The Whitman party traveled West in the year 1836, along the Oregon Trail. After miles of dust in Virtue Flat, Oregon, they arrived at Flagstaff Hill, Oregon. What they saw was heaven.
A flat, green floor, split by a placid river, that stretched for miles. Shadows, from the high mountain range lined the valley, as the sun disappeared behind its highest peaks. A few miles Northwest of where the trail entered the valley, was a tall tree. This solitary giant casts a shadow. It was the Lone Tree or l'abre seul, as it was called by French-Canadian trappers. A landmark, and the valley's namesake since men first saw it, in the year 1811.
Narcissa Whitman, of the Whitman party, noted the tree, and the valley in her diary of August 25, 1836. "The place called 'Lone Tree' is a beautiful valley in the region of the Powder River, in the center of which is a solitary tree, quite large, by the side of which, travelers usually stop, and refresh themselves."
In 1843 someone chopped this Lone Tree down. The famous Western explorer John Freemont attributed the act to "... some inconsiderate emigrant ax." The Oregon Department of Transportation erected an historical marker, commemorating the Lone Pine, which was designed by a representative of the Baker County Historical Society. The marker is located on Highway 86, as it winds its way up the hill, on the East side of Baker Valley, Oregon.
On October 30, 1976, two ponderosa pine trees had been planted to commemorate the original Lone Pine. A granite marker at the foot of a thriving forty-foot ponderosa pine tree, at the Baker City Municipal Airport, gives the history of Lone Pine, and of the tree that once stood along the Oregon Trail.
LONE PINE TREE CHAPTER, NSDAR CHAPTER HISTORY
The Lone Pine Tree Chapter, NSDAR, was not the first chapter in the valley. In 1926, the Grande Ronde Chapter, NSDAR, was organized. Nellie Bohnenkamp was the Organizing Regent of the original Grande Ronde Chapter, NSDAR. Unfortunately, due to waning membership, the Grand Ronde Chapter, NSDAR, formally disbanded in 1981.
The new Lone Pine Tree Chapter, NSDAR, came into being, in more recent years. Its inception began in Baker City, Oregon, by a group of dedicated ladies. Wishing to recognize their lineage to the freedom-seekers, in the early years of the formation of the United States, it became their passion to form a new NSDAR chapter.
First, they needed to choose a chapter name of historical significance. So many diaries of the early pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail mentioned the "lone tree," this was the group's first choice for a Chapter name.
Unable to find the number of ladies required for formation, the Baker City, Oregon, group combined with the La Grande, Oregon, group. Members began recruiting their daughters, sisters, and friends to join. In 1994/1995, the joined forces of 16 ladies in Northeastern Oregon came together as the combined chapter. Ethelyn Williams, of Baker City, Oregon, was the Organizing Regent. She was a DAR member-at-large, at the request of other ladies attempting to organize. They continued to meet once a month, usually in the Baker City Library, but occasionally at a park in Haines, Oregon.
Lillian Densley, and Floy Clark, both from Baker City, Oregon, helped several ladies with their research, affirming that they could prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. In order to be eligible for membership they also had to be 18 years of age or older, regardless of their race, religion, or ethnic background.
Finally, on April 22, 1995, the group was notified by a phone call from the National Board of Management, NSDAR, that they had been confirmed as the Lone Pine Tree Chapter, Oregon. Following the mission of NSDAR, to nationally promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism, with the motto of "God, Home and Country,''
They immediately conducted their installation of officers, which included Regent Ethelyn Williams, Baker City, Oregon; Vice Regent Wilma Easley, La Grande, Oregon; Registrar Lillian Densley, Baker City, Oregon; Secretary Floy Clark, Baker City, Oregon; Treasurer Clarice Johnson, Baker City, Oregon; Historian Alice Morehead, La Grande, Oregon; Librarian Emma Jean Greener, Halfway, Oregon; Chaplain A. Leigh Sanders, Baker City, Oregon. The installing officer was District Director Beverly Harris Jenkins from Hermiston, Oregon. Other charter members included Joyce Anderson, Louise Choate, Olive Melton, and Frances McCall, all of La Grande, Oregon; Julia Green, Lebanon, Ohio; Mary Royes, Imbler, Oregon; Fran Ryder, of Nampa, Idaho; Susan Schneider, Clackamas, Oregon; and Margaret Davis, Tigard, Oregon.
As you can see, our Lone Pine Tree Chapter, NSDAR is diverse in chapter member localities.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), was founded October 11, 1890, with membership based on descent from a man or woman who served between 1776 and 1783 as a sailor, soldier, civil officer, or as a patriot who rendered material aid to the American Revolutionary cause.
LONE PINE TREE CHAPTER, NSDAR TODAY
Lone Pine Tree Chapter, NSDAR, holds meetings alternately between Baker City, Oregon, and La Grande, Oregon. Our chapter continues to meet monthly, on the second Friday, at 11:00 a.m. At noon we begin our chapter business. During the summer months, we do not have formal meetings. We do participate in local parades, flag retirement ceremonies, and other events.
We meet for lunch, conduct our meeting, and provide a program. All are welcome to visit our meetings, or events at any time. Lone Pine Tree Chapter, NSDAR, is growing with recognition with their participation in many community activities in Baker City, Oregon, and La Grande, Oregon, as well as statewide. The group that had once found it difficult to find the necessary 16 members, is alive, thriving, and a growing chapter of NSDAR.
The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters. Photo of downtown Baker City, Oregon, courtesy of Oregon Encyclopedia.