Alas, the photograph featured is not the one the inquiry was about, but another McKissick ranch house in the same vicinity.  The latter is distinct and can be seen along Highway 395, where a green meadow, with a tall stand of cottonwood trees surrounding an abandoned large two-story ranch house. In 1869/70 Daniel McKissick became the first permanent settler of Secret Valley. When the NCO Railroad was completed to Amedee, on the east side of Honey Lake, it created a lot of traffic for those headed north. The McKissick family established a stage stop/hotel to take advantage of the weary travelers. As time marches on, changes were on the horizon and by the the time the French family acquired it in 1925, the building had more or less been converted into a very large bunkhouse. Recently some one wrote a comment about it, and it appears below.

“The cottonwoods that previously lined both sides of the road approaching that old hotel are now gone. But the building remains, as evidenced by the following pictures and story assembled by creep girl who recently went there looking for ghosts for purposes of stimulation she apparently lacked. And I promise you, there were plenty of loud unseen forces at night upstairs at the time that me another cowboy lived downstairs in the 70’s working for a large cattle company.”

Notes From the Field: Abandoned Brothel of Secret Valley
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/notes-from-the-field-abandoned-brothel-of-secret-valley

Tim

Having spent considerable time in the local cemeteries, it is not always quiet resting place many would believe. It actually has a long history. Just because one is initially interrred there, does not mean its that person final resting place. When Fannie Knoch died in 1910 she was buried in the Susanville Cemetery. When her husband David Knoch passed away in 1911, his remains were taken to San Francisco where he was interred. He was not alone, for his wife’s grave was exhumed and transported with him.

In 1921, William S. Brashear filed a complaint with the Lassen County Board of Supervisors because in September of that year a non-family member was buried in his family plot. This I have learned is more common than you think. I received a call from Jack Rager’s family who upon arrival at the Lassen Cemetery were ready to intern his ashes in the family plot, only to find someone, with a headstone, was buried in his place. Then I had to deal with a good samaritan genealogist, who purchased and had placed a headstone for her relatives. It turns when the immediate family saw this, they were incensed, because while the family’s name were the same, they were not related. The headstone was removed, who knows whatever became of it.

Tim

While examining a Lassen County Chamber of Commerce file, it contains a number of mimeograph prints of various literature of the 1960s and 1970s.. The mimeograph machine was an economical way to make copies, since at that time copy machines were on the expensive side. If you have come across one of the old Lassen County Historical Society bulletins, they, too were mimeographed. It was a simple machine. A typed stencil produced, and it was then placed on a drum of the. mimeograph. Then one used the crank and printed out as many copies as desired. One could even change the color ink, though dealing with the ink could be a messy process.

While the above photograph is a press that worked similar to the mimeograph. In this case, wooden box slats were fed through press imprinting them with the name of the citrus grower.

Tim

My one and only golfing experience was history related. It was, one of the unique golf courses designed, and only used once. There were no greens, sand traps or water hazards. But there were hazards. I now understand why golf courses are devoid of boulders or anything that could send a golf ball ricocheting  in any direction. However, of the dozen or so participants, only one had ever played golf.

The course, it should be noted, was a one-hole course, a mile in length. Tee off was on top of one of most historical remnants the Skedaddle Dam. The course went due north to Chalk Bluffs, which was the 1890 construction camp site for the dam. There is a nearby spring, with names carved in stone by some of the construction workers.

In a footnote, Anne Bixby, whose home was at the Emerson Lake Golf Course gathered and donated hundreds of stray golf balls that she collected daily in her yard. Another person checked routinely at the Salvation Army and provided this eccentric group with golf clubs. In the end, a good time was had by all.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday weekend. — Tim

The CCC Secret Valley Camp correspondent with his news release of camp activities concluded in his column how Thanksgiving was celebrated there in 1935: “Thanksgiving Day here in the camp was one day the boys will not forget for a long time to come. The menu was indeed very well cooked and served. Turkey was all over the camp. One of the boys stated, ‘it sure was a well eaten meal.’ I should say it was. In fact there was so much turkey and mince pie and what not that some of the boys did not feel like working the next day. But, ‘we can take it.’ Yes, sir.”

Tim