Cottonwood Crossing Chapter achieved a milestone Tuesday when the last of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail family of signs was installed in Marion County.
According to chapter officials, the final three signs were the Historic Trail Information sign on U.S. Highway56 at the Marion/McPherson county line, the Cottonwood Crossing site entrance sign, and the Lost Spring site entrance sign.
Marking a local tour route was first discussed by the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter about 10 years ago.
It was then decided on April 22, 2003, at the board of directors meeting to proceed with homemade local tour signs and eventually replace them with SFNHT signs.
Steve Schmidt, one of the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter members, said it was through many twists and turns, ups and downs, frustrations and successes that all the SFNHT signs are now installed. Those signs include ?Crosses Here,? ?Local Tour,? ?Historic Trail Information? and ?Site Entrance.?
?A big thank you goes out to the National Park Service for funding to acquire signs, posts, and hardware,? he said, ?with special recognition to Aaron Mahr and Steve Burns.?
Chapter members also thanked the Marion County Commissioners for their support by allowing installation of signs in the public right of way and to the members and friends of the chapter for their many hours and miles of volunteer effort in determining locations for the signs, getting utility locates, assembling the signs, and installing the signs.
