Sam Compton
President, The Boone Society
It is that time of year, we bring family closer together to celebrate the holiday season.
The Boone family is a collection of people connected by a tie to outstanding founders of this great nation. The accomplishments of Daniel Boone and family speak volumes for the sacrifices and hardships experienced in that era.
We are most grateful to those pioneers that lead the expansion of a nation to greater heights and prosperity.
The Christmas holidays a special time for honoring the birth of Jesus Christ our saviour and to count our blessings.
Over the past year, we have been blessed by so many dedicated members pulling together to honor the Boone Heritage and teach others about the experiences of the early American accomplishments.
We look forward to a new year and the opportunities to expand our agenda. The Boone Society is reaching to new heights to accomplish our goals. I look forward to serving you as this new year unfolds.
Merry Christmas
from Carolyn and I
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David Wright
David Wright is a premier artist of the American Pioneer frontier. His painting "Gateway to the West" is featured as a wall mural in the visitors center in the Cumberland Gap National Park.
He is an honorary member of The Boone Society and a strong supporter of our organization. His works in the pioneer art are viewed in many shows and galleries across the nation.
David has asked if he could design the Highway logo signs to be used to mark the Boone Trace. We feel honored that these signs will have his trademark impression on them.
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| Tennessee Crossroads: David Wright (2347-3) |
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Click Here for Kentucky Tourism Video
Kentucky has lots of exciting tourism benefits. It is rich in history with it's museums and state parks to enjoy. We hope you are sharing in this wealth of recreational entertainment.
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The 2012 Boone Society Reunion is just six months away. Please make your hotel reservations with the Marriott Hotel, while we have a discount rate on the room block.
We also need your reservation form as soon as possible, so we can make reservations for the Grand Ole Opry. We can't wait until the last minute on these as they will fill up the spaces we have reserved in due time.
We ask that you send in the form to reserve your spaces and you can send the money later as you see fit. This will allow us to finalize our planning for buses, lunches etc. Your co-operation will allow us to create this great gathering of the Boone Family.
The theme for this reunion is "The Westward Movement
and Tennessee".
It will feature the impact made on this region from those first settlers that passed through the Cumberland Gap in their western migration. The agenda covers historical sites and events from that era.
There will be some surprises and you don't want to miss what hopes to be the largest gathering of Boone's yet.
Come join the fun and see what Music City has to offer. Send in your reservation form as soon as possible and make a note that payment is forthcoming.
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A PIONEER CHRISTMAS
In the early American days, the home was decorated with green branches, holley and homemade decorations. They did not have big Christmas trees because there was no room for a large tree in their small cabins. There were Pine cones, nuts, berries and popcorn chains hung on the tree.
Dolls made from straw or yarn were used as decorations. Cookie ornaments and gingerbread men were also hung on the tree. The Christmas dinner was planned and preparation of the food began far ahead of time. The Christmas goose was fattened up and the plum pudding was left to age in the pot until Christmas day.
There were chores that began months before Christmas - such as making the gifts for the family members corn husk dolls, sachets, carved wooden toys, pillows, footstools and embroidered items. Scarves hats, mitts and socks had to be knitted. Girls were able to knit before theywere six years old. Boys would make boxes for presents.
If there a good harvest that year, presents were placed inside stockings. The stockings were hung on the fireplace. Cookies and fruit could also be found in the stockings. Christmas Eve was for singing carols and telling stories around the fireplace Christmas Day the whole family attended church and returned home to a Christmas meal. Then it was time to visit friends and neighbors.
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 The Boone Society has engaged in a project to identify, restore and preserve the trail blazed in 1775 by Daniel Boone, who was then an agent for the Transylvania Co. This famous road was used by thousands of settlers traveling to Kentucky. The Boone Trace entered Ky. at Cumberland Gap, crossed the Cumberland River at Pineville, ran northwest past London, and ended at Fort Boonesborough. "This pathway is the main artery to a new nation" and Daniel Boone's leading those first settlers into the wilderness of western expansion launched that movement. He is recognized the world over for his accomplishments. We should protect and preserve this important segment of American history.
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Boone Trace Project Update!
The Two town hall meetings in London and Richmond went very well. The feedback there was very positive and we created a ground swell of enthusiasm. Attending those meetings were town and county officials along with historians and chambers of commerce within the Boone Trace Corridor. The attendees were greeted with a salad and sandwich buffet followed by a slide show presentation of the Boone Trace Project. The meeting was concluded with a question and answer session.
October 11th, President Sam Compton, made a visit to Frankfort, KY to meet the leading state departments being sought as partners in making the Boone Trace Project possible. Attending were Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Gerry Van Der Meer, his assistant Shirley Dexter, Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism, Deputy Commissioner, Hank Phillips and Kentucky Historical Society, Executive Director, Kent Whitworth .
There was a collective group meeting for a slide show presentation of the Boone Trace Project and followed by a discussion. Enthusiasm and interest was high on what it meant to the state of Kentucky. Negotiations are underway with these key contacts for a partner relationship is moving forward. Once this is accomplished, we are expanding the Boone Society Committee to a full working level and assigning management task for categories of responsibilities.
