History of the Christmas card

In 1843, Sir Henry Cole started the tradition of sending Christmas cards. He wanted everyday people in England to use their postal system, just as well-to-do folks and government officials did.

Cole's friend, artist John Calcott Horsley, designed the card. They sold a total of 2,050 cards that year for 1 shilling each (quite a bit of money in those days and equal to $6.15 in today's currency).

In 2012, it was estimated that 1.6 billion Christmas cards are bought and sent in the United States each year.

Visit this site for more information on the history of the Christmas card:

http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com/blind_pig_the_acorn/2013/12/christmas-cards.html

Utter Van Ornum Massacre 1860

The year is 1860, the date September 9th. Between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. a small wagon train of 8 wagons were attacked by Indians in what is now western Idaho. Over the next few days and many miles, the Indians continued to attack the wagon train. Finally, the emigrants tried to flee on foot, leaving all behind in hopes that this would stop the attacks. But it did not! Many were killed at this time and others fled down the river. 

Over a 40-day period of time, these people did what they could to survive, but they were starving to death. Some resorted to cannibalism. One family (the Van Ornums) and 3 other men separated from the others and tried to make it on their own. They made it past Farewell Bend, Oregon a few miles, but then were attacked again by Indians. All were killed except 4 young children who were taken into captivity. Over the 40 days only 16 out of 44 individuals survived and were rescued by soldiers from Fort Walla Walla.

 An uncle to the captured children searched for them for many years. Only two of the children survived captivity; one of the two died shortly after the rescue. 

The burial site is halfway between Farewell Bend, Oregon and Huntington, Oregon on Hwy. 30.  For more information visit these sites: 

http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/historical_records/dspDocument.cfm?doc_ID=5A99EACC-C709-746C-92D5469398A0502D 

http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/pathwaysofpioneers/DonShannon.cfm 

 http://www.idahoocta.org/Utter_Summary.html

When Are You Open?

Our winter hours are Thursday thru Sunday, 9:00am to 4:00pm thru Saturday, February 15th.

The Legend of the Guardian

"The Legend of the Guardian"
It is believed by some that the Elkhorn Mountain peak and the shadow is called "The Guardian." That legend states that "The Guardian" is a deity that watches over the Powder River valley and keeps it safe. This is just one of the legends of this beautiful shadow that we have the honor of seeing every winter.

Another Place to Visit Along the Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail Pioneers rested here and then continued on with their journey saying “Farewell” to the bend in the Snake River. Look for a small iron cross which is visible from Highway 30. This marks the location where the Snake River Shoshone Indians battled Oregon Trail pioneers in 1860. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=4

Grave site at Farewell Bend Oregon

Over the next few weeks we will be featuring once a week a blog about some of the interesting and tragic occurances that happened along the trail. Please enjoy and maybe pack up your family and visit some of these sites.



Farewell Bend Oregon grave site map

Diary of John Fothergill 1852-1853
August 15, 1852 "all this road rough and hilly plenty of grass, water and fuel this part has a more mountainous appearance than any we have yet seen it is beautiful, pefectly wild, most irregular with very high hills, principally peaked up. 3 miles from us this morning a man of the name Wilson was shot by a fellow emigrant (Jessey Varner) they had a quarrel, and it ended in drawing pistols when Wilson received 4 balls out of 5 fired at him and died immediately leaving a wife (who was present) and 9 children to lament his frightful death. Wilsons pistol would not go off they talk of trying the culprit tonight Saw 6 graves 19 dead cattle".
This man Wilson obviously was not thinking of his actions and what the outcome would be for his family. The family continued on and reached thier goal and a few years later his wife re-married.
This grave was possibley one of those that was found when Interstate Highway 84 was put in. It was moved to the site that is indicated on the map, the orange *.

This historical marker commemorating pioneer woman Marie Dorion is located 2 miles north of North Powder, Oregon on Highway 237 at mile point 29.04. Near here Marie Dorion gave birth to the "firstborn, part white child on the Oregon Trail".* Due to the mother's malnutrition the baby boy was tiny and week and died eight days later. For further information about this courageous woman and her life on the 1811 Wilson Price Hunt Astoria expedition read *MADAM DORION by Jerome Peltier.