FINALLY ARRIVED

From leaving their homes to finally arriving in Oregon it took about five months. Facing many difficulties, dangers, problems, they made it though. There was need to do shopping for food and of course catching up on the news. They found the price of coffee to be lower than on the trail, and beef was also cheaper. Most of them just were taking a rest though, before moving to the less developed regions of the Willamette Valley to claim their new land. The women could not wait to put their roots down, get out of the wagon, and live in a proper home again. The children were eager to get back to a more normal life, and the men just wanted to have their own land, and get on with earning a living. Some were disappointed, some were sad to think they would probably never see their families again, but most were happy that they had made the decision to move West.
 

The first winter was usually a hard one, as there were no summer crops to live on, but the neighbors were always ready to help one another and they mostly all pulled through. The first priority was to make a log cabin. It was well plastered with mud to prevent fire. Rough frames were made and covered with canvas from the wagon, as most people could not afford glass windows or a proper roof. Buffalo hides served as a door. The wagon box was broken up for furniture. Little by little though, this home would be transformed into a real home, and one that they could be proud of.

Excerpt from Mrs. Larkin's diary: "I am thankful that we have at last reached Oregon. The land is better than we had hoped and our prospects are bright'

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