Cobblestone articles from November 2002

Cobblestone archives from November 2002

Editor's note.(the routes west)
November 1, 2002... In 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked on their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase territory. They were the first non-native Americans to study the West. The stories they shared of their trip upon their return in 1806...

Paving the way to California.(Rocky Mountain Fur Company)
November 1, 2002... American trappers, drawn by the promise of fresh sources of fur, were the first to open overland trails to California. By 1825, trapping parties had found many passes through the Rocky Mountains and had managed to get as far west as the...

Mountain men.(trappers and frontiersmen)
November 1, 2002... The fur hunters, or mountain men, of the first half of the nineteenth century were among the most daring of America's frontiersmen. They hunted mainly for beaver, whose pelts would meet the demand for waterproof beaver hats. These hunters were...

Heading West: although in many cases whole families traveled together, sometimes the decision to head west meant parting from loved ones.
November 1, 2002... What made America's early pioneers want to pull up stakes and embark on a perilous journey into the unknown West? Why did they sell their property, load their belongings onto wagons, say good-bye to their friends, and head for California? ...

A day on the trail: Chimney Rock was a dramatic landmark to watch for as it rose up out of the flat prairie.(wagons going west)
November 1, 2002... Editor's Note: The following article describes a typical day on the California Trail. Such a day might be June 20, 1852, and our typical pioneer group might include the Keegan family. If their crossing was on schedule, they would be close to...

Through children's eyes.(the Donner Party)
November 1, 2002... Young pioneers on the California Trail faced dangers and hardships, but they had fun, too. "To me the journey was a `pleasure-trip,'--so many beautiful wild flowers, such wild scenery, mountains, rocks, and streams--something new at every...

Finding your way. (Quote of the Month).(figure out the ciphers)
November 1, 2002... This month's quote is taken from an 1891 article by Virginia Reed Murphy that originally was published in The Century magazine. Virginia's piece describes her long journey on the California Trail when she was twelve years old. With winter fast...

Did you know?(landmarks on the California Trail)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Following we have highlighted a few of the places and sites that are specific landmarks on the California Trail after it separated from the other emigrant trails near southern Idaho and northern Nevada. The City of Rocks in southern Idaho...

Wagons Ho in `44: the Stephens--Townsend--Murphy party.
November 1, 2002... On May 8, 844, in Council Bluffs, Iowa Territory, forty oxen-drawn, canvas-covered farm wagons assembled. Most were headed for Oregon. But fifty of the people and eleven of the wagons were bound for California, a trip that had not yet been made...

A hero of the California trail: things looked grim for Moses Schallenberger, but he survived the winter alone in this simple cabin. He was rescued after spending nearly four months in the snow-covered mountains.(Biography)
November 1, 2002... Moses Schallenberger was barely eighteen years old when the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party arrived at present-day Donner Lake. When he, Joseph Foster, and Allen Montgomery volunteered to remain and guard the six wagons that were to stay behind,...

Women's voices from the trail.
November 1, 2002... From the very beginning of emigration to California, women and children followed the trail west. The gold rush, in particular, ensured their participation in the westward adventure. Quite a few women recorded their experiences in diaries and...

The fate of the Donner-Reed party.
November 1, 2002... Many people set out for California in the mid-1800s with high hopes for a better life. Unfortunately, some, like the Donner-Reed party, encountered tragedy and death on the way. Members of the Donner-Reed party--most of whom were from the...

It's knot easy.(how to tie a knot)
November 1, 2002... When pioneers collected their belongings and headed west, they bundled up everything they owned with ropes. Ropes were an important part of life, and special knots had special purposes. Farmer's Halter Loop Most pioneers did not have...

Brain ticklers.(the California trail)
November 1, 2002... Give your brain a little to see how well you read and understand this issue on the California Trail. If you believe the answer to be false, give yourself the ultimate test and see whether you can explain why it is false. Answers below. 1....

A final word.(Register Cliff, Wyoming)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Imagine spending six months living in a wagon and traveling across unknown territory. Would the adventure excite you? Or would the dangers of the trip outweigh the thrill of exploring previously untouched parts of the country? Register...

Snow. .(Poem)
November 1, 2002... Snow I was touched by a cold wind. The poles were wearing caps. The school was wearing a blanket. Matthew Waldron Newport, Washington

Wilderness. .(Poem)
November 1, 2002... Wilderness Trees with red and orange leaves. Creek running up and down the mountain. Sun shines an orange glow. Birds chirp, chirp, chirp away. Squirrels race to find acorns. Anthony...

The Flag. .(Poem)
November 1, 2002... The Flag The red and white stripes represent the thirteen colonies. The white stars represent the fifty states that stick together. The stars' blue background make them shine so bright. The...

Free Verse. .(Poem)
November 1, 2002... Free Verse November. So quiet and calm, you might just find a leaf on your head, so watch what's falling! There is snow sometimes, so watch what's coming! You might have to wear a jacket, so...

Sunshine Flowers.(Poem)
November 1, 2002... Sunshine Flowers Beautiful yellow bud, opening like the sunrise on a dim morning. Leaves like beautiful green emeralds, just waiting to be picked. Off of one blossom, a grasshopper awakens from his...

Sports.(Poem)
November 1, 2002... Sports Sports, sports fill the air with things to do here and there. Fun, fun everywhere, and not a moment to spare. Look, look all around-- here and there, a sport has been found. You don't have to...

Books to read. (Digging Deeper).(pioneer life)(Brief Article)(Bibliography)
November 1, 2002... Children of the Trail West by Holly Littlefield (Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1999) focuses on the experiences of children who traveled west on the Oregon and California trails between 1841 and 1869. Almost every page contains a...

More media. (Digging Deeper).(video records achievement of 19th century pioneers in California)(Video Recording Review)
November 1, 2002... Forgotten Journey tells the story of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party, which blazed one of the first overland trails to California in the summer of 1844. For more information on this video, see the Web site opposite or contact Forgotten...

On the web. (Digging Deeper).(Web sites providing information on hiking trails, United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... www.emigranttrailswest.org takes you to a site run by volunteers who locate, and mark with inscription plates, important points along the California Trail from southern Idaho to northern California. From here, you can link to sites that offer...

Places to visit. (Digging Deeper).(historic sites)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Scotts Bluff National Monument, Gering, Nebraska. Emphasizing Oregon Trail history from 1830 to 1880, this museum also offers a handbook called "Overland Migrations." City of Rocks National Reserve, Almo, Idaho. This site, which, beginning...