August 2, 2005 Looking Back is a regular feature of the Modoc County Record, a weekly newspaper, published in Alturas, CA. The following is transcribed from the July 21, 2005 issue. Looking Back 96 Years Ago 1909 GOOSE LAKE is destined to become one of the great summer resorts of the coast, and the placing of a steamer to ply its waters is but the first step. Nowhere else in California can be found a body of water of such extent and of such surpassing beauty. The lake contains a surface of 284 square miles, with average depth of 15 feet teeming with trout weighing from two to six pounds. Readers with eyes accustomed to the beauties round them may smile at this picture, but it is as certain of realization as anything in life can be. 86 Years Ago 1919 THE POST OFFICE has been moved to its new location in the Toreson Building and is very neat and attractive. All of the equipment is new and up-to-date and the old key boxes have been replaced with combination . Oil in Modoc. A geologist of high standards but whose name is being withheld for the present has reported that certain areas around Goose Lake contain oil. Whether this oil is in paying quantities or not can only be determined by the boring of wells.... Since July 1, Modocers have refused to abide by the dry edict. They have been arid long enough and realize the value of water. There are no less than eight promising irrigation districts in process of formation in Modoc and this will make this section a much greater stock producing section than its enviable record now shows. Alturas newspapers have always beaten the drums for success as the article about Goose Lake shows. I guess that you all know that nothing ever really developed at Goose Lake for recreation. Yes, a steamer was built and place on the lake and about four years later it sank, and that was that as far as attracting people to the Lake for recreation purposes. There was a development platted and placed in the Recorders Office called Fairview, but I doubt that more than two of those lots were ever sold. But the blatant selling prose in the article is priceless. Ron Morgan .