Special Interest

Articles:

• Lewis and Clark

Family Days

• Governor Lewis

• Memberships

Due

Individual

Highlights:

Annual Meeting 1

MOP Dinners 4

Mid Mo 5

Study Group 6

Cake 7

The MOP Chapter will again be hosting the Lewis and Clark Country Family Days. Our dates are the first Saturday of the month (April 6th May 4th, June 1st, July 6th, and August 3rd). The location will be the Western Historic Trails Center for April, May, June, and August. The July date will be held at Gifford Farms from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The times for the Trails Center Saturdays will be 10:00am to 3:00pm. The Family Days include lectures, living history, and programs for children. Crafts include expedition figures of Lewis, Clark, York, Sacajawea, and Jefferson and also a Native American dream catcher project.se with the program. Other crafts are also expected. The Gifford Farm date will have a hayrack ride and the children will also have an opportunity to enjoy two recent additions – a teepee and

Lewis and Clark Country Family Days – Summer 2013

Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation

45th Annual Meeting

July 28th – July 31st

Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

Washburn, North Dakota

Registration

Early-Bird Rate (by June 15) ......................... $375

After June 15 ................................................... $395

Future Explorers ............................................. $150

More info? - http://www.lewisandclark.org

buffalo hide. Both of these articles and the costs to conduct the Lewis and Clark Country Family Days were funded by our successful LCTHF grant request. Ms. Shirley Enos has graciously volunteered to lead this wonderful project for our children so please contact her with any questions. – Scotty Stickels

Mouth of the Platte Newsletter

Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation

ÍÑyíBraxge (Ee-Nee-Brath-ga)(Otoe-Missouria) Volume 2013, Issue 1 March 2013

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

Page 2

Keepers of the Story ~ Stewards of the Trail℠

We preserve, promote and teach the diverse heritage of

Lewis and Clark for the benefit of all people

Mouth of the Platte Chapter Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 3344 Omaha, NE 68103 mouthoftheplatte@cox.net ~~ www.mouthoftheplatte.org

Mouth of the Platte Activities

Annual Events:

June: Lewis and Clark Festival

Lewis and Clark State Park

Onawa, IA

July: White Catfish Camp

Western Historic Trails Center

Council Bluffs, IA

Wednesday Morning Study Group:

9 a.m., most weeks

Western Historic Trails Center

3434 Richard Downing Ave.

Council Bluffs, IA

Wednesday Evening Study Group:

6 p.m., fourth Wednesday of month

Village Inn

7837 Dodge Street

Omaha, NE

President’s Message

Hold for Don

Greetings from your President; What a pleasure! Our MOP activities and contributors leave room for only a short paragraph from your president! Lots going on with MOP and most of it is by the membership taking initiative for programs and projects. Thanks to Ev Orr for leading signage resolution, to Shirley Enos for leading the Lewis and Clark Country Family Days with help from Mary Langhorst in getting all of this started and a bunch of other people who have volunteered to make this work, to Ava Hastert and Ruth Hunolt and the many presenters and participants of the Wednesday morning study group for their enthusiasm and contributions of programs for education, entertainment, and companionship, and to all of you who make MOP such a great fellowship. I don't even have space for thanks to individual Board members and many others who make MOP work, but "Thank you all!" See details throughout this newsletter or talk to other members of MOP or to the Board members if you want more information about what is happening in MOP. Sincerely yours; Don Shippy

MOP Board

Don Shippy, President

(712-545-3358)

Dick Williams, Vice-president (402-551-8220)

Della Bauer, Treasurer

(402-697-8544)

Mary Langhorst, Secretary (402-291-1585)

Mary Jo Havlicek, At-large Board Member

(402-553-0224)

Tom Coenen, At-large Board Member (712-579-6333)

Scotty Stickels, At-large Board Member

(757-328-4283)

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

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Governor Meriwether Lewis – Success or Failure?

