30 THE AUD UB O'N BSB UcLi ihe 
The Lewis & Clark Park Is Dedicated 
by ELMER M. HART 
The dedication of the Lewis & Clark Memorial Park expansion plan on 
May 24 was a gigantic success. We salute the President of the Lewis & 
Clark Society, Mrs. Peter Klunick, and Mr. Clarence Decker, chairman of 
the Illinois State Lewis & Clark Committee who, also, served as master 
of ceremonies for a job well done. 
William T. Lodge, director of the Illinois Department of Conservation 
and vice-chairman of the Illinois State Lewis & Clark Committee, really 
cast the die for the park’s planned development. He told the 300 or more 
people assembled at the river-front dedication that the park expansion 
would soon begin to take shape with land acquisitions now underway. 
Aliso, Gene Graves, director of business and economic development for 
Illinois, and Illinois representative on the National Lewis & Clark Trail 
Commission, was on hand to express encouraging words for this historic 
project. 
Congressman Melvin Price told the group of the early pioneering 
efforts: he stcod on this same spot amidst the brush over a decade ago 
with the late Dr. Howard Trovillion to prepare the way for a landmark 
location which resulted in the present 342-acre park. 
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Ralph Smith, related 
a similar experience as he told of spearheading the needed legislation in 
Illinois to open the way for the state to erect the monument on ‘ederal 
land, and Col. Edwin R. Decker of the Army Corps of Engineers assured 
the group of his support in providing the necessary federal land which 
is controlled by the Corps. 
Sherry Fisher, chairman of the National Lewis & Clark Trail Com- 
mission, added optimistic words for the Illinois Lewis & Clark plans. He 
said that the park will be enlarged and preserved for the inspiration of 
our people of this country. 
Representatives from many groups were on hand to offer their support. 
They included industry, labor, the Alton-Wood River Area Sportmen’s Club, 
Chambers of Commerce, etc. Chamber of Commerce leaders have defined 
the expansion of this great historic park as a potential industry without 
smokestacks, referring to its unusual tourist trade attraction for the entire 
metropolitan area. 
The keelboat from Missouri was moored at the park. The cottonwood 
dugout canoe from Montana was there with the four husky J.C.’s from that 
same state, all dressed in their 1804 regalia, to man its controls (oars). The 
schools of Wood River, East Alton, Hartford, and Roxana choral groups 
and bands added much to the inspiration of a fine program. Six states 
were represented. History was being made while it was being commemorated 
cn this ever-to-be-remembered occasion. 
North Central Audubon Council Outing 
The NCAC will meet at Lake Geneva, Wis., at the lakeside campus 
of George Williams College, on Oct. 12-13, 1968. Allen Morgan, execu- 
tive vice president of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, will be 
guest speaker. For further information contact Mrs. Cora Stencil, 
NCAC, 536 Leplant St. Green Bay, Wis. 54302. 
