Glady Spencer

Philenda was California’s first female Notary Public, a well-known suffragist, and the creator of Susanville’s Monticola Club.

Gladys’ sister, Iva was an artist who married John Edward Raker, an attorney and judge from Alturas who became a U. S. Congressman. Unfortunately, Gladys’ little brother, Ephraim Montgomery ‘Effie’ Spencer, died at age fourteen from Diphtheria.

So, Gladys grew up surrounded by energetic, educated, progressive people. And they were all interested in the law.

Gladys attended Chico State Normal School, which first opened its doors in 1889, and has today become Chico State University. She was valedictorian of the college’s first graduating class of 1891. The young, educated woman then moved back to Susanville, taught school, and was principal of the Susanville Grammar School. Gladys also became a Notary Public, like her mother.

On Thursday, April 27, 1893, Gladys married Harry Deforest Burroughs. At ten in the evening at the Spencer home they exchanged vows, and then left the following morning for their new life together in Chico.

Harry opened a jewelry store which was advertised as having the “finest stock of jewelry, watches, diamonds and optical goods in Northern California.”

Gladys showed her mettle early in their marriage when, in 1894, she and Harry went on a camping trip with another married couple to Eagle Lake.

As they followed the steep road up Antelope Grade, the horses began to tire. They stopped at a watering trough, and the men got out to care for the team. Suddenly, one of the horses became frightened and took off running. Harry Burroughs tried to stop the team, but was run over, breaking his leg in the effort.

Gladys, who was in the back, climbed over the seat and managed to grab the reins and keep the wagon from going over the steep embankment. She slowed the team enough that the occupants could jump out.

Her 6-year-old daughter, Forest, at first refused to leave the wagon, but after about a quarter of a mile of terror, she was convinced. With no way to stop the team, Gladys followed her daughter, just as the wagon turned over.

The wagon was smashed to bits, but Harry sustained the only injury. Gladys did what she needed to do in a tough situation.

But she wasn’t content with being just a wife. Gladys yearned to be a part of the Spencer family law firm. She discussed her dreams with Harry, and they both decided to study law. While operating the store and raising their son, Spencer Ephraim, they studied. They graduated together, and in 1898, they were both accepted to the bar.

They had returned to Susanville in 1897, and their last two children, Mary Deforest ‘Forest’ and Jean Kathryn, were born there.

With their law degrees secured, a new life began for the Burroughs family. They both worked in the Spencer, Raker, Burroughs & Burroughs law firm.

This is when Gladys really began to make waves in the mostly male world. Her law practice was only hampered by the fact that her husband was elected as Lassen County Superior Court Judge in 1908, and she was forced to suspend most of her law practice to avoid any potential legal conflicts.

This limited her a bit, but she still continued to work for her husband’s practice while he was on the bench. All the while, she was a devoted mother to their three children.

Gladys was the first woman to be elected to the school board in Susanville. She was elected to the Susanville Town Trustees (City Council) in 1922, and in 1924, was appointed Mayor of Susanville. This appointment made her the first female mayor in the state of California, and she served as a member of the Town Trustees until 1926.

In 1930 Gladys and her sister, Iva Raker, sold the former Spencer property on Inspiration Point to the City of Susanville for a nominal fee of $1,000, in hopes that it would remain a natural area, void of development. To this day, their wishes have mostly been recognized.

Harry Burroughs died suddenly in 1936, while still in office as Superior Court Judge. He had served as Lassen County Superior Court Judge for 27 years. It was an unexpected death, and the family, as well as the community, was shocked.

Local attorneys vied to fill the vacant position left by Burrough’s death, but community activists pressed to have Gladys succeed her husband. Gladys eventually agreed to fill her husband’s vacant position and not run again at the end of the term. All other candidates then withdrew from seeking the appointment.

On January 24, 1936, Gladys Burroughs became the second female Superior Court Judge in California when she was appointed by Gov. Frank F. Merriam (Georgia Bullock had become the first female Superior Court Judge in California on Aug. 14,1931 in Los Angeles).

Gladys was appointed Deputy Attorney General of California by then-Attorney General, Earl Warren in 1942, and served in that position for five years.

She was very active in the local chapter of the Red Cross which was formed in May of 1917, and served as Chairman throughout WWI.

Gladys was also a dedicated member of the Susanville Methodist Church, which her father, E. V. Spencer, had a great part in establishing. She was an honorary member of Soroptomist Club of Susanville and was a member of Iota Tau Tau Sorority.

