Fourth graders travel through Oregon history

In the footsteps of John McLoughlin, Lewis and Clark, and Oregon Trail Pioneers, the fourth graders of Sisters Elementary School journeyed by bus on the annual Oregon history field trip June 2-3.

Led by fourth grade teacher Diane Jacobson, a lover of Oregon history and veteran of 18 such trips, as well as fellow fourth grade teachers Mark Lamont and Clay Warburton, the fourth graders made their way from Sisters Thursday morning to the first real stop of the trip at Laurel Hill.

This was where many Oregon Trail pioneers, following the cut-off around Mt. Hood blazed by Sam Barlow, lowered their wagons down a treacherously steep descent on their way to the Willamette Valley.

The group pushed onward from Laurel Hill toward historic Fort Vancouver, singing “Roll on, Columbia” as they crossed over the mighty river into Washington.

Fort Vancouver was an outpost of the powerful Hudson’s Bay Company during the fur trapping heyday of the early- to mid-1800s. John McLoughlin, a British Canadian who later became an American citizen and provincial governor of Oregon, acted as the Chief Factor at the post. After the departure of the Hudson’s Bay Company the fort fell into disrepair and eventually burned to the ground.

Replications of several buildings, along with a formidable 12-foot-high wooden fence, gave the fourth grade visitors a real taste of the original fort.

Students saw reproductions of an active blacksmith shop, a storehouse for furs, and the beautiful home, complete with vintage furnishings, used by McLoughlin.

Ryan Pollard enjoyed the blacksmith’s shop at Fort Vancouver, but enjoyed equally the trip to JJ North’s buffet for dinner.

“I think I ate 14 plates of food!” he said.

The group spent the night at Kraxberger Elementary School in Gladstone and after sleeping on the gym floor some may have felt as stiff and sore as some of the wagon train travelers during the emigration to Oregon.

Friday morning the students were up bright and early to fit in a full schedule of activities beginning with a stop at historic Willamette Falls in Oregon City. From there it was on to OMSI for a viewing of a 30-minute film on Lewis and Clark in the Omnimax theater.

The final stage of the journey took the kids to the state Capitol in Salem. Gene Whisnant spent a few minutes with the class in a seating area overlooking the House chamber and may have regretted asking about when school was out after getting the quick response that Sisters School District had lost five days of instruction due to budget cuts and would be ending June 9 instead of June 16.

Students toured the Capitol and climbed the winding staircase up to the base of the golden pioneer statue atop the building that provided expansive views of the capitol city and the outlying area.

“It was cool getting to sleep on the floor of the gym and I really liked going up to see the golden man at the state capitol,” said Ross Robinson.

The group was back in Sisters around dinnertime on Friday, full of new knowledge and memories.

“It was a great trip,” said Clay Warburton.