Minutes of Spring Meeting
The Chapter's spring meeting was conducted at the Fort Larned National Historic Site on April 30, 2006. Sixtyfive people attended the hamburger feed. Thanks go to Bob Rein for cooking the hamburgers.

An enlarged, framed photograph of the Cheyenne/Sioux village was presented to Fort Larned in memory of Louis Van Meter, past president of the Chapter. Chapter T-shirts were presented to Carl Immenschuh and Janet Keller in appreciation for their assistance in preparing the images used in preparing Pictures and Word Pictures, Crossings on the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas. Also, students from Larned Middle School's fifth grade were on hand to be recognized as winners in the Santa Fe Trail Poster Contest.

In the business session, reports were heard concerning financial aspects of the Zebulon Pike Plaza; interpretive markers placed at Point of Rocks, Lower Crossing, and the September 10-21, 1825 campsite of the U.S. Survey Team; the meal to be served to School for the Blind on July 8, 2006 and the cemetery project which netted the chapter $455. Also discussed was the marker set at the home of Sarah Sturdevant, niece of Zebulon Pike and a similar marker to be placed at the home of Mrs. W. R. Adams, grand niece of Pike. Approved were interpretive markers to be placed at Duncan's Crossing on the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Road and at Hogan's ruts on the original dry route. These markers are to be placed in honor of recently deceased chapter past presidents, Louise Van Meter and Howard Losey.

Following, the program was presented by President Clapsaddle, Pictures and Word Pictures, a collection of 31 images depicting stream crossings of the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas.

Cemetery Project Completed
Recently, Larned Cemetery officials identified some sixty-five unmarked graves in the local cemetery. Subsequently, plaques with pertinent information were inset into concrete formations to mark the graves. The chapter's men took on the project of setting the stones; and your editor is please to report that the work has been completed. Proceeds in the amount of $455. will be used in the Zebulon Pike Project. Members helping with the work were Mildon Yeager, Dale Otte, Mike Seymour, George Elmore, David Clapsaddle, Bob Sallee, Chuck Frankenfeld and Tom Giessel.

Dinner Is Served
Members of the Wet/Dry Route Chapter served an evening meal to a group of students and staff from the Kansas School for the Blind on July 8, 2006. The event took place at Camp Pawnee near Larned. Foodstuffs were provided by Keith Mull, Rosie Rein and Don Do Family Restaurant, all of Larned. Following the meal, David Clapsaddle presented a first person interpretation of George Bent. Members assisting with the meal were Bob and Rosie Rein, Bob and Sherriel Sallee, David and Alice Clapsaddle. $186.00 was thus raised for the Zebulon Pike Plaza fund.

Interpretive Markers To Honor Deceased Chapter Members
In the spring meeting, the Chapter voted to place interpretive markers in memory of former presidents, Louis Van Meter and Howard Losey. The Van Meter marker will be placed at the Pawnee Fork Crossing of the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Road, commonly called Duncan's Crossing. This location is just west of Burdett where Louis lived a lifetime. The Losey Marker will be placed at Hogan's Ruts near which Howard was reared. On both markers, a small plague will be attached reading in "In, Memory of ____." The same small, plague will be added to markers already in place at Fort Dodge in memory of Dr. Richard Dryden and at the Coon Creek marker west of Garfield in memory of Ron Nelson.

Update on the Zebulon Pike Plaza
Progress is being made on the Zebulon Pike Plaza with the area outlined with stone posts and the buffalo grass being sown by Dale Otte. We are awaiting the sign to be placed between two limestone pillars constructed by Mildon Yeager. It appears that all the work will be completed far ahead of schedule. By the way, someone has suggested that the name of the site be changed to the Mildon Yeager/Dale Otte Plaza.

