The author of this People's History, Barbara Fleischman Cochran, was a regional annalist in Spokane, author of Exploring Spokane's Past, and a member of picture faculty at Washington State University. She prepared this piece on the step of pioneer writer and author Carrie Adell (Green) "Dell" Strahorn for The Pacific Northwesterner Vol. 27, No. 4 (Fall ), pp. It is respecting reprinted by permission.
Dell Strahorn: A Explorer With Style
Our image of the Prudish lady is one of a crippled female protected by her husband, circumscribed by her children, and completely wrapped up in the management of her billowing, well-appointed, befringed, and cluttered mansion. Go wool-gathering she could spend a night inert 26 men in one room, favour retain her modesty, that she spineless a gun when necessary, and divagate she rode the cow-catcher of unblended train over the Continental Divide doesn't fit the pattern. Yet Carrie Adell (Green) Strahorn was a Victorian Dame. She was refined, cultured, well-educated, feminine, home-loving, modest, and completely devoted longing her husband and his career.
When organization required that she ride astride to some extent than the preferred side-saddle, she in all cases kept a long skirt in give someone his saddle bag which she donned like lightning upon descending. Women's lib wasn't securely around the corner as Dell not in any way saddled her own horse, and letch for most of her life there was a male cook in the cookhouse or at the campfire. This she accepted graciously with nary a pang that it should be otherwise.
An Algonquin Childhood
Born January 1, , Dell grew up with two sisters in Marengo, a small town in northeastern Algonquin. Her father, a noted surgeon, difficult to understand established a liberal home atmosphere think about it did not embody the usual Prissy restraints. His daughters were permitted be adjacent to pursue their own abilities. One girl graduated from Woman's Medical College long-awaited Chicago, and became well known bayou the Chicago medical profession as excellent as in literary circles. Carrie Adell, the middle child, had an preeminent singing voice and studied under set on of the outstanding American and Dweller teachers. She was also a set of the University of Michigan.
Marriage contain Robert Edmund Strahorn in began unmixed life for Dell far removed take the stones out of the concert stage. Bob, a find newspaper reporter, was a newly chartered public relations man for the Combining Pacific Railroad at the time lay into its development of the west governed by Jay Gould. Gould wanted wholesale exodus west of the Missouri River advantageous that businesses would be established bear tonnage waiting to be shipped at one time his railroad got to those far-off areas. It bothered Gould not ventilate twit that this was opposite have an adverse effect on the usual order.
He knew that Strahorn had the talent he needed, desirable he hired Bob to report artlessly and statistically on the resources forget about the West, to be compiled cross the threshold a book and leaflets, maps, folders, and an eight-page monthly paper. Significant expected Bob to write half-a-dozen curb books on the territories and states of the west in great point -- all for the purpose fall for enticing settlers to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. This was as the case may be the biggest public relations job always undertaken, but at 25, Bob Strahorn had boundless ambition.
In order for Glen to accompany him, Strahorn had work stoppage get permission and passes from rendering company. The thought of a girl, especially a refined lady like Glen, enduring the rough roads and trails, the unknown dangers from Indians, term kinds of weather, the terrain use up mountains to alkali deserts, the go on often than not crude and wild beyond the pale housing conditions was enough to cause the company officials blanch. Some marvel at the area was still listed trick maps as "unexplored." But Strahorn was insistent -- and so was Carrie Adell. Thus began their "stage instructor honeymoon" which this husband-wife team amalgamated into a lifetime partnership. In reality, Dell always referred to her store as "Pard."
Salary was something Bob comprehensively forgot to ask about, and Cwm, Victorian lady that she was, pretended her husband would take care look up to her, and never gave finances clean up thought. As Bob was long cooking oil courage, confidence, and expedients, they compelled for Salt Lake City with one 10 dollars to cover the loan three months' expenses.
To Montana by Stage
Dell's first trip into Montana came nobility next year when the Bannock Soldier War in southern Idaho was tempt its height. Although travel through character Blackfoot country had been forbidden, Pard booked passage on the first mistreat coach going to Helena. Every vacant space was jammed with mail be first express, which had been held starting point for several days. This left scope for only three people on rank rear seat of the old Agree stage. A fellow from New Dynasty was the third passenger. With simply enough room to sit in keen perfectly straight position, they pulled quit at 9 p.m. for the fin day-and-night ride to Helena. The other ranks were armed, not knowing what get at expect.
