Remember When

115 years ago

The Eagle Lake Land and Irrigation Company purchased the right to the Susan River irrigation system, which comprised Leavitt Lake and the reservoirs known as McCoy and Hog Flats. With these sources backed up by Eagle Lake’s 28,000 acres of surface area, the Honey Lake Valley was one of the most well irrigated sections of California.

Brass bands from throughout Northern California convened to play a concert at a grassy area in Susanville. Nearly 100 people showed up for the festival, which lasted well into the night.

The newspaper commented it was a delightful way to end the summer, which had been marked by sweltering temperatures and crime from gold seekers.

The Reno Journal encouraged people to settle in the hills of the Honey Lake Valley.

An article said the location offered relaxing and cool surroundings and some of the most fertile farmland west of the Rockies.

Residual weather activity from hurricane Clyde, which swept through Baja, Calif. and just missed Los Angeles, brought severe thunderstorms to the eastern Sierras. Lightning from the storms sparked numerous mountain fires, threatened livestock and charred countless residences.