Wagon train to help historical dedication of Canyon Creek stage

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The Mountain Home Museum will hold a special Canyon Creek Stage Station Plaque Dedication and Social on Wednesday, July 30, at 5 p.m. at Canyon Creek Station.

The History Channel will be on site filming the event for an upcoming program.

The Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) wagon train will make its Canyon Creek stop on the Oregon Trail that evening and will "circle the wagons and prepare for an evening full of good old-fashioned fun," said museum director Nancy Marshall. "Be sure to dress up 'country-style'."

The wagon trail will be welcomed by the Mountain Home Historical Society, the Elmore County Historical Foundation and the Snake River Outpost No. 1811 of the Lucinda J. Saunders Chapter No. 1881, E Clampus Vitus.

The celebration will begin at 5 p.m. with the unveiling and dedication of the new Canyon Creek Station and Stage Stop Plaque, as well as a plaque about the Oregon Trail in the area.

The dedication will feature speakers from the governor's office, Sen. Mike Crapo's office and a representative from Mountain Home Air Force Base, as well as representatives from several historical groups including the Idaho and Northwest Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association, the Mountain Home Historical Society, the Snake River Outpost of E Clampus Vitus, the Elmore County Historical Foundation and David Fairbanks, the seventh son of sculptor Avard Fairbanks. The Fairbanks family has donated a bronze medallion to be placed with an historical plaque on a Sandstone monument provided by Gerhard-Borbonus Landscaping, Inc., of Boise.

At 6 p.m. a "clamper-style" barbecue dinner will be prepared and served by local volunteers. The cost is $10. Featured will be E Clampus Vitus' Clampchef Pep Pepperdine of Pep's Smoked Meats, who will be preparing his special smoked pork. ClampChef Sourdough Leo's Before Daybreak Slow-rise bread, I.W. Harper's Special False-Alarm Beans, salad and the famous Lucinda Jayne Saunders Style Idaho Spuds will also be available on the menu.

After dinner the plan is to entertain everyone "western style," Marshall said. Music will be provided by Bona Fide featuring songs written along the Oregon Trail. "You can always dance if the music moves you just like the pioneer's did as they traveled the trail," Marshall said.

The evening also will include story-telling by Stan Norstebon (owner of the property where the Daniel's family's home and the stage station ruins stand), Norma Dart, who is a descendant of an area pioneer family, and Wagon Train Captain Dell Magnum.

"Be prepared to observe feats of strength and cunning intended to awe and amaze you," Marshall said. "You may also take a tour inside the fence of the old stage stop ruins, check out the wagon train's wagons, animals and participants, walk through the Canyon Creek Pioneer Cemetery where some lost souls are lain to rest, and see the preservation work completed on the grave markers by local volunteers, under the leadership of Mountain Home resident and E Clampus Vitus member Andrew Hardage.

"Mostly we hope you will enjoy the chance to step back in time to relive life on the trail," Marshall said. "When you park, be sure to take some time and travel down the actual Oregon Trail as it descends the mountain slope across Canyon Creek before entering the campsite. Watch for wildlife as you enter or leave the area."

A raffle also will be held for a commemorative quilt that highlights scenes of the stage stop, a past governor and some of the wagons utilized in the heyday of Canyon Creek's stage station. Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Other raffle prizes include $100 in silver coins, silver Oregon Trail commemorative coins and a special opportunity to join the Idaho Chapter of OCTA.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Canyon Creek Station Historical Preservation Committee.

To get to Canyon Creek Station turn onto Canyon Creek Road and proceed several miles to the junction where the road meets the Immigrant Road and the Mayfield Road. Make a left on the Mayfield Road. At the bottom of the hill are the remains of the Canyon Creek Stage Stop and the site of the event.

In 2008 the Oregon California Trails Association is holding its annual National Convention at the Nampa Civic Center Aug. 4--9. To coincide with that event it has a wagon train traveling across Idaho from Montpelier to Nampa. The wagon train will try to use as close as possible the same route used by the early pioneers.

It will travel portions of the Oregon Californaia Trail, the Jeffery/Goodale Cutoff, the Kelton Road, and trails used by stagecoaches, freighters and drovers.On July 28 it is expected to leave Fairfield headed toward Cow Creek Reservoir where it will camp near the Camas County and Elmore County line.

On July 29 it will leave Cow Creek Reservoir on Wild Horse Road and cross High Prairie Road to Castle Rock Road. It will travel on US Highway 20 for approximately three miles until it can turn north to the U.S. Forest Service campground near Little Camas Reservoir.

On July 30, the day of the museum event, it will travel west back out on US 20 until the wagon train can turn north on the Anderson Dam Road for approximately one mile then turn straight west on the Dixie Cutoff Road. At the intersection of Dixie Cutoff and Prairie Road the historical group from Mountain Home will provide lunch for the travelers. After lunch it will proceed south on Prairie Road past Long Tom Reservoir, eventually traveling over over Tollgate Hill on Highway 20 until it can turn west on Immigrant Road and prceed to the old Stage Station on Canyon Creek .

The next day, July 31, the wagon train will head northwest on the Mayfield Road, cross Ditto Creek, go past Baseline Road, cross Bowns Creek and travel through Mayfield to Slayter Creek. The wagon train will camp at the Erin Lord Ranch that evening.

Friday, Aug. 1, it will leave the Erin Lord Ranch and head toward Blacks Creek Road, crossing under I-84 at milepost 60. It will then head onto the Mora/Kuna Road, ending at Simmons Ranch on Eagle Road where there used to be a stage station, and the next day take part in the Kuna Heritage Days parade.

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  • I'm very excited about this event and can't wait to go tomorrow, but I haven't heard much buzz about it around town. Anyone else going?

    -- Posted by Nocturne on Tue, Jul 29, 2008, at 2:56 PM
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