Carolyn Compton will be managing our relations with the Daughters of the American Revolution as they participate in restoration of the DAR markers placed there in 1915 and 1942. Carolyn is a member of the Tennessee DAR and will communicate with Jessieanne Wells, Kentucky State Regent and the various chapters along the Boone Trace Corridor.
More management directors will be announced as the project comes together. We are still in step two of the first phase, but almost out of that step. It has been a long chore of making these contacts and pulling everyone together into a team. This is a big task and will take some time, but we are getting solid support as we go. The State of Kentucky has been so supportive and cooperative. With that spirit we will succeed in bringing this vision to a reality.
We hope to be able to move into phase two in January 2012. As we solidify our key partners necessary to accomplish this venture, we hope to bring a team of agencies together as a task force committee. These are the managing members of The Historical Society, The Parks and tourism departments of the State of Kentucky.
This method is chosen as the project requires the support from all of these and each depends on the other for a game plan. To meet individually will not work as we need a round table committee to iron out the original concept and modify it into a concrete project that meets the limitations and desires of the State of Kentucky. The Boone Society has gone to the state with a concept and basic plan. The final project is a team effort of the state as a whole.
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The Boone Trace Project
.The Boone Society takes on a most important project in restoring and protecting Daniel Boone's famous pathway for thousands of settlers, moving to develop this great nation. To accomplish this mission, we have drawn up a three phase plan that allows us to systematically work toward a common goal. Each phase is a mini project in it's self and could stand independently productive.
Phase One:
- Research and Identify the route of the trace, from the Gap to Boonesboro
- Develop a network of partners to accomplish this mission
- Study the decisions made by the National Park Service in 1983
- Seek protection of the monuments and markers on the route
Phase Two:
- Establish the span of trail from the Cumberland Gap to Boonesboro as "The Boone Trace Corridor" for educational recreational and promotional purposes. There will be the original trace and then two parallel driving routes to follow it's path. One route will be a series of small roads that allow a person to gain access to the various points of interest along the trace. The other route is a faster by-pass to move up and down the system to give flexibility in ones trace experience.Suggest that Kentucky designate 25E and 25 from the Gap to Boonesboro to be re-named "The Boone Trace."
- Develop a website to promote the Boone Trace for education and tourism
- Raise money in the counties and towns along the route for web development, repairs and new signs
- Make repairs to the existing DAR markers on the pathway
- Developing new markers to be placed at key historical sites.
- Creating and placing Boone Trace logo signs along Hwy. 25E and 25.
Phase Three:
- Partner with Cumberland Gap National Park, Martins Station in VA, Boonesboro in KY and the Kentucky state Parks to create a self guided audio tour of the Boone Trace.
- Create a text pamphlet with maps and places of interest, including federal and state parks along the route for distribution in those Parks
- Create a DVD to be placed in a self guided tour kit and used for educational purposes.
- Work with the Kentucky Department of Education to develop curriculum on Early Kentucky history and it's impact on the expansion of our nation.
This three phase approach can allow us to systematically work in a direction to accomplish our mission. If for some reason, the project halted at the conclusion of any phase, it would deem to be a success. Of course we intend to go all the way to complete all of the project, so that the rich heritage of Daniel Boone is preserved and the State of Kentucky benefits from the historical role it played in the advancement of this great nation.
This project belongs to the Boone families, the citizens of Kentucky and the people of this great nation. It can only be accomplished by the aid of the state agencies, the county and city governments, the business and chambers of Commerce along the route. If everyone shows an interest and gives support in some way, we can succeed in this endeavor. Hands of many make it an obtainable goal.
Kentucky has shown pride in Daniel Boone and he's recognized with his name on state parks, forest, national Parks, monuments and markers across the bluegrass land. But, we feel that we can never empathize enough, his greatest accomplishment of leading the settlers into the wilderness of expansion to build a great nation. Kentucky has a key role in this expansion and we as a nation, need to insure that this piece of history is never forgotten.
The Boone Trace has been overlooked and left behind to be lost forever, except for the few historians and family tales. That would be a loss for the state and the future generations, that need to know who they are and the struggles to build an environment that we enjoy today. Without this, we become a confused society as to who we are and one without pride. Through the centuries, the experiences of ancestors struggles gives appreciation and pride to build character in the following generations.
This project has started out with a very strong support from many key people. These have stepped out in faith that it is a good cause and an obtainable goal. As time goes by we will expose these people with their permission, to influence others to get behind the project. The great thing about it is that it involves so many and everyone benefits from the success of it.
We have a chance to build on the rich history of the state and leave behind a legacy for all to appreciate. In addition to that, as we educate persons to the importance of this historical movement, we also create tourism along the route from Martins Station, the Cumberland Gap on to Boonesboro on the northern terminus. It will become a living classroom, for generations to benefit from.
This newsletter has been created to keep the project updated to the key parties necessary to get it accomplished. Over time, we will update it with progress reports and be distributed to a unique e-mail list. You can feel free to forward it to your personnel, other departments and parties that you deem vital to it's success. They may register for themselves to be added to the distribution list.