MERIWETHER LEWIS AS GOVERNOR FOR 18 MONTHS Why Lewis arrived late in St Louis is a matter of much speculation. However, in his short term he accomplished many things for the new territory, including peace making skills. Lewis was restoring civilized order to corrupt land deals by former governor James Wilkinson, who was relieved of duty before his term was up. He saw a need to redo actions of Frederick Bates, the acting governor in his absence, causing Bates to frustrate and distract tremendously from Lewis’ governing. Lewis moved fast to build two forts Secretary War Dearborn ordered in 1808 against Indian attacks. Lewis also wanted fort protection for trade between Indians and unscrupulous traders. As Superintendent of Indian Affairs, he met with Indian chiefs to restore harmony between Indians and the U.S Army. Because of language difficulties with French, Spanish, and Indians the Osage did not understanding William Clark’s first treaty. He redid it and got all the tribes to sign. This negotiation resulted in general boundaries that became the first political unit to acquire statehood in the Louisiana Territory, the state of Missouri. He also promoted a larger Army as he feared the internal militia are not strong enough against the British who were becoming active inciting Indians to the north. Lewis felt the new territory should have a newspaper and Territorial Laws for civilized good government. He imported a printer, Joseph Charles, and established the first press west of the Mississippi, The Missouri Gazette. Lewis wrote most articles, and the new territorial laws, to be printed and distributed. He was not reimbursed. Frederick Bates is sometimes given credit for publishing the new territorial laws. Lewis helps establish the St Louis Fur Trade Co. As responsible for the Mandan Chief Sheheke’s return, he makes the Fur Co. libel to him for the Indians safe return to Mandan Villages. After their return, the Fur Company was to continue up river as an independent commercial company. Some historians interpret Lewis with government involvement in a private commercial enterprise. As governor he headed the Territorial Legislature. Data from the Journal of the Territory LA 1806-1811 recorded, he helped pass 20 laws in two 1808 sessions. Legislation intended to prolong or aid institution human slavery was one issue. Lewis wanted compliance of the LA constitutional requirement: ‘No slave importation after 1808,’ which made him enemies with the large pro slavery crowd. (See Grace Lewis Miller Research Papers 1938-1971, Jefferson National Expansion Old Courthouse Library NPS for more on the Post Expedition Life of Meriwether Lewis) Meriwether Lewis was a patriot, a man of integrity in a hurry to move the new territory forward. In doing so he strapped himself financially, did not get prior approval of expenditures from a new administration, and found himself frustrated in need to go to Washington to explain his purchases. Were these listed accomplishments the work of a ‘lack luster governor’, a ‘drunkard’, and or emotional ‘Basket Case’ in Sept 1809, as he is sometimes described? – Evelyn Orr

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

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Recent MOP Dinner Meetings Highlights –

December, January, February, and March

December 2012 – Michael Murphy

Michael played his flutes, guitar, and harmonica while we enjoyed our

Holiday meal

He is a gifted musician with a special message and it was an extraordinary

evening for all

January 2013 – Darrel Draper

Held on a Saturday afternoon at Harmony House with ~50 guests

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was quite the entertainment that afternoon

February 2013 – Bev Hinds

Insightful differences between child-bearing practices of

Sacajawea and early pioneer women

Native American women had more control and their health was

much better because of this

March 2013 - Mark Weekley

Superintendent of the Lewis and Clark National Historic

Trail provided an update on NPS activities

Initiatives and summer events look toward a promising

2013 and beyond

Join us for upcoming Dinner Meetings @ Tish’s!!! 5:00 Social – 6:00 Dinner – 7:00 Presentation

April 16th – Betty Smallen, the Statues and Murals

Along the Lewis and Clark Trail

May 21st – Dan Sturdevant, President, Lewis and

Clark Heritage Foundation

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

Page 5

Missouri Network (Mid Mo), markets the trail from Rulo, Nebraska to Pickstown, South Dakota on both sides of the river.

