1 NORTHWEST OCTA UPDATE AND JOURNAL NEWSLETTER of the NORTHWEST CHAPTER April 2001 Chapter Website: http://www.nwocta.com/ http://www.nwocta.com/octastore Lethene Parks: President Don Popejoy: Editor Website, National President and National Preservation. Lethene then made a Call for General Membership Meeting members to help with chapter projects. Joyce March 10, 2001 Bolerjack and Gail Carbiener stepped forward to The Dallas, Oregon develop a new chapter budget. Glenn Harrison took on the added responsibility of updating the chapter This day was the same as most days in the Columbia Bylaws. Marley Shurtleff volunteered to write a River Gorge in early March: windy, overcast with a chapter handbook as a guideline for new officers and smattering of sunshine, chilly but promising Spring board members. The Raffle, held just before the lunch would soon be here. However, today there was a big break, brought into the chapter difference at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center; some 60 plus Northwest chapter members attended the first meeting of the year. Chapter President Lethene Parks called the meeting to order and the minutes for last years meeting were accepted. The Treasurer’s report was given by Joyce Bolerjack followed by the Membership totals. A Bylaws change was made which increased chapter dues to a more healthy $10 per membership, effect June 1, 2001. Rich Herman was elected to the board of directors, filling the position left vacant by Jack Holmes. Next came the highlight of the morning meeting: Joyce Bolerjack was presented with the Dick and Trudy Ackerman Meritorious Achievement Award for her outstanding work and devotion to the Northwest chapter. (See photo below) Rich Herman accepts a Board of Directors position coffers $192. Lunch was enjoyed at the Discovery Center Cafe and almost everyone hurried off to the gift shop before returning to the afternoon meeting. The speaker was Susan Badger Doyle and she spoke to us about the diaries of the Bozeman Trail pioneers from her book “Journeys to the Land of Gold.” Chair reports were then given: 2001 Outings and Activities, Preservation, Trail marking, Update and Suzanne presents Lowell Tiller his Blue Bucket Mine trophy 2 Northwest OCTA Update From the Parks Bench Lethene Parks The NW OCTA Update is the newsletter published by the Northwest Chapter of the Oregon-California As chapter president I receive newsletters from all Trails Association. It is published on the 15th day of the chapters. From reading these I know that much January, April, July, and October of each year. good work is being done all over the country and I Also, a special Convention issue is done after each know that our NW chapter is one of the best, with convention in August. Submission deadline for each many, many hours of volunteer work contributed each Update is the 15th of the month previous to year. I hope that those of you able to get out on the publication. trails are gearing up for another summer of productive activity, learning and fun. For those not able to get out Chapter Officers and Board of Directors: there and pound markers, we will be making an effort President - to involve more of you in helping in other ways: Lethene Parks: [email protected] research in diaries, libraries and courthouses, Past President - organizing a program, etc. It helps the total effort that Dave Welch: [email protected] all of you are interested and aware. And I hope that at Vice President - whatever level you are able to participate you are Glenn Harrison: [email protected] learning, teaching and having fun. Secretary - Speaking of which, On April 8 and 9, Don Marley Shurtleff: [email protected] Popejoy, Tom Laidlaw, Dick Parks and I began to Treasurer - get our muscles in gear with a trip to view the remains Joyce Bolerjack: [email protected] of the 1826 Hudson’s Bay Company Fort Colvile near Membership Chair - Kettle falls, WA. The site has long been under the Joyce Bolerjack: [email protected] waters of Lake Roosevelt (the reservoir behind Grand Board of Directors - Coulee Dam) but in this year of exceptionally low Susan Badger Doyle: [email protected] water the site is exposed. So, two days in a row we Richard Herman hiked the two plus miles out and back, examined the Carol Buss clear outlines of the fort and its buildings, took Historian - pictures and measurements, got cold and muddy, and Juanita Haun had a thoroughly good time. Archaeologist - If you have a trail-related site where you believe Connie Johnson there should be an interpretive sign or marker, please Publications Director - come first to the chapter president and chapter Jim Tompkins: [email protected] preservation officer. Any group may of course put