The Boone Society has a website, www.boonesociety.org that will help you understand who we are and what our mission is. We are a non-profit organization and limited to resources necessary for a project of this size. We do realize that with your help, we can accomplish great things and we are grateful to all that lend a helping hand. The selection of contacts, we have approached all have a unique position to make this possible.
If we as a group, do not take action, The Boone Trace will continue to fade into the past and be lost forever. A lot of the pathway has evolved into highways, railways and towns. There is a large part that not belongs on private property. The daughters of the American Revolution placed a dozen stone markers along the route in 1915 and these have deteriorated over time and will soon fall down and possible removed from their sites.
We hope to get them on the National Historical Register for their protection and do necessary repairs to stabilize them. Then we will raise funds to place new cast markers in specific spots to identify the key historical events on that pathway. The next step is to appeal with the state to extend the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail on 25E with a more proper definition of the Boone Trace and run it on up 25 to Boonesboro. Logo signs will be placed along this stretch to acknowledge that one is following the Boone Trace.
The final phase will pull traffic of tourism for those in this span. It will be promoted to the benefit of the national and state parks and townships along the route. People will soon begin to tour this famous pathway for historical and entertainment purposes. The Boone Trace is a treasure for Kentucky and one that deserves to be preserved for future generations to come.
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Daniel Boone
First reached Kentucky in the fall of 1767 while on a long hunt with his brother Squire Boone. Boone's first steps in Kentucky were near present Elkhorn City.
While on the Braddock expedition years earlier, Boone had heard about the fertile land and abundant game of Kentucky from fellow wagoner John Finley, who had visited Kentucky to trade with American Indians.
Boone and Finley happened to meet again, and Finley encouraged Boone with more tales of Kentucky. At the same time, news had arrived about the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, in which the Iroquois had ceded their claim to Kentucky to the British. This, as well as the unrest in North Carolina due to the Regulator movement, likely prompted Boone to extend his exploration.
On September 25, 1773, Boone packed up his family and, with a group of about 50 emigrants, began the first attempt by British colonists to establish a settlement in Kentucky. Boone was still an obscure hunter and trapper at the time; the most prominent member of the expedition was William Russell, a well-known Virginian and future brother-in-law of Patrick Henry. (Wikipedia)
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The Wilderness Road
was the principal route used by settlers for more than fifty years to reach Kentucky from the East. In 1775, Daniel Boone blazed a trail for the Transylvania Company from Long Island on the Holston River, originally in North Carolina, now Kingsport, TN through the Cumberland Gap into central Kentucky. It was later lengthened, following Native American trails, to reach the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville. The Wilderness Road was steep and rough, and it could only be traversed on foot or horseback. Despite the adverse conditions, thousands of people used it.
After passing over the Cumberland Gap the Wilderness Road forked. The southern fork passed over the Cumberland Plateau to Nashville, Tennessee via the Cumberland River. The northern fork split into two parts. The eastern spur went into the Bluegrass region of Kentucky to Boonesborough on the Kentucky River (near Lexington). This is the section known as the Boone Trace. The western spur ran to the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville).[8][9] As settlements grew southward, the road stretched all the way to Knoxville, Tennessee, by 1792. (Wikipedia)
Maps of the Westward Movement Roads
The Wilderness Trail Association
(See video clip below)
(Photo courtesy of Native Sun Productions)
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The Westward Movement
For early settlers and pioneers the Cumberland Gap was a gateway that led through the southern Appalachian Mountains into the great wilderness of Kentucky. They mostly traveled on foot, coming from as far away as Pennsylvania. Although many of these early travelers had different dreams and expectations heading west into Kentucky, they were all in search of land and a new start.
They often traveled in groups for safety and had an insatiable drive to penetrate the great wilderness. Everyday was a struggle to survive as they lived off of the bounty of the land. In the late 1700's most of the population in the United States was found east of the Appalachian Mountains. Early pioneers and settlers travelled along the historic Wilderness Road west into the wilderness of Kentucky through Cumberland Gap. By the early 1820's it is estimated that several hundred thousand people travelled this historic route westward. Today, an estimated 47 million people in the United States are descendants of these early travelers! (Reprinted from NPS: Cumberland Gap National Park) (See video clip below.)
Daniel Boone and the Westward Movement
("Gateway to the West" Painting by: David Wright)
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 The Boone Trace
Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park is on the historic Wilderness Road. The road was the main route used by settlers fifty-plus years to reach Kentucky from Virginia In 1775, Daniel Boone blazed a trail through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. It was later lengthened, following Native American trails, to the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville.
The Wilderness Road was rough and steep. In the early days of the trail, it could only be traveled on foot or horseback. As more travelers passed the road improved and horse-drawn wagons were able to follow the trail In spite of the conditions, thousands of people used it. Many of their descendants still live in in Kentucky.[ Including the members of the McNitt Company a group of pioneers who were attacked by Native Americans on October 3, 1786. The park is also at the intersection of Boone's Trace and the Wilderness Road. Boone's Trace was also blazed by Daniel Boone. Some of it is still open today to hiking and the Wilderness Road has since been paved as part of Kentucky Route 229. (Wikipedia)
The Boone Trace Markers
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