Visit the organization's website to learn more: www.lewisandclarkcountry.org

2013 Summer Travel Workshop Monday, April 8 - 10 AM – 2 PM

National Park Service Lewis & Clark National Historic Trails Headquarters

A recent Mid Mo correspondence captures the positive results of their current marketing strategy and it will be discussed at the workshop. Highlights from the memo include:

The 2012 Welcome to Lewis & Clark Country Marketing Program included a new theme art illustration and Adventure Map featured in a new brochure, poster, counter card, window decal, and website…

…distribution of the new materials included the Visitor Centers, State Parks and Communities along the Lewis & Clark Trail in Western Iowa, Eastern Nebraska, and Southeastern South Dakota…

…promoted all the attractions and parks in the region as one exciting vacation destination for a

weekend or week-long vacation…”Your customer today is mine tomorrow, and vice versa”…

…2012 was a good year for Tourism in the Mid Mo region with Tourism reported up to 40%...

…one the best indications of the popularity…additional brochure re-orders from June to November, 2012…9,000 distributed by April, 2012…another 8,150 re-ordered by State Visitor Centers and Communities from June through November…

…Judy Riley, Manager of the Danish Windmill Iowa Welcome Center said, “The brochures are

very popular…We can’t keep them in the rack.”

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

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Study Group and Other Interesting Activities

Father Tom's Study Group presentation "Jefferson in Paris -- Gourmand and Wine Lover". "1762 Jefferson studied law under George Wythe, a distinguished jurist who became Jefferson's mentor and one of his trusted friends. He also introduced Jefferson to wine, including Madeira and Claret, two of the most popular types of wine in 18th century America." "The man who had the most influence on Jefferson, was Phillip Mazzei, an Italian surgeon...He bought 400 acres of land ...to plant his vineyard...and formed the "Wine Company" which Jefferson invested in."

Chet Worm and Mary Langhorst at the Mouth of the Platte Chapter table at the Missouri Valley History Conference March 7-9, Embassy Suites, Omaha, NE. Thanks to the following MOP members who also volunteered at the conference: Betty Smallen, Denna Massey, Dick and Shirley Beck, Darlene Backhaus, Mary Jo Havlicek, Evelyn Orr, Shirley Enos, and Della Bauer. "We Proceed On..."

Della Bauer and Mary Langhorst attended the 2013 New Orleans Regional Outing sponsored by the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and led by Lou Ritten, Lorna Hainesworth, and Janice and Jerry Wilson from the Illini and Ohio River Chapters. The meeting centered around the role of Fort Adams and the connections of Meriwether Lewis in the process of acquiring the land of the lower Louisiana Purchase. One of the many highlights was visiting the Cabildo building where the Louisiana Purchase transfer papers from France to the United States were signed.

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

Page 7

MOP Merchandise Available –

Coffee Mugs and Polo Shirts!!!

See Mary L for details and to order!

Happy Birthday Pomp!!!

Happy Anniversary

Mouth of the Platte Chapter!!!!!!

Celebrations, Gift ideas, and a Request

Please don’t hesitate to submit

study group or other articles

for inclusion in your MOP newsletter…

look for book reviews and

other articles in the June newsletter!!

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

Page 8

Mouth of the Platte Chapter Memberships

All memberships are renewable annually by March 31.

Memberships

Individual membership....... $20 $ _____

Family membership.............. $25 $ _____

Student membership ........... $10 $ _____

Business/Organization ....... $25 $ _____

Charitable contributions to support:

Mouth of the Platte Chapter programs $ _____

Newspapers in Education ............... $ _____

Boy Scouts of America activities ... $ _____

Gifford Farm Lewis and Clark programs $ _____

Western Historic Trails Center ..... $ _____

Total enclosed: $ _______

Make Check Payable to:

Mouth of the Platte, Inc.

PO Box 3344

Omaha, NE 68103

Name _________________________________________

Address __________________________________________

__________________________________________

City __________________ State _____ ZIP _________

E-mail __________________________________________

Phone __________________________________________

Lewis and Clark interests __________________________________

Current member of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation?

Mouth Of the Platte March 2013 Newsletter

Page 9

Mouth of the Platte, Inc.

Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, INC

PO Box 3344

Omaha, NE 68103

A Short Note from the Short Editor

Send any comments, suggestions, and ideas to -- editor4mop@gmail.com

Thanks for the support to date and in the future – Scotty Stickels