Group shares rich history of the Santa Fe Trail
Cottonwood River Crossing Chapter of the Santa Fe trail members hail from Marion, Harvey, and McPherson counties as well as from the cities of Wichita and Clearwater. They all share a common love of the history of the Santa Fe Trail — especially the part of the trail that cuts through Marion County.
The chapter began in 1994 and has grown to about 35 to 40 members who love to learn about the trail and share that information with others.
The Santa Fe Trail was traveled as a major trade route between Franklin, Mo., and Santa Fe, Mexico, from 1821 to 1872. Americans hauled everything from sewing material and buttons to tools and wagons to sell in Santa Fe. They encountered dangerous river crossings (the Cottonwood River crossing, west of present-day Durham, was the most dangerous because of the steep banks) and hostile Indians such as the Comanche and the Cheyenne.
Meeting four or five times a year, members of the Cottonwood River Crossing Chapter share their love of history with each other, listen to speakers, walk parts of the trail, enjoy hayrack rides, and participate in projects that keep the history of the trail alive for others.
The group currently is active in building a kiosk at the Cottonwood River crossing. The National Park Service is creating three informational plaques for this site, and a dedication ceremony will be held in April or May. The local group also is making plans to do something similar at the Lost Springs site. These two places were major camping locations along the trail in Marion County.
Dr. Gil Michel, member of the group, said they are trying to get schools involved with the history of the Santa Fe Trail. When field trips are arranged, the chapter provides speakers who walk in the wagon swells with the children and teach them about life on the trail. Grade schoolers are awed by the experience.
Michel, a resident of Newton, admires Marion County. "You have so much history there," he says.
Anyone interested in becoming involved with the group may call Dr. Gil Michel (316-284-0313). Local dues are $10 per year. Membership in the national group costs $30 a year and entitles members to receive the magazine "Wagon Tracks." The magazine has articles, stories, letters, and diaries of merchants' wives telling of life on the Santa Fe Trail.
On the national level activity-wise, 300 to 500 people are expected to show up for the National Santa Fe Trail Symposium in McPherson on Sept. 28, 29, 30, and Oct 1. Opening ceremonies taking place at the Maxwell Buffalo Preserve, and the event will include speakers entertaining folks in the mornings and four hour-long narrated tours taking place in the afternoons.
Journeying east on the Santa Fe Trail, west on the Santa Fe Trail, and visiting sites pertaining to Coronado, Wichita Indians, the military, and other historical locations are planned for the occasion. Registration forms for the symposium will be published in local newspapers prior to the event.
The group is gathering at 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at Olde Town Restaurant in Hillsboro for its quarterly meeting. They will listen to a past national president from Kansas City speak about the trail that changed so many lives and is still changing lives today.