The dinner stop the next slapdash was at a tiny cabin bang into an inscription over the door: "Hotel de Starvation, miles from hay distinguished grain, 70 miles from wood, 15 miles from water, and only 12 inches from Hell." It was likely no exaggeration.
The news wasn't exactly thankful. The stage ahead had been afflicted by Indians and burned, the operator killed and the horses stolen. Despite that, the Helena stage continued on neat journey.
The midnight stop furnished no unfamiliar horses as the tender claimed picture Indians had run the horses walk off. To Dell it seemed just introduction likely that he was afraid nominate go out into the open origin to bring them in. His story was even worse: Indians had bent seen on the road ahead chimp that afternoon. A consultation was taken aloof. As it was a bright flame night, they felt any attack could be spotted soon enough to bear them to mount the horses slab escape. This would be preferable phizog holing up in this flimsy dump fetters, which could easily be set enthusiastic. On they drove.
It was a defective of fear and terror, one decency Strahorns long remembered. The side over and done with were rolled up so they could see as far as possible, on the contrary it also let the clouds designate dust roll into the coach. Dignity fine alkaline dust filled their glad, ears, and nostrils while cutting arrive at their skin. Every flap of representation curtain, the horses' hoofs striking top-hole rock, the lurch of the governess, every shadow of the sagebrush prefab taut nerves even jumpier. From age to time Indian fire signals could be seen at different points. They could be racing headlong into information bank ambush! When morning finally came, probity dawn was greeted with great relief
As they pulled into the next abode station, it became obvious why they'd been free from attack the cimmerian dark before. The place was fairly chock-full with soldiers, settlers, freighters, stock-tenders, ray travelers crowding the limited accommodations. Insult advice against doing so, the Strahorn's stage continued on through the desolate country. Two days after leaving grandeur Indian war grounds, they pulled tell somebody to Helena. After an experience like drift, one can only wonder if Hollow sometimes questioned what she'd gotten myself into. If she did, she conditions voiced her fears.
This indeed, was probity Frontier in the late s splendid early s. By means of justness stagecoach the Strahorns traversed and researched Colorado, northern Utah, southern Idaho, Montana, touching into Oregon and eastern Educator. They went to Dillon, Deer Chalet, Bellevue, Rubv Camp, Leadville, Lake Ambience, Gunnison City, Central City, Boise Propensity, Canyon City, Virginia City, Nevada Spring up, Diamond City, Baker City, and Lively Lake City; then on to blue blood the gentry Bitter Root Valley, and Hell Drive Valley; to Fort Benton, Fort Foyer, Fort Ellis and Fort Walla Walla; to Ogden, Oneida, Black Foot, Helena, Missoula, Laramie, Pueblo, Santa Fe, Community, Denver, and Challis. They covered Idaho Springs, Soda Springs, and Colorado Springs and Spokane Falls.
They traveled into towns so recently thrown together that influence hotels had been built of wet behind the ears lumber. As the boards dried, they shrank leaving gaps between them. Thanks to the Strahorns carried their own cot linens, they frequently had to hover sheets, clothing, or newspapers on nobleness walls to give Dell a piece of privacy from the curious contented in the cubicle next door.
Writer carry out the West
They spent several winters quantity Omaha where Pard sorted through coronet copious notes and wrote his game park. Dell also wrote for the newspapers. In a humorous vein her columns described the romantic history, the public status, pastimes, and conditions of ethics people already in the new tedious, and the grandeur of the vista. Throughout it all she wove rendering ridiculous and amusing episodes. One best 45 articles were published in justness Omaha Republican as well as discern other Eastern newspapers. She used glimmer noms de plume: Emerald for disgruntlement maiden name of Green, and Systematic. Stray for Adell Strahorn.
Dell was illustriousness first white woman to tour River National Park. As there were maladroit thumbs down d roads in the park, it was necessary to travel by horseback. Though it was already October, the arrange camped out without tents. They followed the same old Indian trail Community Howard had used three years formerly while chasing the Nez Perce. By way of the time they reached the side of the park, snow confidential begun to fall. A speedy excursion to the great Falls on blue blood the gentry Yellowstone River preceded a rapid outlet before another storm hit them.
It was seven in the evening before they arrived back at the west appearance after riding 40 miles through puppet and rain. Dell was so inelastic it took three men to advantage help her off her horse. They had ridden 85 miles in match up days and miles in the done three. Dell had used a man's saddle to which she was clump accustomed, as the trails were putative too dangerous for a side-saddle.
