Volume 20, Issue 3 September 2019 Newsletter
Worthy of Notice
WASHINGTON STATE CHA PTER, LCTHF
2019 Lewis and Clark Living History D U E S : Two September Programs Feature Encampments by the S T I L L Pacific Northwest Living Historians O N L Y $ 1 5 . 0 0 !
Just a reminder to Lewis and Clark Heritage Days send in your 2019 Salt Makers dues. If your mail- Sacajawea State Park ing or email address Return to Pasco, WA has changed, please fill out the form on Seaside, OR September 27– 28, 2019 page 7 and mail it along with your On December 28, 1805, Lewis and Walk through history at Sacajawea check. Your mem- bership helps sup- Capt. William Clark sent a special de- Heritage Days on September 27-28, 2019 port the activities of tachment of five men from the just- at Sacajawea State Park in Pasco, Wash- the Washington completed winter quarters at Fort Clatsop ington. This is the site where the Lewis Chapter throughout to find a location for making salt. On the and Clark Corps of Discovery camped the year. beach of present day Seaside, Oregon, over 200 years ago. At Heritage Days, these men and others made salt by boil- there are Lewis & Clark living history ing sea water for nearly two months in interpreters, members of the Umatilla and the wet winter weather. Yakama Nations, and the Wanapums, On September 7th and 8th, the Sea- along with mountain man encampments INSIDE THIS ISSUE: side Museum & Historical Society spon- and local museums. Learn about local sored the Lewis and Clark Salt Makers history from people who enjoy sharing President’s message 2 program, featuring the interpreters of the their skills and knowledge about what life Pacific Northwest Living Historians (Continued on page 3) Larry McClure to receive (PNLH). 3 LCTHF Award PNLH members shared the history and experiences of the explorers as they An Underrated 4 (Continued on page 3) Spectacle
Sharon Stewart 6 remembered
Also Worthy of Notice 6
Dates to remember 8
Photo by John Orthmann Photo by Maria Cochran P a g e 2 Worthy of Notice President’s Message By Steve Wang
If you haven’t already, be sure to mark your calen- dars and plan to attend Heritage Days at Sacajawea State Wherever you travel along the routes taken by Lewis Park, September 27 - 28. This annual event is a great and Clark, there are stories upon stories, all interwoven opportunity to immerse yourself in living history, reen- to form views that give life to – and change – the world actments, demonstrations, displays and exhibits. There around us. is much more information about Heritage Days else- where in this newsletter and you can visit this website: You know the story. Enjoy it . . . and share it! www.friendsofsacajaweastatepark.org/wp/?page_id=12 Steve Wang One of the reasons I appreciate the Lewis and Clark President, Washington State Chapter story is the way it can change the world around us. Of Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation course, the world doesn’t actually change, but our view of it can.
Here’s what I mean. In mid-August we visited Bea- con Rock State Park. Our main goal was to walk the switchbacks to the top of Beacon Rock, something we haven’t done in a while. Thinking about the members of the Corps of Discovery and their descriptions of the rock and surrounding countryside added another dimension to the walk. Consider some of Clark’s words: places “where the nativs had dug for roots” . . . the river “had everry appearance of being effected by the tide” . . . and the “remarkable high detached rock.” Through the words in the journals, we can see the surroundings a little differently. But that’s not the best part. Steve Wang on Beacon Rock The real enjoyment is sharing stories and helping others see this new world. Whether it’s Lewis and Volunteers needed! Clark’s descriptions of their discoveries, or the story of the Ice Age Floods flowing over and around the rock, or Bonnie Chew has volunteered to staff the Washing- the geology beneath your feet that formed the volcanic ton State Chapter informational booth at Heritage Days plug – or the many other human and natural history sto- again this year. But Bonnie needs some help! ries associated with Beacon Rock – all the stories are If you can assist Bonnie with the Chapter booth, wonderful opportunities to engage visitors and enhance please send a message to the Chapter email address: their experiences. And who knows, with your encour- agement maybe we’ll gain a new chapter member! [email protected] Chapter Board of Directors
President: Steve Wang - Olympia, WA Director at-large: Barb Kubik - Vancouver, WA Vice President: Bill Garvin - Chinook, WA Director at-large: Kris Townsend - Spokane, WA Secretary: Robert Heacock - Liberty Lake, WA Director at-large: Tim Underwood - Chehalis, WA Treasurer: Steve Lee - Clarkston, WA Director at-large: Doc Wesselius - Centralia, WA Past President: Rennie Kubik - Vancouver, WA Webmaster: Kris Townsend Worthy of Notice - Newsletter of the Washington State Chapter of the LCTHF Publisher: John Orthmann Email: [email protected] Find us on Facebook! Page name: WA Chapter Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation Chapter website: www.wa-lcthf.org Volume 20, Issue 3 P a g e 3
