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 dwtaylor999
  
Location: Unassigned Lands, Oklahoma
Gender: Male
 |  | Bug Creek Indian Camp
< on 5/19/2011 7:37 PM >
|  | | | The Bug Creek Indian Camp took several attempts to reach. I was using a 1931 map, which was actually surveyed in 1929, and according to it, there where three roads which passed near the camp. They were "unimproved" roads, and in 1929, this meant bad. Really, really bad.
Unfortunately, I found that two of these road simply no longer existed. The third ended up in an elderly farmers front yard, though I could see that it continued into the woods, at least faintly. It took a few attempts to finally catch the farmer at home, and he confirmed the road did go to the old camp, but it was "pretty rough", eyeing my little Ford Ranger with disdain. I puffed out my chest and advised him I was confident it would make the journey.
The old gentleman said that first gate was locked, so he would have to let me through, but the other gates didn't have any locks, at least he didn't think so. I asked if he'd been to the camp, and he said yes, but it had been years, though the Osage Indians still owned the land and visited the site occasionally.
During my research on the camp, I came across an old contact survey by an Oklahoma historical preservation team from the mid 80's which had visited the camp, though it didn't mention anything about the roads I'd talked to the Osage county historical society and they were unfamiliar with the camp, and though I had planned to visit the Osage Nation museum in Pawhuska, I hadn't made it back to do so. So, off I went with 25 year old information, and an 80 year old map to see anything still existed. Cell phone coverage was a joke, so if I didn't make it, I'd have to walk out for help, though the farmer had a tractor which reassured me somewhat. Preparation (and 8 ply tires with 2 spares) is the key! A snippet of the map.
A VERY brief history of the Osage Nation. The Osage people where "moved" from Kansas to the Indian Territory in the 1860s. The current Osage county essentially marks the original reservation boundaries. The tribe settled in three primary areas based upon their branches. Pawhuska was settled by "Dwellers in the Thorny Thickets", Hominy by "Dwellers in the Upland Forest" and Grayhorse by "Dwellers on the Hilltop". The U.S. government purchased the land from the Cherokees and the Osages were paid for their land in Kansas. These monies, in addition to leasing the rich grazing lands, provided the Osage people with enough money that the tribe, while far from rich, was not destitute like many others. This of course all changed when oil was discovered on Osage lands.
The Bug Creek Indian Camp, named for the nearby creek, was first settled by Big Elk, a member of the Claremore band of Osage Indians. The exact date is unknown, but it was prior to 1870. The Claremore band was part of the Upland Forest people who settled near Hominy. By the late 1800s, several homes where built, including a large feast arbor, and well was dug. A round house style church was added in 1901. All that remains today is the church and a house built in 1890, with some additions added to it before 1900, the feast arbor, and the old well. The site now appears to be for traditional dances and feasts, but doesn't look like it has much use. Each of the original locations of Pawhuska, Hominy, and Gray Horse hold dances and feasts every year. The dancers are spectacular in their traditional dress and the food is excellent, especially the spicy meat pies. Some early photos of Osage dancers.
The gate to the remainder of the old road.
The road was rough and washed out and rocky in some areas. I was glad I had the 8 ply tires. It was slow but passible with only one other gate, which wasn't locked. The creek bed gave me pause, but it had a rock bottom with a ledge just wide enough for the truck. The sand on the other side almost got me, but I had just enough momentum to make it through.
Just after the creek, I came to the remains of the camp.
A view through the window. Note the dirt floor and rocks for fires. The building was built with excellent ventallation.
According to the contact survey, the church was in continual use until the last church leader died in 1976. The structures have been at least partially preserved, with shingle replacement and paint, though both buildings are definitely showing their age. I didn't enter the structures, just looked through the windows.
The original 1890 home.
The later additions and the well. Originally stone, it had been encased in concrete with an iron pipe for the bucket pulley.
The original stones. The well was quite deep.
The feast arbor. The roofing had been replaced with plywood, but was in need or repair again.
It looks as if the property hasn't been used in some time, and with the road conditions to reach the property, I can understand why. Electric lines have been extended to the house, which must have been a challenge with the road condition and rocky terrain.
The only occupants were the barn swallows. They waited patiently until I left.
[last edit 5/19/2011 7:38 PM by dwtaylor999 - edited 1 times]
Ruins, the fate of all cities. |
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Twisted Orchid
Gender: Female
My inner child is a mean little fuck
| | Re: Bug Creek Indian Camp
<Reply # 1 on 5/19/2011 8:32 PM >
| | | | Magnificent as always, I love how you put things into perspective!
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Captain_Slow
 
The infamous Buttram Manfist
Location: Dallas, Tx
Gender: Male
Obviously capable of mediocre things.
| | Re: Bug Creek Indian Camp
<Reply # 2 on 5/20/2011 12:07 AM >
| | | | Holy cow! In all honesty this is one of my favorite posts on the the Southern forum. I love how it's so intact, so unmolested... Amazing.
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