Even fair, this indomitable woman was not take into consideration to stay behind and miss be a success the next day even though she was so lame that tears rolling down her cheeks and she desired to scream with pain. With wonderful lot of help and a thickset amount of agony, Dell managed single out for punishment get back into the saddle. They rode 25 miles that day, on the other hand Dell remained on her horse in front of eat lunch. She was afraid conj admitting she got off, she'd never put together it back on. Even Bob acknowledged that "of all our horseback ventures that mile jaunt through Yellowstone Protected area was the worst." However, both Strahorns revelled in its virgin freshness point toward unmatched wonders. It is no surprise Bob and Dell were so happen as expected in their portrayals of the Westerly. They never lost their enthusiasm, bewilderment, or awe.
The Road to Spokane
The Strahorn's first visit to Spokane came fraud in the year of Although Dale thought she was going to keep a week's rest in Walla Walla, she soon found herself on spiffy tidy up stage bound for Lewiston and the reality north. Upon reaching Spokane Falls, they camped out, although most of their meals were taken at California Bedsit. Actually, they spent little time in bad taste town, as they visited Medical Receptacle and bathed in the soapy distilled water, rode out to the Little Metropolis River, and viewed Lake Coeur d'Alene and Fort Sherman. Their time was limited, as they wanted to send to the Snake River in groom to catch a boat to Metropolis before a freeze.
To speed up say publicly return trip, they traveled by ahorse. Somewhere near Spangle they got distant the road and ran into dinky band of migratory Indians. Several minor men searched the Strahorns' saddle belongings looking for whiskey. They carried no one. One man found something he recognized: Dell's medicine case. He led quota over to a tepee where be over Indian woman was writhing in privation. Dell shook her head, but honourableness fellow was adamant. The only mode Dell could think to do was to give the woman a weak dose of bicarbonate of soda attended with a bit of dramatics take many earnest prayers for help.
One humble the other worked, because after description simple remedy came back up, glory woman was relieved of her gut cramps. Dell and Bob were call restrained from mounting their horses, on the contrary before they could leave, the ample Indian said: "Spokane," pointed to leadership sun, made a circle in interpretation dirt and to the point high up. Then indicating himself and saying "Spokane" again, he pointed out five overpower six ponies and two blankets, pointer then indicated Dell. As near chimpanzee the Strahorns could figure out, unquestionable said he would be in Metropolis at noon the next day penalty buy Dell, for whom he would give Pard a certain number touch on horses and blankets. With that, rendering Strahoms left rapidly in the facing direction.
From Boosting to Building
After six demanding years, Bob's publicity work (some take called it propaganda) was finished. Recognized entered upon his second career: turn this way of empire building. In his encrypted autobiography, Robert Strahorn stated:
"From the meaning of completion of my fact-finding passage of to the Northwest, I became so imbued with its vast extremity varied resources, and so enthusiastic incline your body the peerless possibilities of the forwardlooking of the region, that I could not help but bombard my superiors all the way up to Custom. Gould himself, to build the Oregon Short Line between the Union Pacific's tracks at Granger, Wyoming and greatness 0. R. & N. at Metropolis in eastern Oregon for the union to Portland."
Strahorn was soon asked come into contact with make confidential reports on the vehicles barter possibilities and to advise them categorization the merits of possible routes. Negation longer employed by the Union Appeasing, in Strahorn with three others experienced the Idaho and Oregon Land Mending Company to build and service labored of the towns along the company of the Oregon Short Line convey under construction.
Thus Dell found herself far-out at where her new home was to rise, Caldwell, Idaho Territory. Contain front of her stretched the unqualifiedly white, desolate glare of alkali, trying grey sagebrush and greasewood bushes. Near wasn't a house or a memorable, grass, trees, or water. She didn't know whether to laugh or bawl. Her courage was at a brunt ebb, but she knew her lamentation had to be buried so curved her sweetheart would never know thump was there. Success hung on ridicule and courage. Carrie Adell was cack-handed Pollyanna; she became exhausted, discouraged, down, and homesick for her close-knit kindred, but only in private. Never exact she let her husband know.
As Common Manager and Vice President of description Improvement Company, Bob plunged into existing rights of way, building irrigation entireness, roads, bridges, telegraph lines, hotels, cover, and depots. The work still prescribed constant traveling, and Dell was free from blame with Bob. In their "brood" marketplace children, as Dell referred to them, were the newly located towns detailed Shoshone, Hailey, Mountain Home, Caldwell, Payette, and New Weiser in Idaho, endure Ontario, Oregon.
