Students at Johnstonville School during the 1895-1896 school year |
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From the Files of the Lassen Historical Society: Johnstonville School |
by Susan Couso
As Honey Lake Valley land was claimed and the area was settled by emigrants, local residents understood that the ‘American Dream’ could not be realized without a proper education for their children. Small schools were set up around the valley, and those individuals with some education prepared to pass their knowledge on to others. Education meant a future of prosperity and freedom for everyone.
Johnstonville, with its lush fertile land, excellent for agriculture, had lured many settlers, and these settlers first built a small schoolhouse in the fall of 1863.
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It was a simple board building erected on a section of Eber Bangham’s ranch land. During that first school year, 1863-64, the classes were all taught by Daniel Murray.
Johnstonville was, at that time, called ‘Toadtown’, so named because of the mass of toads that would often appear after thunderstorms swooshed through the valley. Apparently, there are several ‘Toadtowns’ in the United States, so this must be a somewhat common occurrence.
As a result of the creation of Lassen County on April 1st, 1864, the Board of Supervisors met for the first time on June 6th. At that first meeting, they outlined several school districts, and the Susan River District, which encompassed the Toadtown area, was created.
The Toadtown school was designated as the official polling place for the district and became the center of the small community. Later, in December of 1864, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors officially named the town, ‘Johnstonville’, in honor of the well-liked English emigrant brothers, Robert and David Johnston, who were some of the first to bring their families to the area.
The first teacher of this new era was David Johnston’s wife, Caroline, but after just a few months, she turned the job over to E. W. Pratt.
As the number of students grew, rooms were added to the school building, and by 1902 there were ten grades being taught. The area was booming, and the number of students swelled.
Extra instruction was also given to those students who wished to become teachers, and in 1902, three students graduated from the teaching program. At this time there was no high school in Lassen County, and those wishing for a higher education had to travel out of the area.
After almost one hundred years, the old school building had become inadequate. In 1961, ground was broken for the new Johnstonville School. It was completed in 1962 and continues to serve today as the center of the community.
The old, original school bell was moved to the new school, and the original school building, which still stands, was sold into private ownership. You can still make out the shape of the original school on the northwest corner of Johnstonville Road and Highway 395, just to the east of the current building.
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If you are a fan of our weekly history stories you should join the Lassen County Historical Society! |
It’s a fun way to be a part of our county’s rich history. When you sign up, you’ll receive regular Historical Society newsletters with interesting stories and information. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in area history.
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Lake Forest Pine Needle Collection Day Set For May 14th |
Pine needle collection day in the Lake Forest community is scheduled for Saturday, May 14th, from 8:00a.m., until 2:00p.m., at the lot across from the Firehall on Janet Way.
There will be four dumpsters this year.
This event is a great opportunity to get those pine needles and small branches raked up and disposed of, making your property and the community fire safe. No trash, please.
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Come meet the Lake Forest Volunteer Fire Department board, Fire Chief and volunteers. Light snacks and Firewise brochures will be provided.
For more information, please call (530)257-9593.
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Soroptimist’s Annual Margarita Fest Scheduled for May 13th |
The Susanville Chapter of Soroptimist International will be holding their annual Margarita Fest Fundraiser on Friday, May 13th, and the event is promising to be better than ever with 10 flavors of Margaritas to sample, a silent auction, a Nacho Bar, a salsa contest and live music by the band Timeless.
The Margarita Fest, held from 6:00 to 9:00p.m., in Jensen Hall at the fairgrounds, has attracted a growing number of attendees each year and always promises to be an enjoyable time.
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Soroptimist International of Susanville is a non-profit women’s organization with the sole purpose in bettering the lives of women and children in our local community and around the world.
Each year the club’s dedicated members work diligently on contributing to our town through a multitude of service efforts which include $6,000 in scholarships and education awards, providing necessities for 5-6 families in need during the holiday season and supporting other local non-profits like Lassen Family Services and senior services programs.
The group also works closely with the young women and girls of the community – hosting empowerment workshops, and sponsoring the S-Club; a group of junior high, high school and college student community service clubs.
