Minutes of Summer Meeting
Sixty members and guests met for the summer meeting of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter on August 20, 2006 at the Clapsaddle Ranche in Larned, Kansas for an old fashioned ice cream social. The president thanked all those who brought sandwiches, home made ice cream, desserts and other side dishes for the social.

Announcements were made with regard to progress on the Zebulon Pike Plaza, the Larned Chamber of Commerce Coffee Hour to be held at the Plaza on August 24, and the Faye Anderson Award. Reports were made with regard to the placement of interpretive markers at Hogan's Ruts and Pawnee Fork Crossing on the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road. Also discussed were registrations for the Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous, the poster contest and a committee to decorate for the brunch to be served at the dedication of the Zebulon Pike Plaza on October 29. Anita Graves was appointed to serve as Chairman of the committee.

Preliminary plans were made for day trips to acquaint new members with the Santa Fe Trail in the chapter's area The chapter voted to share the expense of placing markers at the Cimarron Crossing with the Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapter. Larry Mix presented a history of the Chapter's marking program and following discussion was conducted relative to NPS logos on the chapter's markers. A motion made to table the issue passed.

Following the business session a well received program on 19th century photography was presented by George Elmore, Ranger at Fort Larned National Historic Site.

Poster Contest
The Santa Fe Trail Poster contest for 2007 will involve fifth grade students from the Kinsley/Offerle Middle School and the St. Nicholas Elementary School in Kinsley, Kansas. Students from Larned's Middle School participated in the 2006 contest, and future contests will eventually extend to all the fifth grade students in the area served by the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter.

More Markers
As approved at the summer meeting, the chapter will join the Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapter in placing markers at the Cimarron Crossing, one mile west of Cimarron, Kansas. Permission has been obtained from the land owners to place the usual limestone post and interpretive marker. We are now awaiting the arrival of bronze markers to be mounted on the stone posts.

Interpretive markers have been placed at the Pawnee River Crossing on the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road and the Hogan Ruts site on the Original Dry Route.

Thanks to George Elmore for helping your president with this work. By the way, George wants everyone to know that the president's tape measure is still in good working order.

Larry and Carolyn Mix have donated funds to place an interpretive marker at the Small Drain site in honor of Larry's parents, Charles and Margaret Mix of Great Bend, Kansas. Many thanks to Larry and Carolyn.

Day Trips
A series of day trips are planned for Santa Fe Trail sites in the Wet/Dry Routes area. At this writing, two separate trips have been conducted following the Wet Route from Larned to west of Dodge City. Future trips will include the Dry Routes and Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road. The Larned Community bus will be used for the trips. Cost will be $1.00 per person. The next tour will be devoted to the Original Dry Route. Dates are November 2 and November 18, weather permitting. To reserve a space, call you president. If you want to prepare for the trips, go to Larry and Carolyn Mix's website, {www.santafetrailresearch.com/}. Link to the Santa Fe Trail events page for a link to the Original Dry Route page.

End of the Trail
The Chapter is saddened to report the loss of three members since the last publication of the Traces. Our deepest sympathies go to the families of Floy Coddington, Judith Cross and Ella Van Meter.

Fall Meeting
The fall meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Dodge City Public Library, November 12, 2006, in conjunction with the Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapter. The program on Diseases and Treatments at the Fort Larned Hospital will be presented by Larry Corpus. Larry a faculty member of the Dodge City Community College reenacts the role of a post surgeon at the Fort Larned National Historic Site.

Zebulon Pike Plaza Shelter House Refurbished
The City of Larned, as previously announced, donated a shelter house to the Zebulon Pike Plaza. In recent weeks, personnel from the Fort Larned National Historic Site have installed a new roof and painted the framework. Thanks go to Supt. Kevin McMurry, Bill Chapman, and Felix Revello.

New Members
Welcome to Carl and Laveda Dilley of Larned, Kansas.

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
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