Durgan

Were going to Oregon

Were Off .. Were going to Oregon ,,forward ,"HO"

With a slap of the reins and a Yup(gittyup) or a Ha ,,they waved and shouted goodby over the creak of the wagons,,, most never to be heard from again..... A mother on her death bed said last word she heard from her children was a HAW at the gate as they headed out to the Trail for Oregon

Vale Oregon The Meek Cutoff
The Crossing by Robert Thomas Location: F Street West, Grace Lutheran Church Size: 9' x 32'
The Crossing portrays early immigrants as they prepare to make the sometimes hazardous crossing of the Snake River near old Fort Boise south of present day Nyssa, Oregon. These hardy pioneers relied on their faith in God and themselves in making this dangerous crossing.

The New Arrivals by Don Gray Location: North Court Street, between Washington and A St

The New Arrivals depicts Oregon Trail pioneers on the trail coming into present day Vale, Oregon, after crossing the Snake River near old Fort Boise. It was here in Vale that many of the immigrants stopped to rest and bathe in the hot springs on the banks of the Malheur River. © 1994 Heritage Reflections Mural Society

Death on the Trail The meek Cutoff Killed More people than the Donner Party

The lonesome grave of Gertrude Wentworth can still be found between Vale and Alkali Springs. It looks much the same today as it did originally.

The Trappers

The Trappers portrays fur trappers camped along the Malheur River near present day Vale, Oregon, as they prepare their furs for sale. When furs became less plentiful, some of these mountain men became guides for the wagon trains during the great western expansion.

By Ted L Durgan .. If you have ever been on the Meek Cut off you know what a worthhless place The country south and west of Vale Oregon is ..

I have been there many many times all over the place in my four wheeler in the last 50 years It is still a rough and dry country in the summer time,, not so bad as you get close to the the Deschutes Canyon but The Bake Oven Country is only fit for rattle snakes.. Many years ago a man by the name of CAPTAIN CASPER M. DURGIN surveyed the country and planted a Post right in the middle of the State.. It became known as Post Oregon.. Worthless Country around there.. If you have ever been there in the summer time.. it Hot, ,,HOT!! Hotter than Hot..!!

Of course now there is a little burg or two and big ranches such as the Durgan Ranch at Paulina all over the place much different than it was back then .. there is still miles and miles of nothing not even a gas station anymore so haul at least 100 gallons of gas...Ted

Captain Casper M Durgin and crew in Central Oregon during the NOAA Northwest Coast & Geodetic Survey