Gladys and her sister also donated the stone (from the Spencer quarry on Quarry St.) to rebuild the City Hall/Fire House and the Masonic Lodge buildings on North Lassen Street. The buildings had been destroyed in a fire in 1921.

Gladys and Iva also donated the land for the Monticola Club House on South Lassen Street.

Gladys Burroughs, a woman who saw potential everywhere, died on March 19, 1957. On March 21, 1957, her funeral was held at the United Methodist Church in Susanville.

Gladys Matilda Spencer Burroughs is buried with her family in the Susanville Cemetery.

Triple Shot will be there for your live music listening pleasure.

"We invite the community to join us for an evening of fun and relaxation," says Bottle and Brush owner Roxanna Haynes. "Triple Shot always brings a good time and we can’t wait to see everyone.”

Every Bloomin’ Thing Garden Center and Gift Shoppe

On Friday, September 30th at 5:30p.m., Every Bloomin Thing will be hosting a craft class to create Grapevine Farmhouse Harvest Wreaths just in time to decorate for fall.

You can create a timeless piece of artwork that reflects your own style and personality for your entryway. You will be creating a 14″ Grapevine wreath with three beautiful silk Sunflowers, leaves, foliage and moss, then you can adorn it with your choice of Harvest Ribbon!

Add your personality and style with all sorts of natural elements!

This super fun farmhouse style wreath ushers fall in and will add the perfect personal vibe to your home. You will be provided with Grapevine Wreath, Silk Flowers, Ribbon, all materials to create the wreath.

Every Bloomin Thing, owner, Melissa Mccoy says, “We will have assorted themes and fall colors to choose from, so you can make the style that suits your personality! You create, we clean up the mess! Grab a friend and let’s get crafty.” You can click here to register for this class.

Back Country Boutique

Back Country Boutique, which started out as a mother daughter duo, have recently added a new partner to the team, Marcee Grogan. They have worked very hard to have a full and beautiful Boutique for all to enjoy. They have over twenty vendors, all small local business owners. At the boutique you can find crystals, jewelry, household, furniture, canned and baked goods.

On Friday, October 13th, Back Country Boutique will be celebrating their one-year anniversary and cooking up some Back Country grub at the Freaky Friday Midtown Bash from 4:00 to 7:00 at 2055a Main Street, Susanville.

Help Back County Boutique celebrate their anniversary as well as celebrate with the wonderful businesses in Susanville’s midtown area. There will be craft and food vendors, a costume contest, scavenger hunt and more family friendly fun.

Is something noteworthy happening with your business? Let us know about it! Each Thursday morning, we present a round-up of interesting news from the Lassen County business scene and we want to hear from you. E-mail your business news to Marshel at mcouso@susanvillestuff.com.

The National CASA Association for Children supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect. Every child should be given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.

You can pre-register at eventbrite.com. The 5K starts at 9:00a.m. The first twenty-five people to register get a free goodie bag!

The interruption of service will begin at roughly noon today, September 28th and last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

“Public Safety Departments and those with higher call volume will have priority in returning to service. We regret any inconvenience you may experience due to this scheduled outage.”

You can contact the chamber for a copy of the chamber’s board application and board of director member agreement, outlining the requirements and obligations if you are selected to serve on the board.

“Board meetings are held the second Thursday of each month beginning at noon; meetings usually last an hour but, on a rare occasion depending on agenda items, can last up to an hour and a half.”

Board members are expected to attend meetings each month, as well as serve on various committees and attend monthly Chamber Mixers. Applications are open until the Board of Directors position is filled.

If you have questions, you can contact Ackley at 1.530.257.4323.

Susanville in the early 1930’s from Inspiration Point.

Lassen Thief Quickly Caught

September 28, 1931

When the Quality Café opened yesterday morning at 4:30 it was discovered that the place had been robbed and the money box stolen. Entrance to the building had been made through a rear window.

Deputy Sheriff George Dobyns was called and in thirty minutes had the money and the man, Harry Fanning, a former employee at the café.

Dobyns went to his home in the Cornell addition, routed him out bed and told him to give up the box and $6.30 in change it contained.

At first, he denied any knowledge of the robbery. When informed that the fingerprints of the man who had done the job had been taken, and it was the officers’ intention of taking fingerprints, Fanning laughed and said to Dobyns, “You can’t fool me with that stuff. I had socks on my hands.”

Fanning was taken to jail after that.