Other Pike Markers
The chapter is pleased to report that a marker identifying the home of Sarah Sturdevant at 1120 Toles in Larned, Kansas has been placed. Mrs. Sturdevant was the niece of Zebulon Pike. Mrs. Sturdevant's daughter was Jennie Adams. Her home was likewise marked at 207 East 16t in Larned. The house originally sat at 14th and Broadway. Plaques for the markers are being paid for by the American State and First State Banks of Larned. Mildon Yeager is responsible for mounting the plaques on limestone posts.

New Interpretive Markers
Three new interpretive markers have been placed west of Dodge City at Point of Rocks, Lower Crossing and the September 10-21, 1825 Campsite of the US Survey Team. The costs are being equally shared by the Wet/Dry Routes and the Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapters. Assisting in the installation of the markers were Dale Otte, Tom Giessel and David Clapsaddle of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter and Bill Bunyan of the Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapter. Mildon Yeager constructed the cedar frames for the aluminum signs.

Also placed were three additional markers at the sites of Fort Atkinson, Fort Mann, and the September 9, 1825 Campsite of the US Survey Team. Cost for the signs are also being shared by the Wet/Dry Routes and the Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapters. Installing the signs were David Clapsaddle, Don Prescot of the Wet/Dry Chapter and Bill Bunyan of the Fort Dodge Chapter. Thanks to the Chapter's newest member Ray Wetzel for constructing the cedar frames. By the way, Larry Mix has an excellent presentation of all our interpretive markers at www.santafetrailresearch.com/

Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous/Dedication of the Zebulon Pike Plaza
Please circle your calendar for Oct. 27, 28, 29, 2006, the dates of the Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous and the Dedication of the Zebulon Pike Plaza. This year, the entire program will be devoted to Pike and his expedition climaxed by the Chapter hosting a brunch on Oct. 29th followed by a program by John M. Murphy, Pike expert from Colorado Springs. Concluding the day's schedule will be the formal dedication of the Plaza with remarks by Dr. Ray Pike, President of the Pike Family Association.

Special Pike Stamp
A Pike postage stamp will be issued to commemorate Pike crossing the Pawnee River on October 29, 1806. The image for the stamp is presently being prepared by Beverly Howell, Director of Education at the Santa Fe Trail Center at Larned and member of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter. The image depicts Pike and a companion on the north bank of the river looking to the south with a spy glass. The stamp will be available at the Larned Post office, also at the Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous October 27-29. The local post office will make personnel available to cancel any mail using the stamp on the bicentennial date of Pike's crossing the Pawnee.

Coffee Hour
The chapter will host the Larned Chamber of Commerce coffee hour at the Zebulon Pike Plaza on August 24, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. The event will give the community the opportunity to visit the Plaza and learn of the many organizations and individuals who have contributed to the successful completion of the project.

New Historian
Anita Graves as been appointed by the president to become the historian of the Chapter. Thanks go to Clara Goodrich who for many years has faithfully filled four scrapbooks of the Chapter's history.

New Members
Welcome to new members Ben Bailey and Becca Hiller and son Christian of Larned and Ray Wetzel of Garfield.

Summer Meeting
The Chapter's summer meeting is scheduled for August 20, 2006, 4:00 p.m. at the Clapsaddle Ranche. A light supper of sandwiches and home made ice cream will be served. The program on 19th century photography will be presented by George Elmore. If you have any old tin types, etc; bring them along and George will help you date them. This will be our last meeting before the October 29 dedication of the Zebulon Pike Plaza; so please be on hand for last minute announcements.

One more freezer of ice cream is needed. If you can provide that freezer of ice cream, sandwiches, cake, brownies or pie, please contact Alice Clapsaddle at 620-285-3295 for specific instructions. Service and drinks will be provided but please bring lawn chairs.

Dues are always Due to the
Fastest Hand in the West
A roster of members is available at the meeting. Chapter dues in the amount of $10.00 are 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. Dues and email addresses are welcome.
"Printable Dues Form".
Do Not send our dues to the Santa Fe Trail Center

Thank you for supporting all our Wet/Dry Routes Chapter projects!

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