The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1908-12-04
alaska FAIR EXHIBIT
Exact Reproduction Of Pioneer
Home Life In the Northwest
pROlEcT Of EzRA MEEKER.

Oxygen Trail Trnvsrssr viii Erect Five
Cabins On Grounds Of AIasisa- Yukon
psei6s Expos;sisn---Many Early Life
Rsliea . BE Displayed.
EEra Meeker. pioneer OF the 6fties.
who In 1852 drove an OK team 70 the
far northwest over the Oregon trail.
WIN give an exact reproduction Of
home lie during the early history OF
enc northwest on the grounds Of the
Alaska Yukon-P Pacific exposition In Sc
attic next year.
Five cabins win be erected on the
fair site without the use Of lumber or
nails and ash pits be built at conven-
lent places on Meeker's acre on the ex-
position grounds. a vegetable garden
WIN be planted, and by next spring
there WIN be a iourishing pioneer col
ony ON the campus OF the state uni
VetBlty.
A part o. this exhibit win be an old
blockhouse built In 1855 which still
stands at Coupeville, says the Seattle
Times. There IN TO be a reproduction
OF the schooIhouse OF fifty years ago.
and John v. Meeker, eIghty-four years
old and known as ''Uncle JohN' among
the pioneers, win be I'm charge of the
building. In early days John Meeker
taught school. and many Of the text
books OF that period have been pre-
served BY the Meekers
Ezra Meeker win try to interest the
newspapers Of Oregon In his pioneer
exhibit and hopes to receive many rel
ics Of early days from old Oregon fam
iliea These relics will be exhibited in
the cabins and at the close Of the ex-
position returned to their owners. In
the cabins win be shown how cloth
was spun and woven, and several old
time spinning wheels and looms win
Be In operation.
One cabin viii be called the music
hall. where several old melodeOns viii
be used. These instruments were
among the FIRST to be taken to this
coast. In early days the Oregon coun-
try comprised the vast territory Of
what are now the states Of Oregon.
washington. Idaho and a part Of
Wyoming and Montana. From all
these states viii come relics OF early
pioneer life for the Meeker exhibit.
Meeker plans a number Of special
features during the life Of the exposi-
ton. and every few weeks there will
be big barbecue In which exposition
visitors win be asked to take a part.
There win also be clambakes, and
Meeker expects TO serve thousands Of
potatoes baked In the ash pits. Oxen
WIN be roasted for the benefit Of the
visitors. and II Is possible that many
pioneers from the old Oregon country
win be In attendance to participate
In the special days planned by Meeker.
When this part Of the country was
under provincial government as far
back as 1S43 the seat Of government
was In cabin. There is 10 be a repro
duction Of this same cabin, aud the de-
tails Of its construction will be gath
cred from old Oregon pioneers.
Over all the cabins will fy the Amer
lean dag containing only twenty-six
stars. the number Of states I'm the
Union at that period Of the country's
history.
Meeker has been given a location
just south OF the music pavilion. and
he expects to commence the task OF
building the cabins within a very few
weeks. About the cabins will be
planted flowers. and in one part will
be a hop yard. Poultry and cattle
will be exhibited In one portion Of the
acre set aside as a pioneer stockyard