up Webmaster - an historical sign with their name on it, but if such Tom Laidlaw: [email protected] signs are to have NW OCTA’s name on them or have Update Editor - NW OCTA’s sanction, the location and wording must Don Popejoy: [email protected] have the chapter board’s approval. We may also need Trail Marking & Mapping - to coordinate with national OCTA on such signs. Victor Bolon: [email protected] Outings - All Aboard the Montana Rockies Rail Tours: Glenn Harrison: [email protected] Celebrate the coming Lewis & Clark bicentennial as COED - you join Tour Director Don Popejoy for this most Ella Mae Young remarkable journey. Follow “In the Path of Lewis & Conventions - Clark” Portland to Great Falls, 8 days, 7 nights. Jack & Pat Fletcher: [email protected] Departs July 30 and August 20. This is a classic tour Chapter Preservation Officer & Trail Monitors - aboard a restored streamliner on original 1880s rail Chuck Hornbuckle: [email protected] routes. For details go to www.montanarailtours.com State Liaisons - or contact Don at [email protected] or 509-483- Oregon: Jim Renner 3174. A generous discount will be given to OCTA & Washington: Dave Welch LCTHF members by contacting Don first. 3 Year 2001 Outings Year 2001 Outings (Continued) Baker City - Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Jim Tompkins will give diary readings. This program Flagstaff Hill: April 28, 29 and 30 will begin at 9 AM at the Tumwater Middle School: Joint activities with the Oregon Historic Trails Directions: on I - 5 Exit #101 (Not highway 101) on Advisory Council, BLM, Trail Tenders, NW OCTA, south end of Tumwater. Turn west 1/2 mile to Idaho/Montana OCTA, and Travel Information Littlerock Road. Turn north about 1/2 mile, Tumwater Council Historical Markers Committee. Middle School is on the west side of Littlerock Road. Saturday April 28 - OCTA members can visit the Follow signs to the small group instruction room. Interpretative Center on their own beginning at 9 AM. Contact Fletchers or Tompkins: At 1 PM there will be a shuttle service to take us to [email protected] [email protected] the dedication site of the new historical marker “Lure of Gold” on Highway 86. At 2 PM the Dick & Trudy William Cannon - Living History: May 20 Ackerman Meritorious Service Award This is a joint meeting with Linn Co. Historical will be installed with the Ackerman’s and Joyce Society and starts at 2 PM at the Lakeside Center, Bolerjack being honored. In the theater, Dick and Mennonite Village in Albany, Oregon. William Trudy will give a talk as will Mary Oman on the Cannon’s (NW OCTA’s Tom Laidlaw) life from recently discovered Irrigon ruts, along with Jack 1755 to 1854, spans the period from the birth of the Evans and Ezra Meeker. At 6 PM there will be a United States up to the 31st state. Hear the story of the catered buffalo stew dinner at the American Legion early Northwest fur trade, the building of Fort Hall for $10. Vancouver, establishment of the first government in Sunday April 29 - There will be two hikes along Oregon at Champoeg as told by a man who lived it as the Oregon Trail on Virtue Flat: you can choose either an Astorian hunter, Fort Vancouver blacksmith and the 3 mile or 6 mile hike. Be sure to dress miller, soldier and Oregon politician. Contact Tom appropriately and bring food and water. Time of the Laidlaw at [email protected] hikes will be given at the Saturday meeting. Possible group dinner for those who stay over night. National Trails Day: June 2 Contact Jim Renner for more information at This is an Oregon Trail hike to the McDonald [email protected] Crossing of the John Day River and continue to the Deschutes River crossing and beyond. This is a Agency Valley Cemetery Cleanup: May 11 - 13 combined hike/drive and centers at Biggs, Oregon. This outing will be lead by Gail and Muriel The NW chapters trail marking “Guru” Vic Bolon, Carbiener and they will take us about 75 miles west will lead us along the route marked by the trail and north of Vale, which is north of the Beulah marking crew last year. For more information see Reservoir. Travel day is on the 11th and meet the Vic’s article on page 5 or contact Vic at Carb’s on the morning of the 12th which is the [email protected] “cleanup day” and then drive home (or whatever) on may 13th. This 1/4 acre cemetery started in 1883 and Applegate Trail Outing: June 11 and 12 contains the graves of Levi Scott of Applegate Trail Along with Gail & Muriel Carbiener, we will fame and his sons. Visit the nearby Sarah Chamber’s locate sites for interpretive markers between Alturas, grave site. 4x4’s are not necessary. CA and Klamath Falls, OR along the For more information contact Gail and Muriel at Applegate/Southern Route.