Fall Meeting
Note: Fall joint meeting with Dodge City/Fort Dodge Chapter, Sunday, October 12, 2003, 2 p.m., Dodge City, Kansas Public Library, 1001 Second Avenue.

Minutes of July 12, 2003
The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter conducted its summer meeting at the Clapsaddle residence in Larned, July 12, 2003. Over fifty members and guests enjoyed a covered dish dinner enhanced by pork steak grilled by Chef Bob Rein. Reports were presented by Alice Clapsaddle, membership chair, concerning the Faye Anderson Award and the current roster totaling sixty-seven memberships, thirty­one of which hold membership in the Santa Fe Trail, The chapter voted to install interpretive markers at the Parker's and Boyd's Ranche sites, also to provide brochures for the chapter's display at the Santa Fe Trail Symposium this coming September. The Fall meeting is scheduled for October 12 in Dodge City, Kansas.

Interpretive Markers
The signs have been ordered for the interpretive markers as approved in the above written minutes. Producing the signs is Kansas Prison Industries at Lansing, Kansas. Following are the texts of the signs.

Boyd's Ranche
Samuel Parker established a trading ranche at this location in 1865. Changing hands several times, the ranche was owned by a Mr. Wagginer in 1867 when Indians burned the buildings and drove off the livestock. The next proprietor, A. H. Boyd, constructed a toll bridge at the nearby crossing and built a sod house from which he engaged in cattle trading and freighting in addition to the usual sales associated with trading ranches. In 1873, Boyd partnered with George B. Cox to operate a hotel in the infant town of Larned. In the same year, the partners moved to Dodge City to open the Dodge House. Subsequently, Boyd filed a homestead on the ranche property and brought family members from Illinois to farm the acreage.

Parker's Ranche
At this location in 1864, Samuel Parker established a trading ranche. In the following year, he opened another ranche near the dry route crossing of the Santa Fe Trail on the Pawnee River three miles upstream from this point. Parker continued to operate this ranche for several years before moving to Fort Supply, Indian Territory, where he served as the post's hay contractor.

Kansas History Day
There were no entries in the annual Kansas History Day Contest for 2003 related to the Santa Fe Trail. Consequently, the chapter's cash award for the best entry related to the Trail will not be presented this year.

Pawnee Rock Historic Site
The long neglected gate at the Pawnee Rock Historic Site has been repaired. For years, one of the sandstone pillars which supports the gate had continued to deteriorate following a surmised collision by a motor vehicle. Thankfully, the Kansas State Historic Society approved funds for the reconstruction of the pillar in the Spring of 2003, and the work was completed soon after. Thanks to the Society for this needed repair.

Faye Anderson Award
The deadline for submitted applications for the Award is October 1, 2003.

Cecil Johnson
We are sorry to report that Cecil Johnson who has constructed the cedar frames for the interpretive markers previously installed is not in the best of health. He is now a long-term resident at the St. Joseph Hospital in Larned. Others will have to help build the frames from this point on. Our many thanks to Cecil for his hard work in the past.

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