by Susan Couso
Jean Loumena was born in the French Pyrenees on December 17, 1876, and immigrated to the United States in 1900 with his 18-year-old brother, Pierre. He was a wide-eyed and hopeful 23-year-old when he arrived in New York on February 28th.
After passing the trials of Ellis Island’s immigration officials, the boys still had to make their way to San Francisco to find their cousin, Randy Pierre.
Once they had a chance to get used to their new country, they looked at job opportunities. Pierre went to Oregon, where he eventually became a dairy owner, married and raised a large family. He became a U. S. citizen in 1917. But Jean decided to try his hand in the lumber industry, and that brought him to Westwood, where he took a job for the Red River Lumber Company.
Jean became a U. S. citizen in 1916 and worked to make Lassen County his new home. By 1934, he was a barber in Susanville, and his business was “booming.” He was fined $5 that year, for keeping his barbershop open during the Washington’s Birthday holiday! But ‘Frenchie’, as he was called by most, was a well-respected member of the local community.
He did very well as a barber, saved his money and never lived extravagantly. His dedication to his adopted country was obvious, but little did people know that he had a plan to thank Susanville for the opportunities that he found here. Upon his death, in 1956, it was discovered that he had bequeathed his savings to the City of Susanville, to be used for permanent improvements for the newly built Memorial Park.
The park plans had provided for the construction of tennis courts, but the funds had not been found to fulfil that goal. In 1959, with Frenchie’s gift, the city moved forward with the plans. Morgan Construction Company, from Redding, constructed the two courts for $7,900. Butte Creek Rock Company, from Chico, charged $2,475 for the fencing, and Naef Electric Company, of Susanville, put in the lighting for $3,375. The $13, 750 needed to complete the project all came from Frenchie.
On September 7, 1959, after a luncheon at the Hotel Mt. Lassen, the $14,000 double tournament-type courts were dedicated, and the plaque to Jean ‘Frenchie’ Loumena was unveiled. There were exhibition matches and players came from Reno, Nevada to highlight the new courts. Today, Frenchie’s plaque is mostly hidden in the tall grass between the tennis courts and Paiute Creek.
Frenchie’s gift to Susanville has remained to inspire athleticism and provide thousands of hours of enjoyment for local citizens.
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