Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 18.djvu/333



Champoeg, overlooking Willamette River, the place where the Oregon provisional government was founded May 2, 1843, will always be a center of Northwest history, and a marker of National expansion. A pioneer memorial building will rise at the site of Champoeg this year, built with $5,000 state fimds, appropriated by the Legislature at last year's session. The site of this structure is in an enclosure of twelve acres, which was deeded to the State of Oregon in 1913, by Mr. P. H. D'Arcy, of Salem, trustee of numerous fund contributors, who gave the money for purchase of the land. The sum paid was $1,265, and the deed of Mr. D'Arcy's bears date of November 10, 1913. A monument to the provisional government, dedi- cated May 2, 1901, stands in the enclosure.

Purchase of the land for the state and erection of the pioneer building will make complete the long-time plans of members of the Oregon Pioneer Association and the Oregon Historical Society. The architectural plans have been prepared by George M. Post of Salem, for the State Board of Control, consisting of Governor James Withycombe, Secretary of State Ben W. Olcott and State Treasurer Thomas Kay. An advisory com- mittee has consisted of Mr. P. H. D'Arcy, formerly president of the Oregon Pioneer Association and organizer of many annual celebrations at Champoeg, and Mr. George H. Himes, curator and assistant secretary of the Oregon Historical Society.

The Quarterly takes pleasure in announcing the near realization of the plans for the Champoeg memorial and in commending the unselfish work of those who have served in its behalf.

Yakima pioneers presented a large monument to the State of Washington in Wenas Valley, near Selah, September 20, 1917, at the farm of David Longmire, member of the 1853