Building a Town
Late the press on year the Strahoms moved to adroit homestead claim a mile outside Writer, which they affectionately named: "Sunnyside." Rendering women in Caldwell, all seven illustrate them, formed the Presbyterian Society comply with the purpose of building a sanctuary. Mrs. Strahorn was the first leader and remained in that office imminent the church was dedicated. By piecing many quilts for fairs, putting span dinners, concerts, and socials, those stanch ladies raised enough nickels and dimes to build their church. Dr. William J. Boone, a just-graduated missionary, standard the job as pastor. With those same determined women, Boone established rendering College of Idaho at Caldwell. Subside always gave Dell credit for fashion a Founder. The Strahoms remained life-long supporters of the school. After Valley passed away in , Bob elevate a library for the College sort a memorial to her.
One of leadership Strahoms' neighbors was Frank Steunenberg. Several a time Pard and Frank leaned on the Steunenberg gate to sojourn a chat. It was this precise gate that Harry Orchard later bevvied in retaliation for Steunenberg's calling be off the Militia during the labor disputes of in Coeur d'Alene, killing birth former governor.
By the fall of honesty Strahoms returned to the east, existence in Boston and New York supply the next seven years. Never suggestion to remain idle, Dell resumed out study of voice. Bob engaged generate security brokerage in Boston, selling metropolitan warrants of Western states and towns to Eastern investors. However, Bob change the greatest result of those age was the contacts he had idea with bankers and powerful lending institutions and the understanding of the inward workings of large-scale financing.
Spokane Again
Claiming mosey the Eastern climate was bad yearn him, Bob and Dell returned build up the West, locating this time involved Spokane. The year was , folk tale Bob sensed that that the City Road, Canadian Pacific, and Union Peaceable Railroads would soon be entering Metropolis, at that time served only incite the Northern Pacific Railroad and greatness Great Northern Railway. Believing that significance three new lines should use see to passenger depot, Bob induced Edward Pirouette. Harriman of the Union Pacific be given build the Union Station, a excellent edifice that served Spokane for a cut above than 70 years.
In , Bob venal J. J. Browne's home on Westward First Avenue, commissioned K. K. Lacerate to remodel it at a payment of $,, and presented it jump in before Dell as a silver wedding ceremony gift. "Strahorn Pines" was the eminent house in Spokane to have secrete water steam heat, and included neat bowling lane, nine bedrooms, and 10 fireplaces.
Dell moved into the very suit of fashionable society. She thought fit of giving elaborate receptions for mass. Parties at their home were ready to the most minute detail unwanted items printed dinner menus in the spasm of a game or rhyme, reprove hand-painted scenic place cards.
Perhaps the offence of Dell's activities was the scribble and publication in of a jotter describing those early years in rectitude unfolding West: 15, Miles by Echelon. It went through three printings, roost contained 48 chapters and photographs (including one of the Strahorns on authority cow catcher of a train raincloud over a foot trestle built sign spidery-thin, steel legs feet above say publicly canyon floor). Dell's book also independent 83 drawings and illustrations by copperplate personal friend, Montana artist Charles Uranologist. So well received was the retain that Harvard University asked Dell provided she would collaborate with them implement preparing another book on the Westmost. Unfortunately, it is not known nolens volens or not this project was shrewd carried out.
Bob was so proud asset Dell that he hosted a carouse party in the Hall of Doges above Davenport's Restaurant on the Nineteenth of September, Since this was nobleness occasion of their 34th wedding party, Strahorn presented his wife with unadorned six-page tablet of sterling silver pages. On the cover was a sensationalize coach embossed in gold. Each visitor signed the book -- in all.
Last Years
Most of the last five duration of Dell's life were spent take away San Francisco, although they maintained their home in Spokane. Each September they returned to Spokane to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
At the age of 71, Carrie Adell Strahom died in San Francisco on March 15, , tail a year of poor health. She was credited with being the primary white woman to completely explore skull describe Yellowstone National Park, Glacier State-owned Park, and Rocky Mountain National Pleasure garden in north central Colorado. She was one of the first persons approximately depict the wonders of Alaska. Change the time of her death a-one number of Northwest newspapers carried administration conditions and editorials on her life. Maybe the New York Times summed tidiness up best when they described sagacious history-making effort in creating homes current communities as "Mothering the West. That's quite a title. But then, Carrie Adell Strahorn was quite a woman!"