Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-07-26
WILL MARK THE TRAIL.
Monument to Mark the Old Oregon
Trail Unveiled with kpprOpri-
ate Exercises.

..Old Oregon Trail ls5a-lao0.
These are the words that are i'm
scribed upon the shaft of granite
which was unveiled Wednesday
morning with appropriate exercises.
The movement, which resulted in
the erection Of tins monument, was
inaugurated by Ezra Meeker upon
the occasion Of has visit to Mont
pelier IN June, 1905, while journey
ing eastward over the old trail with
an OK team. At that time small
sum towards the purchase of > mon
ument was subscribed by some Of
the business men. Shortly there
after the ladies of the Village I'm.
proyement announced their willing
ness TO take hold Of the matter and
see 10 1t that a suitable monument
should be erected TO mark the route
of the pioneers IN their journey
westward.
With diligence that Is charact-
eristic of all work undertaken hy
any society Of women, the Village
Improvement Society never rested
until y sufficient fund was raised
with which to purchase this monu'
ment, which will perpetuate for agei
the memory of those brave anC
sturdy people who experienced IN
Vulnerable hardships IN their jour
ney to the great unexplored regiS'
of the northwest.
Il was betting that this mbnu
ment should be unveiled on da,
which is SO dear to the hearts OF III
: pioneers of this valley, the gath 0
July, the day on which the frs
band Of their people arrived in Sal
Lake valley in ls47.
The monument is gray grapil
, shaft, one foot square by 81 te'
high, with a base u feet squdr'
9 The shaft rests on concrete fouh'
alton three feet deep by four a.
= square. In the hollow beneath HI
= granite base was placed glass j
> containing the articles mentioned
= last weeks Examiner. 7
o The unveiling ceremonies WI,
&c nesday morning were attended
= about 900 people, and the pfogr4
:, was appropriate and impressiv \
- Mayor Cruikshank presided al
70 after invocation by Rev. Waite al
As the song ''Idaho" by the assembling
u Judge Cough delivered q short b
81 very appropriate address. at I
he conclusion of which four little gil
~ pulled the cords that raised fro
% the monument the large flag viii
had enshrouded It. 4. A. Burre
)" on behalf of the Village Impro'
" ment Society, then presented
e' monument to the care and keepi
" of The city, with the following
y marks:
eh Il am iAdeed much grati6ed TO
M privileged 10 participate In these
Of ercisea. the purpose Of which i TO .
Id petuate the memory of that sturdy 4
"A adventurous class OF people whom
like to call the old pioneers, and
eh' route they used in coming 20 the VI
ks Ne delight to read of their adventu
the and on occasion 20 recount their mi
ath noble qualities Of seif-sacriflce, unda
,,h ted courage and unialtersng determI
~ tlon. They were God fearing. Iibe
Tug loylng. progressive and intellig
cry people. who opened up thia great w
yer ern Empire to civilization, and
gho monument, which has hsen unveiIe
fnr- your presence today, Is 20 mark
route Of these old pioneers in eros
the country In their journey 70
ON. west. This trail was aTat used
the people from the east and al parts Of
1pn world. who were attracted 10 this G
had Try by the sIluring t.les Of the dis
-, cry Of gold in California. IL contiI
"s TO be the route Of travel until the &
al east and the new west we're bonn
Nay gether by iron bands. and then IL
one that these fertile valleys began
.ona peopied by the persons whom we
recognize "a the old settlers.
s0, transformation that has been wTo
ana in the country and the people has
aiss. almost phenomenal. Almost all o
nv old relics Of the earlier times. togl
laa -..sh 3ksaa ola FSoaaAr are fauifIi,