Vandalism at Schools Results in Cancellation
November 15, 1951
Two-way vandalism which forced cancellation of Saturday afternoon’s traditional Lassen-Westwood varsity and junior varsity football games was unprecedented and came as a surprise to officials of both schools. Lassen Union High School Principal Clinton Nielson could not remember a similar incident between the neighboring high schools, which have long enjoyed excellent athletic relations.
The game was cancelled several years ago because players illness he recalled, but no malicious acts were involved.
Westwood fired the first shot Thursday evening by burning a large ‘W’ on the Arnold field turf. Several local students, who were in the music building, put out the blaze, which Nielson said was started with gasoline or oil.
Westwood school’s superintendent, Ray Haskell, investigated the incident the following day and obtained signed statements from several members of the Westwood team admitting that they were responsible.
Haskell spoke to Lassen authorities who decided to follow Westwood’s recommendation as to whether the game would be played as scheduled. After considering the situation, Haskell, together with Nielson and Lassen District Superintendent L. V. Greenleaf agreed that the game would be played unless there was retaliation or further incident.
Accordingly, Haskell appeared that afternoon at the local football rally to apologize on behalf of Westwood school. He expressed hope that there would be no retaliation and that the good relations which the two schools had enjoyed in the past would continue.
“The response of the student body was very favorable, and at the time we felt there would be no further difficulties.” Nielson said. Those hopes turned out to be short lived, however. Friday night, Nielson said, “persons unknown but assumed to be Susanville students or susanville residents, visited the Westwood campus and burned a large ‘S’ in their football turf.
Haskell, Nielson and Greenleaf, in a three-way telephone conversation, decided that the circumstances left them no recourse but the cancel the game.
