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 Free Emigrant Road - Westfir, Oregon Posted by:  TheBeanTeam
N 43° 45.541 W 122° 31.960
10T E 537619 N 4845214
The Free Emigrant Road crossed the desert of Eastern Oregon and passed over the Cascades and down the Willamette River to reach the fertile lands of the Willamette Valley
Waymark Code: WM1TXP
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 07/09/2007
Views: 144
The Free Emigrant Road was primarily used in 1853-54 with 2500 pioneers passing by. Known also as The Elliot Cutoff for one of the first trains to attempt its passing. The Group led by Elijah Elliott became famous on this route as the "Lost Wagon Train of 1853". According to the
Lane County Historical Society the Lost Wagon Train was made up of 615 men, and 412 women. Totaling 1,027 persons who crossed the deserts and marshes of Eastern Oregon and the Cascade mountain range in 215 wagons They made the crossing with 3,970 cattle, 1,700 sheep, 222 horses, and 64 mules. After several days of crawling on hands and knees through thickets, climbing over logs, wading down streams, their provisions gave out and they were reduced to the necessity of living on snails and mice and anything the could lay their hands on. They at last reached the cabin of a settler who took them in and got on his horse to spread the news. There was not a moment's delay in the efforts of the settlers and to furnish relief. All night they worked in getting together supplies and as soon as morning dawned a large pack train was on its way for their relief.
James Addison Bushnell, emigrant of 1852,
whose family followed Elliott across the Free Emigrant Road in 1853
From: End of the Oregon Trail
In 2004 the Northwest Youth Corp. partnered with the Oakridge Westfir Pioneer Museum to record the route of the historic road. The museum was given a grant by the Oregon Trail Historical Fund and the youth corp worked with a private surveyor in establishing the exact location of the road. The NYC also was to assist in erecting permanent monuments along the route.
Road of Trail Name: Free Emigrant Road
State: Oregon
County: Lane
Historical Significance:
2500 Pioneers crossed this trail as an alternative route to the Southern Willamette Valley in Western Oregon.
Years in use: 1853-54
How you discovered it:
Stopped at a Forest Service Ranger Station and found the marker.
Book on Wagon Road or Trial:
Beckham, Stephen Dow. "In Their Own Words: Diaries and Reminiscences of the Oregon Trail in Oregon," Vol. 1, a report prepared for the Oregon Trail Coordinating Council, 1991.
Grey, Edward. Lost Wagon Train, 1853. Eugene, OR: Lane County Historical Museum, 1979.
Menefee, Leah Collins, Donald F. Menefee, and Kenneth Munford. The Free Emigrant Road Over Willamette Pass. Corvallis, OR: Horner Museum, Oregon State University, 1979.
Menefee, Leah Collins, Donald F. Menefee, and Lowell Tiller. "Cutoff Fever," Oregon Historical Quarterly, December 1976 through March 1978.
Website Explination:
End of the Oregon Trail
Free Emigrant Road
Oregon Trail Historical Fund
Oregon Trail Historical Fund grant
Northwest Youth Corp.
Why?:
People used this road to bypass the northern route of the Oregon Trail or the tolls of the Barlow Road. It did become a freight road after it was opened up and was used for years.
Directions:
Located on Highway 58 west of Oakridge Oregon at the Oakridge Ranger District Office.
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Visit Instructions:
To post a log for this Waymark the poster must have a picture of either themselves, GPSr, or mascot. People in the picture with information about the waymark are preferred. If the waymarker can not be in the picture a picture of their GPSr or mascot will qualify. There are no exceptions to this rule.
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