Larry McClure to Receive LCTHF Distinguished Service Award By Mark Johnson, Oregon Chapter Secretary
It is my pleasure to announce the 2005 annual meeting, he continues to be a “Keeper of the that Larry McClure will receive served as Oregon Chapter presi- Story”. Several people have told the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage dent, and wrote a weekly newspa- me that, without Larry, the Foun- Foundation's Distinguished Ser- per column following the Corps of dation may not have come out of vice Award at this year's Annual Discovery. More recently, he has those times intact. Meeting. The Foundation's 51st had two articles and two book re- Beginning well before 2018, annual meeting will be held Sep- views published in WPO. Larry envisioned, planned, orga- tember 21-25 in St. Louis, Mis- He has also been a Foundation nized, and delivered one of the souri. member since 1998, joining the best annual meetings in memory, We are so very glad to have board in 2006 as director-at-large, bringing the Chinook tribe (who had him as a chapter leader for then serving as the Foundation’s boycotted much of the bicentenni- over two decades. Larry joined secretary from 2007 to 2012, al) to the party, getting us out on the Oregon Chapter in 1998, serv- when he also served on the Foun- the water and setting a high bar ing on the board continuously dation’s Educational committee for the Foundation in the third since that time. and compiled membership survey century. Before the bicentennial, he results. Please join me in congratulat- developed Lewis and Clark- He demonstrated his great ing Larry for this well-deserved themed classroom education pro- leadership skills and fortitude dur- recognition, jects and materials for grades 4 ing the tough post-bicentennial and up, and organized teacher’s years when he helped re-form the Larry McClure is also a longtime workshops to provide the materi- Foundation board after several member of the Washington State als to schools. During the bicen- resignations. Larry remained true Chapter.—J.O. tennial, in addition to organizing to the Foundation’s mission, and Lewis and Clark Salt Makers (cont.) Heritage Days (cont.)
(Continued from page 1) (Continued from page 1) brought to life the salt camp of 213 was like nearly two centuries ago. years ago. Visitors to the camp found living history interpreters Heritage Days Event Schedule busy making salt, boiling sea water Friday over a fire just as the men of the 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.: Lewis and Clark expedition did in School children visits January and February of 1806. The 4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.: interpreters told stories of the voy- Living history for the public age: the native people met by the Photo by John Orthmann Saturday—FREE admission to park explorers, the discoveries they made, 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.: and the adventures they lived. Living history for the public Lewis and Clark Salt Makers 7:30 pm: was made possible in part through a Council Fire, public invited grant from the City of Seaside Tour- ism Advisory Committee, funded by Sacajawea State Park room tax dollars. It was also sup- 2503 Sacajawea Park Road ported by the Oregon Parks and Rec- Pasco, WA 99301 reation Department, Seaside Public (509) 545-2361
Works Department, and The Tides friendsofsacajaweastatepark.org By The Sea Motel. Photo by Margaret Fedje Chapter Name Badges
Members of the Washington Chapter can still order name badges. The badges have the same design as the Chapter logo. The price for one name badge is $17.00; the price for two or more is $13.50 each. To order, make checks payable to Awards West - PrintWares, Inc. Mail checks to: Tim Underwood, 128 Galaxie Rd, Chehalis, WA 98532. Print your name the way you want it to appear on your name badge and specify whether you want a pin back or a magnetic back. P a g e 4 Worthy of Notice
An Underrated Spectacle By Robert Heacock
As the Lewis and Clark Ex- cused our Selves and promised themselves; and some horses to pedition was outbound to the Pa- to Stay with him one or 2 days assist us on our journey. after cific Ocean in October, 1805, on our return which appeared to our scanty repast we continued they stopped at the mouth of the Satisfy him; great numbers of our march accompanyed by Snake River for two nights at Indians Came down in Canoes Yellept and his party to the vil- present day Sacajawea State Park to view us before we Set out lage which we found at the dis- and Interpretative Center. which was not untill 9 oClock A tance of six miles situated on the After departing the Snake M N. side of the river. River, they reached their October 18th campsite about 15 miles Chief Yellepit clearly under- Finally the Expedition ar- downriver and just south of stood the importance of hospitali- rived at Yellepit’s camp, as the Spring Gulch. There