Spring Meeting Minutes
Forty members and guests of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter met for its spring meeting on April 22, 2007 at Mom's Cafe in Seward, Kansas. Following the meal, business was conducted as follows announcements were made with regard to the Fort Larned Summer Camp, June 5-6, 12-13, 2007, the Dick German Memorial Fund, the Day Trip on the Dry Route planned for April 28, 2007, recent work accomplished at the Zebulon Pike Plaza, the First Ladies of Larned first person interpretation by Alice Clapsaddle and Becca Hiller on May 5 and the loss of Joyce Losey. Joyce, as many will recall, was the wife of Howard Losey, past president of the Chapter. Members signed a card for Cecil Cottington of Emporia, Kansas. Word has it, Cecil is not in good health. The chapter voted to update the bronze plaque on the Mulberry Creek Crossing in conjunction with Fort Dodge/Dodge City/Cimarron Chapter. Subsequently, a music program of Stephen Foster songs was presented by Alice Clapsaddle and Diann Morell.

Dry Route Field Trip
Nine people including Jerry Buxton, reporter for the Great Bend Tribune and Joyce Book, bus driver and new member of the chapter toured the 2nd variant of the Dry Route. The weather was ideal, the road was dry, and the fields were lush from the recent rain. All in all, the trip proved to be an educational and enjoyable experience. Another tour is planned for next fall on the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road.

New Members
The chapter is pleased to welcome new members as follows: Joyce Book, Larned; Keith Mull, Larned; Marylee Phinney, Larned; Bill Drews, Hutchinson; Wallace and Betty Cherry, Larned.

Dick German Memorial
Contributions totaling $135 was received at the spring meeting for the Dick German Memorial. A marker will be placed in his honor at the confluence of Mulberry Creek and the Arkansas River. Subsequently, another $45 has been received for this fund. Contributions may be sent to Meriene Baird, Box 355, Larned, Kansas 67550.

Summer Meeting
The Chapter will conduct its summer meeting on Saturday, July 21, 2007, 6:30 p.m. at the Dale Otte pasture five miles southwest of Larned, Kansas on U.S. 56. The site will be prominently marked. No need to worry about getting lost. The evening meal will be a wiener roast and home made ice cream. The Chapter will assume all costs so you will not need to bring food unless specifically asked by Karen Otte. Do bring lawn chairs and insect repellent.

Please observe on the enclosed 1871 township map the Wet Route running parallel to the Arkansas River, also the pre-1859 Dry Route in a broken line. Notice how wide the river is. Where we will meet on July 21, 2007 was then covered up by the river. That spot is marked by an X. Bring a lawn chair, an appetite and a smile. The program will revolve around a display of artifacts used in Santa Fe Trail freighting, no reproductions, all 19th century items.

Buxton Recognition
Jerry Buxton, reporter for the Great Bend Tribune has graciously given a considerable amount of coverage to Chapter activities. Perhaps the most outstanding article was the full page coverage of the May 27, 2007 edition which featured a full page article in color of the April 28, 2007 Dry Route tour. Your editor is suggesting that Jerry be awarded a life membership in the Chapter for his assistance. The award will be one of the agenda items at the July 21, 2007 meeting. Anita Graves, Chapter Historian, is compiling a notebook of Jerry's articles to be available at the July meeting.

DAR Booklet
When the Great Santa Fe Horse Race was first proposed, the National Park Service announced a $500 grant to any Santa Fe Trail chapter for use in promoting the race. Subsequently, when the race became a contentious issue, the Park Service issued a decree that any chapter could use the $500 for any good use not necessarily related to the race. Your editor, in an effort to meet the July 1 application date has submitted the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter proposal to receive $500 to print and distribute a booklet related to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Santa Fe Trail Markers in Pawnee, Edwards, and Ford Counties. The Larned Kansas DAR Chapter and the Kansas Society of the DAR have already given their approval of the booklet. The Chapter will be asked to formally vote on the matter at the July meeting.

Pike Plaza
A casual observation suggests that travelers on U.S. 56 have been making, use of the picnic facilities at the Zebulon Pike Plaza. To accommodate the visitors, the chapter has recently completed a limestone structure near the shelter house to accommodate a trash can. Members helping with the construction, were Dale Otte, George Elmore, Mike Seymour and your editor. The three sided enclosure will seclude the trash can from public view and ties in nicely with the stone posts around the perimeter of the Plaza.

Fort Larned Summer Camp with the Fort Larned National Historic Site
The Chapter joined forces with the Fort Larned National Historic Site to conduct a day camp for Larned elementary age children on June 5-6 and June 12-13, 2007. Two separate camps were required resultant to the unexpected interest as indicated by an application totaling seventy children. Fifteen children attended each session conducted by David and Alice Clapsaddle.

The first day in each camp was conducted at Fort Larned. Students were instructed from I Heard a Coyote Howl, a booklet recently written by David Clapsaddle. The story tells of the Hancock expedition in 1867 when the Cheyenne/Sioux village some thirty miles west of Fort Larned was destroyed by order of General Hancock. The story is told in first person through the eyes of a twelve year old Cheyenne boy in the village at that time. The girls prepared the noon meal for the day and the boys were engaged in the construction of parfleches, which some have called Indian suitcases.

The second day of each session was conducted at the village site now owned by the Fort Larned Old Guard. There, the children toured the location. Following which, the girls made Indian dolls and the boys made medicine bags.

Medicine bags were a social requirement for Cheyenne warriors in which they kept charms known to some people as good luck pieces. Both boys and girls ended the day engaged in games played by Cheyenne children.

Summer Meeting
Dale & Karen Otte's Pasture
Saturday, July 21, 2007
6:30 p.m.
Bring lawn chairs and insect repellent.

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"