed on the next municipal election ballot, scheduled for April 11, 1908. The  City Trustees accepted Parsons’ petitions and placed the matter before the voters. There was one stipulation: it would be an advisory measure as to whether saloons should be banned.

It was a widely debated topic. The 1908 budget for the town was $3,498. There were two main revenue sources. One was the property tax assessment and it generated $1,815. The other was the liquor licenses which provided $1,424 to the town’s treasury. The town was operating on very lean times, with no spare funds for civic improvements.

Once thse figures were revealed, Parsons’ ballot measure was doomed. After all, if the City lost the money generated from liquor licenses, the only alternative to make up for the loss would be to increase property taxes. That appeared to be the voter’s consensus. The issue generated the highest voter turnout to date with 157 votes cast. The results: 110 votes to remain “wet” and 47 “dry.”

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History, News

Shaw Library Presents “Profiles”

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Cover of Journal No. 34 of the Shaw Historical Library.

Profiles: The Men and Women Who Have Made History in the Land of Lakes is the latest annual publication of the Shaw Library.  If you are not familiar with these publications they are quality books in both content and production.

I have not had an opportunity to read my copy yet. There is a biography on Isaac Roop, as well as Sarah Winnemucca, Reub Long and a host of others. These are great books, and I highly recommend them.

Copies of “Profiles” can be purchased in Susanville at Margie’s Book Nook or by contacting the Shaw Historical Library by email at shawlib@oit.edu or by calling 541-885-1686.

Tim

Exploring Lassen County's Past