The Potawatomi Trail of Death Association came into existence Sept. 16 as a new branch of the Fulton County Historical Society Inc, Rochester, Indiana.
The group elected officers: president, George Godfrey, Springfield, Ill. ? member of Citizen Potawatomi Nation; vice president, Sister Virginia Pearl, Pawnee Rock, Kansas ? member of Citizen Potawatomi Nation; secretary, Dolores Grizzell, Winamac, Ind. ? member of Fulton County Historical Society; treasurer, Shirley Willard, Rochester, Ind. ? member of Fulton County Historical Society; editor, Susan Campbell, Kalaheo, Hawaii ? member of Citizen Potawatomi Nation; and two board members: Don Perrot, Dowagiac, Mich. ? member of Prairie Band Potawatomi, and Dora May Craven, Huntsville, Mo. ? president of Huntsville Historical Society. Dues were set at $20 for individuals and $30 for family, group or club. To join, send check to Potawatomi TDA, 37E 375 N, Rochester IN 46975. Most of the group?s correspondence will be on email so be sure to give your email address. Those attending the meeting were Shirley Willard, Rochester, Ind.; Dolores and Si Grizzell, Winamac, Ind.; Charles Meiser, Sault Sainte Marie, Mich.; Rob Mountain, Indianapolis; Dean and Vicky Mountain, Perry, Ill.; Bill and Mary Ann Mountain, Perry, Ill.; Lyn Ward, Plymouth; Jerry Ryan, Rochester, Ind. Interested persons have held meetings in all four states on the 1838 Trail of Death in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. The purpose of the organization is to collect, preserve, research, and interpret the history and heritage of the Potawatomi 1838 Trail of Death and the Trail of Death Regional Historic Trail and thereby to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the American Indians, the forced removals, and their culture today. The PTDA will serve as a communication network for information about the 1838 forced removal of the Potawatomi from Indiana to Kansas. The PTDA is also working to get Potawatomi Trail of Death Regional Historic Trail highway signs (similar to the Lewis and Clark Trail signs) erected to mark the route so that people can hike, bike or travel the historic trail in vehicles. Rochester Wal-Mart gave a grant of $750 to help the group get started and create a web site to show the 76 Trail of Death historical markers, pictures, history and directions. FCHS is a 501 (c ) (3) not-for-profit corporation so donations to PTDA are tax deductible. For more information contact Shirley Willard at 574-223-2352 or Shirley Willard Retired president of the Fulton County Historical Society, she has served as coordinator for the placing of the Trail of Death markers since 1988. To join, clip & mail:Indian Awareness Center, Fulton County Historical Society
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Special thanks to Cindy McWilliams for passing this on.
Last updated on October 06, 2005