they met ty and diplomacy, and was likely Captains had promised. They’d Chief Yellepit (various spell- pleased when the Expedition re- had two consecutive days of trav- ings): turned on April 27, 1806 after eling 28 miles per day, and so their winter at Fort Clatsop. The took this opportunity for a well Clark Expedition no longer had canoes deserved rest and to solidify their October 18th 〈Wednesday〉 Fri- but did have a full compliment of relationship with Chief Yellepit. day 1805 horses, and were traveling on the Yellepit was pleased that the …our old Chief (Nez Perce Overland Trail, or the ‘Road to Captains were true to their word guide) informed us that the the Buffalo’ on the north side of and made the most of the oppor- great Chief of all the nations the Columbia River. The Expe- tunity to welcome his guests, and about lived at the 9 Lodges dition dropped down off the trail on the evening of April 28 they above and wished us to land on the high hills to the Columbia had what could be called a gala &c. he Said he would go up River opposite their October 18, affair. and Call him over they went 1805 campsite. They were ex- up and did not return untill late hausted as they had departed that Lewis at night, about 20 came down & morning on short provisions with Monday April 28th 1806. built a fire above and Stayed all the expectation of finding a na- a little before sunset the night. The chief brought a bas- tive village as their guide has as- Chymnahpos arrived; they were ket of mashed berries. sured them, but there was no vil- about 100 men and a few wom- lage to be found. en; they joined the Wallahwol- After resting overnight, the lahs who were about the same next morning on October 19 they Lewis number and formed a half circle spent time with the local chief Sunday April 27th 1806 arround our camp where they and Clark writes: while here the principal waited very patiently to see our Cheif of the Wallahwallahs party dance. the fiddle was Clark joined us with six men of his played and the men amused October 19th Saturday 1805 nation. this Cheif by name Yel- themselves with dancing about we gave a Medal, a Hand- lept' had visited us on the morn- an hour. we then requested the kercheif & a string of Wompom ing of the 19 of October at our Indians to dance which they very to Yelleppit and a String of encampment a little below this cheerfully complyed with; they wompom to each of the others. place; we gave him at that time a continued their dance untill 10 Yelleppit is a bold handsom In- small medal, and promised him at night. the whole assemblage dian, with a dignified counte- a larger one on our return. he of indians about 550 men wom- nance about 35 years of age, appeared much gratifyed at en and children sung and about 5 feet 8 inches high and seeng us return, invited us to danced at the same time. most well perpotiond. he requested remain at his village three or of them stood in the same place us to delay untill the Middle of four days and assured us that we and merely jumped up to the the day, that his people might should be furnished with a plen- time of their music. some of Come down and See us, we ex- ty of such food as they had (Continued on page 5) Volume 20, Issue 3 P a g e 5
An Underrated Spectacle (cont.)
(Continued from page 4) the men who were es- teemed most brave en- tered the space arrond which the main body were formed in solid column, and danced in a circular manner sidewise. at 10 P. M. the dance concluded and the natives retired; they were much grati- fyed with seeing some of our party join them in their dance.—
Captain Clark also provided his comments on this colorful scene:
Clark Monday April 28th 1806 a little before Sun Set the Chim nah poms arrived; they were about 100 men and a fiew who made himself the most Con- left them and they wished to hear women; they joined the Wallah spicious Character in the dance once of our meddicine Songs and wallahs who were about 150 men and Songs, we were told was a try to learn it and wished us to and formed a half Circle arround Medesene man & Could foretell learn one of theirs and it would our camp where they waited verry things. that he had told of our make them glad. So our men Sang patiently to See our party Comeing into their Country and 2 Songs which appeared to take dance. the fiddle was played and was now about to Consult his God great affect on them. they tryed the men amused themselves with the moon if what we Said was the to learn Singing with us with a low danceing about an hour. we then truth &c. &c voice. the head chief then made requested the Indians to dance a Speech & it was repeated by a untill 10 at night. the whole as- Other Expedition members also warrier that all might hear. then semblage of Indians about 350 provided their comments all the Savages men women and men women and Children Sung children of any Size danced form- and danced at the Same Ordway ing a circle round a fire & jump- time. most of them danced in the Monday 28th of April 1806 ing up nearly as other Indians, & Same place they Stood and