Heritage Trail Gains Markers
Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2005 10:37 PM CST in News
By Steve Caraway
The Morning News
Related Photos
SPRINGDALE -- A new road sign will mark the path of three historical trails in Northwest Arkansas.
About 100 road markers will blaze the Heritage Trail, which includes the route of the Butterfield Stage line, a route of the Trail of Tears and a route of Civil War armies.
Heritage Trail Partners, an organization promoting the Heritage Trail, recognized the marking of the trail Tuesday with a ceremony at Fitzgerald Station, a stage stop on the Butterfield Stage line.
"We are trying to have the Butterfield Trail route designated as a National Historic Trail," said Marilyn Heifner, president of Heritage Trail Partners. "Congressman (John) Boozman's staff is working on that legislation."
The barn at Fitzgerald Station is the original building used for horses during the life of the Butterfield Line from 1858 until 1861.
The barn may have been built when members of the Cherokee Tribe traveled along the route during the Trail of Tears, their journey when they were displaced to Oklahoma, said Jack Baker of Oklahoma City, president of the National Trail of Tears Association.
"About 8,000 Cherokees came right through here," Baker said. "They may have camped on this spot."
Baker said another 3,000 to 4,000 Cherokees traveled to Pea Ridge, then cut west through Maysville.
Soldiers on their way to fight at the Battle of Pea Ridge journeyed up the trail.
Jay Berryman, owner of Fitzgerald Station along with his wife Sarah Berryman, said investigators have found several items buried on the grounds dating back to the time of the stage line and the trail, including handmade nails and a hinge.
"When we were cleaning up a block building, we found the original, hand-dug well," Berryman said. "It was still lined with rock."
The trail, crossing into Arkansas north of Pea Ridge, runs to Fort Smith. The Partners plan a trail that would be used by bicycles and pedestrians and would connect to trails in the region's cities.
The Trail Partners have sponsored two commemorative rides along the trail in Northwest Arkansas.
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
