Ezra Meeker Wagon Event
Ezra Meeker Historical Society
 |
Meeker with ox cart and dog on Oregon Trail, circa 1910. |
The Ezra Meeker wagon and entourage
will be stopping in Oregon City (End
of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center) on June 10, 2009, on their
way to Southern Oregon, recreating a trip Meeker made in 1909. They are
co-sponsored by the
Oregon California
Trails Association.
They will also be stopping in Salem
(Mission Mill),
Dallas (End of the Applegate Trail), Sunny Valley (Applegate
Trail Interpretive Center) and Jacksonville (Henley Farm).
Ezra Meeker was an 1852 Oregon Trail
emigrant who spent most of his later days promoting the preservation of
the trail. He traveled the trail several times placing monuments along
the trail for communities willing to pay for such. He also lobbied
Congress for support of the old trail. The 1909 trip to California was
to promote the Applegate Southern Route Trail.
The group will arrive in Oregon City
around noon on Wednesday June 10th and stay until closing. They will set
up and provide speakers to talk about Meeker and his efforts. Living
historian Ray Egan portrays Meeker "The Champion of the Oregon Trail"
and will do a 30 minute presentation entitled "O, the Pioneers." Andy
Anderson, historian for the Ezra Meeker Historical Society will talk for
about 30 minutes about Meeker's busy 98 years. Former
OCTA National Trails
Preservation Officer Dave Welch will talk for about 30 minutes on
"Trails Preservation Today." Then the speakers will repeat as time
allows.
 |