mearly the chief called all his people keep time verry well they wished jumped up to the time of their mu- and told them of the meddicine our men to dance with them So we sick. Some of the men who were &C. which was a great wonder danced among them and they were esteemed most brave entered the among them & they were much much pleased, and Said that they Space around which the main pleased &C. the Indians Sent would dance day and night untill body were formed in Solid Column their women to gether wood or we return. everry fiew minutes and danced in a Circular manner Sticks to See us dance this even- one of their warries made a Side wise. at 10 P M. the dance ing. about 300 of the natives as- Speech pointing towards the en- ended and the nativs retired; they sembled to our Camp we played imy and towards the moon &C. were much gratified in Seeing the fiddle and danced a while the &C which was all repeated by Some of our Party join them in head chief told our officers that another meddison man with a their dance. one of their party they Should be lonesome when we (Continued on page 7) P a g e 6 Worthy of Notice
Sharon Stewart 1940—2019
Sharon Jeannette Stewart, a cluding Volunteer of the Year sev- beloved longtime volunteer and eral times from Washington State host for Washington State Parks, Parks. passed away on July 9, 2019. In 2016, Sharon and the Sharon was born November Friends of Sacajawea State Park 26, 1940 in Boise, ID to Arthur received the Midwest Region Out- Albert and Austa Alta Buman. She standing Trail Partnership Award" was the youngest child and only from the National Park Service for daughter; 11 years younger than their ongoing support of the Lewis any of her siblings, she practically and Clark National Historic Trail at grew up an only child. the park. At a young age she moved Sharon had been planning the with her parents to western Wash- 2019 Heritage days at Sacajawea ington, and graduated from Centra- Park right up until she passed lia High School. In Centralia she away. She started working at met Guy Ronald Stewart (who she Sacajawea State Park mainly to be always called Ron) and they mar- near her son, daughter and grand- ried in Centralia May 14, 1960. children and gained a much bigger Their daughter Jan and son Scott family with all of the people asso- were born within a few years. The Adams, which started a long asso- ciated with the Park and the events family then moved to Yakima, ciation with Washington State there, in which she played a major WA where they raised their chil- Parks and hosting campgrounds part. She leaves behind her loving dren. Sharon worked at various full-time in Washington and Ore- daughter Jan Gatlin (Michael) of jobs, and also stayed at home for a gon. Some of the campgrounds Kennewick, WA, son Scott Stewart time to take care of her father. where they volunteered where Fort of Yakima, WA, grandson Antho- Ron was forced into an early Flagler, Cape Disappointment, ny Gatlin of Cedar Rapids, IA, retirement; the children were Cape Blanco, Moran State Park on grandson Drake Gatlin (Desti) of grown, so they decided to move Orcas Island, Beverly Beach and Kennewick, and numerous nieces back to Centralia. Sharon worked Devils Lake in Oregon, Sports- and nephews who will miss her at the Rochester school for a few mans State Park in Yakima and dearly. years. Sacajawea State Park in Pasco. Sharon’s cremated remains One summer while on break, Sharon continued to host even were laid to rest at Riverview they decided to try volunteering after her husband Ron passed away Heights Cemetery in Kennewick, for the Forest Service, spending in 2003. She mainly volunteered WA, and a celebration of her life the summer at a fire watch tower at Sacajawea State Park from then was held at Mueller's Funeral home near Mt. St. Helens. They had al- on, working in the Lewis and Clark in Kennewick on August 2, 2019. ways enjoyed camping, and the interpretive center and organizing next summer tried campground Heritage Days at the park every hosting at Takhlakh lake near Mt. year. She won many awards, in- I knew Sharon for many years, mainly from participating in Heritage Days as an interpreter. Also “Worthy of Notice” Sharon always looked out for everyone, but she was especially Youth Earns Scout Patch Pasco, WA, performing volunteer generous with her time and help Sage Tottenham Hardy, a work at the park, and recording a to those of us who stage the member of BSA Troop 427 in Se- journal of his experience in a six- Lewis and Clark camp. I’m cer- tauket, NY, has been awarded the page pamphlet featuring color pho- tain that I speak for all the Washington State Chapter Scout tos of his experience. members of the Pacific North- Patch. Hardy met the require- Congratulations to Sage for west Living Historians when I ments for this award by research- eaning this sward! say, “Rest in peace Sharon, and ing the expedition and Sacajawea, thank you for your love.” visiting Sacajawea State Park in - John Orthmann, Editor Volume 20, Issue 3 P a g e 7
An Underrated Spectacle (cont.)
