Dryden Memorial
The chapter is pleased to announce that the Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapter has partnered with the Chapter to sponsor an interpretive marker in honor of the late Richard Dryden who held membership in both chapters. The site selected for the marker is Fort Dodge, now the Kansas Soldiers Home. At this writing the sign is being prepared and permission has been obtained from the Soldiers Home administration to place it near the limestone marker already in place. The text will speak to Fort Hays being the western terminus of the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road.

The Faye Anderson Award
For the past twelve years, the chapter has presented the Faye Anderson Award to an individual/s or organization which has made a significant contribution to the interpretation and/or preservation of the Santa Fe Trail.

The 2005 awardee is Larned State Hospital on whose grounds two significant Santa Fe Trail sites are located: the dry route crossing of Pawnee Fork and Boyd's ranche. Since the opening of the hospital in 1914, both sites have been secured for future generations. On hand to receive the plague was Dr. Mark Schutter, Superintendent of Larned State Hospital. Making the presentation was Joan Forrest, the daughter of Faye Anderson, charter member of the chapter for whom the award is named.

Santa Fe Trail Seminar
The Chapter's biannual seminar is scheduled for May 7, 2005. To be conducted at Fort Larned during the morning of that date, the theme is "Before Becknell" and will focus on explorers, French, Spanish, and American, who traveled portions of the Santa Fe Trail prior to the 1821 trip to Santa Fe by William Becknell and his four companions. At noon, the chapter will serve a box lunch.

The afternoon will be given over to activities sponsored by the Fort Larned Old Guard. Attractions will be a trip to the site of the Cheyenne/Sioux camp. Back at Fort Larned, dinner will be followed by Joseph Meany's presentation as Jeremiah Stokes, a Galvanized Yankee.

Spring Chapter Meeting
Bauman Book Signing
The chapter's spring meeting will be conducted at 6:00 P.M. March 22, 2005 at the Jordaan Library, 8th and Broadway, Larned, Kansas. Following the meeting, the chapter will join with the Library to sponsor a book signing at 7:00 P.M. of Jon Bauman's Santa Fe Passage: A Novel. At that time, Bauman will speak with regard to his research for the book. Bauman, previously a journalist and an attorney, is now devoting full time to writing. At the conclusion of the program, the Last Chance Store will have the novel for sale. Also at this time, the Santa Fe Trail note cards introduced at the winter meeting will be available and part of the proceeds will go to the chapter. Also available will be the Wet/Dry Routes long sleeve T-shirts in several sizes.

Poster Contest
For the past several years the chapter has sponsored an award of $200 for a winning entry related to the Santa Fe Trail in the Kansas History Day competition. As such entries have been lacking, the chapter has voted to sponsor a poster contest. The contest will welcome entries related to the Santa Trail from 5th grade students enrolled in schools from the following counties; Pawnee, Edwards, Ford, Ellis, Rush, and Hodgeman. Posters will be judged for historical accuracy and artistic expression. Prizes will be awarded as follows: first, $100; second, $75; third, $50.00.

The contest will be conducted on a county by county basis with Pawnee County initiating the project in the fall of 2005.

Winter Meeting
The winter meeting was held in Kinsley, Kansas on January 23. Officers elected for 2005 were David Clapsaddle, President and Program Director; Barbara German, Vice President; Robert Sallee, Secretary and Treasurer. Approval was also given for the placement of two additional interpretive markers at Sibley's Ridge and Plain Camp. Following the business meeting, Jon and Betsey Goering of Newton, Kansas presented a program of period music.

Roster and Chapter Dues
A roster of members will be available at the March 22 meeting. Chapter 2005 dues in the amount of $10.00 were due at the January meeting or may be mailed to Alice Clapsaddle, 215 Mann, Larned, Kansas, 67550. Checks should be made out to the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter. "Printable Dues Form".
Do Not send dues to the Santa Fe Trail Center.

Thank you for supporting all of the chapter projects!

Santa Fe Trail Research Site
"E-Mail & Home Page"
Larry & Carolyn Mix
St. John, Kansas
© "Forever"