Shasta Historical Society's unique footage of Mt. Lassen eruption goes viral
The public can now view the c.1917 Mt. Lassen Eruption on the Society's YouTube channel The Shasta Historical Society has been working to digitize its collection, including film reels of unknown content. Last year, one of these reels revealed J.J. Hammer's footage of Mt. Lassen erupting. According to an early newspaper, Mr. and Mrs. Hammer camped out with their "moving picture machine" to record Mt. Lassen's eruption and later showed it at the Empire Theatre in Red Bluff (Red Bluff Daily News, 1917).
Recently, Erik Klemetti of science magazine Wired released an article online about the Society's unique resource, stating that this may be the earliest known film footage of this sort of event in North America. It is also holds the potential to be the second oldest of its kind in the world. Klemetti worked with Dr. Michael Clynne of the U.S. Geological Survey's Volcano Science Center.
Since the release of Klemetti's article, public interest in the film footage and the event it depicts has skyrocketed. With its sudden popularity has come further debate of the time and place in which Hammer captured his footage. While the actual date cannot be established, some researchers believe the eruption depicted in the video took place sometime in May 1917. Additionally, where Hammer and his wife were standing has been a topic of discussion. Klemetti's article puts them at Reflection Lake (then known as Catfish Lake), while others who also know the area, put the cinematographer at Manzanita Lake. What is most important here is that history is being debated and clarified. You can check out the video on the Society's YouTube channel or come into the Society and get your own copy on DVD; the article is available at: www.wired.com/2016/02/watch-one-of-the-first-volcanic-eruptions-ever-filmed/
About the Shasta Historical Society
Vision: To build a shared community legacy for the future by preserving our past. Shasta Historical Society unique footage of Mt. Lassen eruption goes viral.
Mission: To actively preserve, promote, and bring to life the history of Shasta County. The Shasta Historical Society was formed on January 18, 1930. Over the years the organization's mission evolved to better serve the community of Shasta County by actively working to promote and communicate local history. Today, the Shasta Historical Society serves as the largest non-university center for historical research in California north of Sacramento. In addition to maintaining the research library, the Shasta Historical Society is active in the local community, hosting various free events throughout the year. The Shasta Historical Society also produces the annual publication, The Covered Wagon. For more information about the Shasta Historical Society, visit shastahistorical.org.
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