Show First historical Monument at Ft Duchesne The first historical monument to be dedicated at Fort Duch Duch- Duch Duchesne esne stands at the intersection which leads to the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the west and the tribal offices at the right of the hIghway It was dedicated Thursday of last week and Francis chairman of the ute Tribal Business Committee gave the welcome address The West Jun Jun- Junior for High School band played two numbers and Superintend Superintend- Superintendent ent Melvin I L Schwartz told of plans to make this a beauty spot with landscaping and tour tour- 1st facilities planned for the area MR SCHWARTZ also gave a brief history of the fort lIe related that it was Continued on page 8 l Continued from pagel page 1 in 1886 to control the act act- activities of the Ute Indian peo- peo people people and protect the non Indian settlers It was built by two compan- compan companies companies ies of colored cavalry and the infantry It is believed to tobe tobe be the most expensive post ever erected In America as all of the material for its construction had to be freighted over the mountains from Price after pay pay- paying ing high freight rates on the mountain railroads A wooden wall originally sur- sur surrounded surrounded rounded the fort FORT DUCHESNE was abol- abol abolished abolished as a military post in 1912 and the agencies at Whiterocks and Ouray were moved here as headquarters for the Ute In In- In Indian dlan dian reservation The agency is isI I i v e headquarters for the Bureau of Indian Affairs which is charged with carrying out the trust responsibilities of the US government to the Ute Indian bylaw people as required by law There are three bands of In In- In Indians on the reservation The Uintah band came first from Central Utah under the persua persua- persuasion sion of Brigham Young who was then governor and also was apt ap- appointed pointed to act as superintendent of Indian Affairs The Whiteriver band and the Uncompahgre band came in 1880 after their banishment from Colorado fol fol- fol following lowing the Meeker Massacre It is believed that the fort was named after the Duchsne river which derived its name from a French trapper THOMAS APPAH also a member of the Tribal Business Committee gave the dedicatory prayer The monument was built by Calvin Squire a local tor and the planning and his his- historical his sketch were completed by Mrs Lynn Hall president of the Ft Duchesne Women's Club and Mrs Elmer Denver Jr Mrs G E of Ver Ver- Ver Vernal nal relic chairman of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers spoke briefly and Mrs George Richens also of Vernal county marker chairman was in attend attend- attendance attendance ance The group of more than people were served refresh refresh- refreshments m ments following the dedication by members of the Fort Duches Duches- Duchesne ne Women's Club Dr Murray Maxwell who is here as a VISTA volunteer trainee noted that the 1st Cavalry aIry alry Division Division-as noted on the monument was first in Manila during World War II first In I Tokyo and is now fighting in Viet Nam Dr Maxwell was a member of the 1st Cavalry duro dur- during ing World War II The bronze plaque on the monument was donated by the DUP |