McCormack - Susanville

This is the inside of the Nathan and Schmidt General Merchandise Store on the corner of Main and Lassen Streets. Tillie Nathan is standing next to bolts of fabric and her son-in-law, Percy Chappius, is behind the counter. Tillies husband, Marcus Nathan, came from Germany to Susanville to work with his uncle William Greehn. In 1877, Marcus started his own general store, which burned in the 1882 fire. He rebuilt and, in 1883, was open for business. Like many of the early settlers in Susanville, Tillie Schmidt Nathan has an interesting tale. Tillies parents arrived by ship in New York; however, traffic was stopped because of a massive fugitive search. President Lincoln had been shot, and authorities were looking for John Wilkes Booth. After Booth was located, Tillies parents continued on to San Francisco, where they opened a store. They stayed in San Francisco, and Marcus traveled there frequently to bring back merchandise for the store. Marcus Nathan died in 1913. His sons-in-law closed the Susanville store in November 1918 and moved it to San Francisco. M. A. Griffin moved his store into the building in January 1919. (Courtesy Rita Kahl.)

This is Isaac Roops land claim registered in Shasta County. When gold was discovered at Sutters Mill, more people flocked west. Peter Lassen, for whom Lassen County is named, made a long and hard trail from Oregon to his ranch at Benton City. The tale of Gold Lake prompted William Nobles to hire Lassen as a guide into the Honey Lake Valley. Nobles did not find Gold Lake, but he found an easier way for wagons and travelers to come to California. Nobles went back to Shasta and told everyone about his discovery. On June 14, 1853, a large fire burned Roops business. Leaving Shasta City, Roop traveled along Nobless route to the Honey Lake Valley and claimed land near the river. (Courtesy Lassen Historical Museum.)

Pictured here is Roops Fort. Isaac Roop built a trading post for the wagon trains on his land. To encourage settlement, in 1856, Roop laid out part of his land into streets, which is now the uptown part of Main Street and Rooptown. Later the town was renamed Susanville. (Courtesy Lassen Historical Museum.)

Jim Byers operated a store and cattle ranch. In 1858, he began to buy land in the Honey Lake Valley and worked as a deputy for Plumas County. In 1863, the Roops Fort became Fort Defiance in a skirmish between settlers and Plumas County. Byers worked for a compromise between the two parties. Lassen County was then formed in 1864. (Courtesy Lassen County Sheriff Office, Si Bollinger.)

This view faces west on Main Street, where businesses came, stayed, and went. The Humboldt Exchange began in 1862 by John Burkett. In 1863, the saloon was sold and named the Pioneer Saloon. At the top of the hill is the Elks Building. Dr. Leonard first built the house in 1883. Other owners were William Greehn, Henry Swain, the Antlers Investment Corporation, and lastly, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in 1931. (Courtesy Susanville United Methodist Church.)

The first sawmill on the Susan River was built by Isaac Roop in 1857. Other sawmills were built later, including one mill operated by Ephraim and Luther Spencer in 1869. The Bremner Mill made apple boxes; apple orchards in the area sold produce in nearby mining towns in Nevada. (Courtesy Lassen Historical Museum.)

Robert Johnston was a farmer, hotel manager, and owner of the Johnston House. T. H. Long operated the hotel from 1901 to 1911, and then it was sold to H. C. Dobyns. Continuing to the left was a small restaurant, a fruit and vegetable market, and Frobels Saddle and Harness Shop at the corner on the bottom floor of the Odd Fellows Building. (Courtesy Lassen Historical Museum.)

Kate Haley and Stephen Bass were married on December 25, 1883. The Bass family had a large ranch and farm between Johnstonville and Janesville. General mercantile stores and markets in Susanville bought fruit and vegetables from the Bass family and other area farms. In addition, Stephen Bass served as a county supervisor for 10 years. (Courtesy Lassen Historical Museum.)

Sol. Nathans General Merchandise Store was at the corner on Main and Lassen Streets next to Johnston Hotel. A fire in 1895 burned the entire block. The Odd Fellows Lodge erected a brick building on the corner, and Sol. Nathan had his business on the first floor, sharing the space with other businesses. (Courtesy Susanville Historical Museum.)