Pix #1 - This group of photos illustrates the character of monuments erected on the Oregon Trail during Ezra Meeker's drive of summer 1906. 27 monuments all in granite were erected; also many boulders were makred along the trail; erected by citizens, Ladies Aid Societies and school children...all at the instance of Meeker.

Pix #2 - The formidable sink in the lava beds runa a hundred miles under the rocks and ground and finally emerges as the Malad and Thousand Springs, shown in the two bottom photos. The Malad river, emerging three miles above the point shown in the photo is probably the largest spring on the continent if not in the world.

It is difficult to know how to "cut-off" this series of articles about The Oregon Trail. From the time I came to possess the set of postcards by Ezra Meeker and later when I discovered the book "The Oregon Trail Revisited", I have been "hooked" on the subject. There was no problem to extract enough data and other interesting events about the trail for the articles. Indeed it has been a problem to know how and where to stop.

Just before putting together this final episode, I spent some time going through that portion of the book reading "some" of the detailed description of how it is still possible for readers (if not ill or crippled, and able to take what could be described as not an ordinary auto trip) to experience the thrill of seeking out the trail traveled by those explorers and history - makers of 150 years ago.

LIKE TO TAKE THAT TRIP? YOU CAN!

Readers that are interested in having that experience should first buy a copy of the book "The Oregon Trail Revisited". Young families with children interested in scouting and the outdoors are good prospects. Get the book and read it before you make a decision to make the trip.

The book provides detailed description of how to find the trail, starting in Missouri and then provides guidance on through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon and goes on to point out interesting description, land marks etc. IT also includes photos and artwork of historic points and people all the way.

The U.S. National Park Service has contributed greatly to the preservation of the historic events that happened along the trail, and some are illustrated and described in the book.

The book also has a complete bibliography section.

READER FEEDBACK: HAS TOY CHEST JUST LIKE MINE

Bob Fry caught up with me when I was gathering data for an article. Jumping out of his truck he said, "hey Paul I have a tool chest from my boyhood days that was like the one you illustrated in your articl". He was referring to the article "Activities for Children in the Past".

Evidently his was larger than mine because he mentioned the tools that came in it which he still has. Most of the tools I had in mine are no longer around. Mine is now used for miscellaneous items on my basement workbench.

That article was a popular one, and more about things we used to do as kids will be explored further when I can get caught up.

REMEMBER THESE OUTDOOR GAMES?

From Mrs. E.W. (Ruth) Johnson, Breward, N.C., sister of deceased Albert Bryan, newspaper man in this area, came this message pertaining to the article about children's activities of the past: "That article was so full of memories for me! What about those exciting outdoor games of Hide and Seek, Go Sheep Go, Blind Man's Bluff, Japanese Tag, and of course Hopscotch. Inside we played Hide the Thimble, Pussy Wants the Corner, Quaker Meetin and Black Magic. Oyes Ruth, I remember all of those and others too.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WENT TO WHITTIER

"Dear Mr. Krupp: I am writing in regards to the Whittier School picture that appeared in the Review Times on 11-5-87. Miss Shaffer was partly right. The last name of the fril on the extreme left, first row, was Hale but her first name was Florence not Elizabeth. She was my mother.

She was in the fifth grade when the picture was taken. She too was forced to go to Columbus Avenue school in the sixth grade.

Miss McCormick was her third grade teacher at Whittier. She was also my sixth grade teacher.

I enjoy your history of Fostoria very much. I have found some discrepencies now and again but I would imagine trying to keep all the families straight is quite a chore.

LOCALS VISIT FOSTORIA, MICHIGAN

Mr. and Mrs. Len Coppler, residents in rural Fostoria took a car trip some weeks ago and made a stop in Fostoria, Michigan. Did you know there was such a town?

When they had returned, Len telephoned me and told me about his discovery, and what was there. It is a small village located north of Flint on Rt. 75, with a population of perhaps 100 residents. There is a post office there.

Surprisingly, there is a street in the village named Foster. Could it be that the village was named after a Mr. Foster, one of the early residents there, or its founder?

Could it be that Charles Foster, Fostoria, Ohio's founder was involved in the Michigan village founding?

That's a puzzler for which there may never be an answer. Let me know if any one learns the facts.