Trails lead to award for Anderson

BY SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- In 1973 Ruth Anderson got hooked on learning about the Oregon Trail.

The New Ulm woman read a book called "The Gold Rush Trail and the Road to Oregon," and that was all it took to get her interested this aspect of American history of the 1840s.

Recently, she received the Distinguished Volunteer of the Year Award from the Oregon--California Trails Association (OCTA).

Settlers in covered wagons traveled west on the Oregon Trail from Independence, Mo., to the Williamette Valley during the 1840s.

"We walk those trails in Idaho, Nevada, Utah ... Wyoming. ... When I stand on those trails and see what they represent I can almost feel those wagons," said Anderson, "I think we owe quite a debt of gratitude to those people who traveled the Oregon Trail."

Anderson's involvement in the Oregon-California Trails Association began in 1983 when the group organized. The organization, which is dedicated to preserving the history and physical condition of the Oregon-California Trails, is headquartered in Independence, Mo.

"I had absolutely no clue that I was receiving it (the award)," said Anderson, "It's always a surprise who gets it."

"I drove down to Independence, Mo., to go to the first convention (in 1983)," said Anderson, "I had been interested in the trails for 10 years prior to actually getting involved in the organization."

OCTA currently has 2,500 members from all over the United States and also from Canada, Japan, England, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Switzerland.

Anderson, who has worked professionally as a piano teacher since 1953 in New Ulm, said her speciality is researching music on the Oregon-California Trails.

"I got into doing historical research by accident," said Anderson. "No one else was doing research on music on the trails, and I believe there is still no one (but her) researching music on the trails."

She has also served the organization as its volunteer historian since 1985.

She wrote a five-year history and a 15-year history of the OCTA . In compiling the histories, she relied on research findings as well as personal knowledge.

OCTA members support the group in various ways. Some people donate money or give moral support; others put up markers on the trails; and others petition members of Congress, acting as "watchdogs" for the trails, said Anderson.

"Once the history is gone -- you can not go back," said Anderson, "We're trying to protect it (the trails and the history). I think there's a lot of interest in historical preservation. I think it's a good time to be working on these things."

OCTA is always trying to think of new ways to get youngsters involved in preserving the trails.

For more information, contact OCTA, 524 S. Osage St., P.O. Box 1019, Independence, Mo., 64051-0519; octahqts@gvi.net. or (816)252-2276.

Anderson is willing to talk with people about the organization and its work.