A SusanvilleStuff Feature
by Jeremy Couso
The Lassen Historical Society is busy getting ready for the museum’s summer season with new exhibits, a return to extended hours and a big open-house this Friday, May 9th.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Lassen County, a milestone being celebrated with a series of events planned between now and September.
Several new exhibits grace the museum this season including a display of memorabilia from the county’s first 150 years, a retrospective featuring Lassen College and Lassen High School and an exhibit looking back on Susanville in the 1950’s.
Sheriff Dean Growdon has a special collection of memorabilia from the Sheriff’s Department that will be displayed at the museum all summer long. The collection includes vintage badges, signs, handcuffs and photographs from his office’s first 150 years.
Also at the event Friday evening the Historical Society will announce the recipient of their annual scholarship.
Carol Fontana will be performing period music on the fiddle, the Boy Scouts will perform a flag ceremony and Debbie Lucero will be in charge of refreshments.
The festivities will start at 5:00p.m. in the grassy area at the museum, located next to Roop’s Fort, at 115 North Weatherlow Street.
Raising Funds for the Fort
Roop’s cabin, built as a trading post in 1853 and called ‘Roop’s Fort’ or ‘Fort Defiance’ after the Sagebrush War of 1863, is one of the historical treasures of our area and although time has worn on the structure it remains standing as a testament to the tenacity of it’s builders.
The Historical Society will be kicking off a summer-long fundraising drive to renovate Roop’s Fort; turning back the clock and repairing the structure of the first house built in the valley.
Preservation work on the cabin will include a new roof and reinforcement of the 160 year-old log frame.
New Summer Hours
Summer hours for the museum are 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays the museum is open from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. For more information about the event call 257-3292.
If you are a fan of local history you should join the Lassen Historical Society! Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the history of our area.
The Historical Society is a 501c3 organization and through your membership you help preserve local history, while at the same time making a tax-deductible contribution. You can download a membership application by clicking here.