(Continued from page 5) writing extensively about the usual often overlooked for various rea- louder voice as all might daily journal topics, the men clear- sons, including accessibility and hear. the dance continued untill ly felt compelled to provide de- also lack of interest. In retrospect, about midnight then the most of tailed comments of what they had this event likely could be one of them went away peaceable & have experienced. the most underrated scenes of the behaved verry clever and honest The estimated numbers of na- entire Lewis and Clark Expedition. with us as yet, and appear to have tives attending do vary, but imag- The location of this April 27- a Sincere wish to be at peace and ine this colorful scene. Can you 28, 1806 campsite is on the west to git acquaintance with us &C picture the Native Americans imi- side of the Columbia River, and &C— tating the Expeditions style, and … across from the now flooded Singing with us with a low voice… mouth of the Walla Walla River. Gass a ballad like ‘Oh Shenandoah’ or It is best observed from Hwy 730 Monday 28th. which other period song may have mile marker 5, or at river mile 314. We remained here all night, been sung? The words of the This site can also be located as be- and about dark above a hundred Chief and Medicine Man being ing about one mile south of the of the natives came down from repeated to the crowd as a plaintive green navigation marker that is on the forks to see us. They joined cry, with the spectacular barren the west side the river, and just with those at this place and per- cliffs of Wallula Gap as a back north of Wallula Gap. In addition, formed a great dance. We were a drop? The colorful costumes, the nearby red navigation piling very interesting sight to the sur- brought out for a formal occasion, marker #22 that is 4/10 mile north rounding crowd, as nine-tenths of and age old circle dance held to the of the mouth of the Walla Walla them had never before seen a rhythm of natives drums? Or even River is coincidentally the exact white man. the Expedition singing their songs, location of Fort Nez Perce, estab- with a fiddle accompaniment, to an lished in 1818 by the North West Sergeant Gass provided com- appreciative crowd? Company and later renamed (old) ments in his usual direct and to the The Eastern Washington por- Fort Walla Walla by the Hudson point style, but his term ‘great tion of the Lewis and Clark story is Bay Company. dance’ belies what he saw. After
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / RENEWAL Chapter Membership
Name(s) ______$15.00 per year (Jan - Dec) for any person, family, firm, association, or corporation. Please make check payable to: Street ______Washington State Chapter, LCTHF City ______Mail to: Robert Heacock 101 S. Wright Ct. State ______Zip ______Liberty Lake, WA 99019-9438
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The above dues are for the Washington State Chapter only. Bylaws recommend that Chapter members be current members of the National Foundation. Annual dues are: Individual, $49.00 per year; Family, $65.00 per year; Student, $30.00 per year. Membership includes the quarterly magazine WE PROCEEDED ON. Submit dues to LCTHF, Inc. P.O. box 3434, Great Falls, MT 59403 DATES TO REMEMBER
September 15, 2019 (Sunday): 1:00 P.M.— In Their Footsteps Lecture Series. Christopher Hodges present- ing “John Colter’s Impact on American History” at the Fort Clatsop Netul River Room, Astoria, OR.
September 21-25, 2019 (Saturday—Wednesday): Foundation 51st Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO.
September 27-28, 2019 (Friday & Saturday): 10:00 A.M.—Heritage Days. Sacajawea State Park and In- terpretive Center, Pasco WA. Lewis & Clark living history camp and much more. No Discover Pass needed on Saturday (see page 1).
October 20, 2019 (Sunday): 1:00 P.M.— In Their Footsteps Lecture Series. Darryl Lloyd presenting Ever Wild, A Lifetime on Mount Adams at the Fort Clatsop Netul River Room, Astoria, OR.
November 9, 2019 (Saturday): 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. – Annual ‘Horriable Day’ open house event at Knappton Cove Heritage Center, 521 State Route 401, Naselle, WA.
December 7, 2019 (Saturday): 4:00 P.M.— Oregon Chapter Holiday dinner at Fort Clatsop. Bill Gavin & Rachel Stokeld speak on “The Archaeology of Middle Village.” Astoria, OR.
December 15, 2019 (Sunday): 1:00 P.M.— In Their Footsteps Lecture Series. Richard Brenne presenting “Historic Winter Transportation” at the Fort Clatsop Netul River Room, Astoria, OR.
February 1, 2020 (Saturday): 10:15 AM- Washington Chapter 24th Annual Meeting at the Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington.
August 2-5, 2020: Foundation 52nd Annual Meeting in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Visit our Washington State Chapter website...www.wa-lcthf.org
Worthy of Notice Washington State Chapter Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation 1325 S. 259th St Des Moines, WA 98198
September 2019 Newsletter
The mission of the LCTHF is to stimulate appreciation of the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s contribution to America’s heritage and to support education, research, development and preservation of the Lewis and Clark experience.