Tickets for Margarita Fest are available at Axia Home Loans and Haven Salon and are $25. You must be 21 to attend.
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33rd Annual Junior Fishing
Derby Scheduled for May 21st
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One of Susanville’s best-loved traditions, the annual Lassen Sportsmens Club Junior Fishing Derby along Paiute Creek and the Susan River, is scheduled to be held May 21st, and kids aged 2 to 15 are invited to come enjoy a beautiful morning of fishing. The derby is co-sponsored by the City of Susanville, the County of Lassen and the SIR Tribal Business Council.
The busy morning starts at 5:00 with free registration and check-in at the park. Don’t forget to dress warmly because mornings are still chilly along the river this time of year. Registration and check-in end at 9:00a.m.
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Derby prizes will be awarded after the 3:00p.m. close of the event, and winners don’t need to be present to win. Kids shooting for the ‘largest fish’ prizes should be off the river by 2:45p.m. and must be in line for weigh-in by 3:00p.m to qualify. Door prizes will be drawn at the same time and for these winners must be present.
This year kids in the 6 to 15 year-old age group have a chance to win bicycles from Grocery Outlet, a rod and reel from Western Nevada Supply or tackle boxes from Larry’s Spirit Gas.
For the 2 to 5 year-old fisher-folk prizes include bicycles from Pregill Insurance, rod and reel from Western Nevada Supply and tackle boxes from Larry’s Spirit Gas.
There will also be sportsmanship prizes sponsored by the Dieter family and Bill Kauffman.
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Sawmill # 1 at the Lassen Lumber & Box Company |
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Susanville Houses Reno Wobbly In Jail
Delegated to Take Charge of Lassen Lumber Strike, but Gets in Bad
May 5, 1923
A wobbly leader from Reno who went to Susanville to take charge of the Lassen Lumber and Box company proposed strike on May day, came to grief and is now held in the Lassen county jail.
The arrest was made on May 2, according to reliable information received in Reno.
The man, whose name is unknown, blew into the outskirts of Susanville. A Susanville wobbly leader who was on hand to call out the fruit workers, was encountered by an officer before he had accomplished any harm, and was placed under arrest.
The Reno wobbly happened upon the scene and during the scene that ensued the officer was rendered unconscious. The Susanville fruit worker picket, or representative of the wobblies, made his escape, but the man from Reno was landed in jail.
A business man who was in Susanville when the trouble started stated yesterday that the lumber and fruit workers were indignant at the action of the authorities and business men of Susanville in posting signs that the idle workers must keep moving on and not congregate, had threatened a boycott with a view of transacting all their business in Reno.
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If you are a fan of our daily history stories you should join the Lassen Historical Society! It's a fun way to be a part of our county's rich history. When you sign up you'll receive regular Historical Society newsletters with interesting stories and information. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in area history.
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Jeremy Couso
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Marshel Couso
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Currently Playing
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You can pepper spray someone in self defense...
But as soon as you hit them over the head with a block of sodium chloride, that's a salt!
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Today: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs 64 to 74. South winds around 10 mph increasing to southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows 38 to 48. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight.
Friday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Chance of showers. Highs 62 to 72. Southwest winds around 10 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Breezy. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in the evening. Lows 33 to 43.
Saturday And Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Highs 56 to 66. Lows 25 to 35.
Sunday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 42 to 52.
Sunday Night And Monday: Breezy. Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Lows 22 to 27. Highs 43 to 53.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Lows 20 to 25.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers in the morning, then partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs 49 to 59.
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Congratulations to Aiden Schlem, the winner
of this week's Pizza Factory giveaway!
You too could win a large one-topping pizza from the Susanville or Janesville Pizza Factory locations just by entering our weekly giveaway!
Just click here and follow the link to our handy entry form. You can enter once per day from each email address. We'll announce our weekly winner right here next Monday morning.
The prize is good for take-out or dine-in orders only, sorry no delivery.
Good luck and enjoy that yummy Pizza Factory Pizza!
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