Fourth of July

Getting ready for the Fourth of July celebration

Sunday, July 4, 1915

A very quiet Fourth.  Slept most of afternoon.  A small crowd tonight.  114.  Went down to hotel after program for a walk.

I imagine this might have been a scene on the trail to the hotel...

Monday, July 5, 1915

Hurried thru with our work, went down to hotel to see boat races, etc.  Our boys entered with hotel boys and fish hatchery boys.  Went down in p.m. to see the races, etc.  104 dudes tonight.  Had a special program and it certainly was good, then dancing.

The Fourth of July bon fire

Tuesday, July 6, 1915

Had a large crowd tonight, 201 dudes.  Had our log cabin bon-fire as it was too rainy to have it last night.  Frank Turtillott took Ruth L. and me down to hotel store and we had a soda.

Perhaps a photo opp on the way to the hotel store for a soda?  Marguerite is on the left.

Wednesday, July 7, 1915

Rain nearly all day.  Slept most of p.m.  Helen and a driver went fishing.  Only 110 dudes to-night.  About 9:30 to-night we six girls (Vera, Mary, Elma, Ethel L., Helen, and I) and Torg, Jam, Win, Frank, and Starkey (driver) Mary's man (a wood sawer) came to our tent No. 8.  Had two flash lights and ate fudge and bread and jam.  Had lots of fun even if we did break curfew.

My Notes:

The above are journal entries of some simple and fun days at Yellowstone.  The original photographs are actually quite small and I have blown them up.  I wonder what kind of camera took these?  I googled 1915 cameras and the Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic Camera sold for between $6 - $10.  It was a small camera that could be carried in a vest pocket.   Another site that showcases cameras between 1909-1926 is HERE.  

Texas & Wisconsin Visitors, the Thumb Geyser, & A Fire

One of Yellowstone's Geyser's ... possibly "The Thumb".  Taken 1915

Saturday, July 3, 1915

Had about 200 dudes last night.  150 were a Texas party being taken through by Rev. Young of Texas.  They were such a jolly bunch, gave yells, songs, etc.  There were so many pretty Southern girls and our boys surely made use of the short time they were here.  The Texas crowd stayed to lunch so we have had to work all day.  The second crowd from Beloit, WI came tonight.  They had their trip before arriving here.  Yesterday, Ethel, Vera, and Phill went by boat to the "Thumb" to help serve lunch to the Texas party.

I believe this is the inside of a tent my Grandmother shared

 Had an exciting time tonight.  Just as we began eating dinner, one of the lights in the office exploded and set the tent on fire.  Drivers and all came to the rescue and cut the tent through the middle saving half of it.  Win was certainly scared.  Ruth L.  had a raincoat burn up.

Holmes Ferris, Esther Kellogg, Phill Sprague & Dorothy Dinsmore - some of my Grandmother's friends from camp.

Ethel & Joe Gibson - my Grandmother's friend's from camp

Esther & Joe Gibson - close-up

My notes:

Sifting through the plethora of photos, I struggle with what photos go with her journal entries.  I have always loved the last photo - unusual to capture "in-the-moment" smiles like that back then.  I assume my grandmother might have knows a few of the Beloit WI "gang" that came to Yellowstone as it was close to Roscoe IL - where she spent much of her early years.

Sunsets, Visitors, the Hatchery, Elephant Back Mountain, & the Yellowstone Inn

Marguerite is second from right.  Looks like a fun working crew!  The bungalows are in the background.  I love all the pots on the left hand side.

June 28, 1915, Monday

Last night Vera Elma, Helen, Mary and I and some of the other girls and boys were sick all night.  Guess it was something we ate; haven't recovered yet.  Did tent work all morning.  Helped settle some bungalows this p.m.  Elna and I washed our heads.  Feel quite stiff from my walk yesterday.  Watched the moon rise over the mountains last evening - it was certainly beautiful.  Also saw a beautiful sunset.  114 dudes tonight.

Marguerite is under the buckets, sitting holding the watermelon!.  They don't look like they are in working clothes, but ready for a bit of fun.  Maybe a picnic?  I wish I knew which ones were the girlfriends she mentions.  I believe Helen, her sister is the 3rd one standing from the left hand side.  

June 29, 1915, Tuesday

Ruth and I made 50 beds this a.m.  Had 165 dudes tonight.  Over 100 of them were from Iowa.  Mable Smith of Rockford (Illinois) was in the party.  Many of the crowd were teachers and all were so jolly.  They gave yells, etc.  Had a dandy program for them and then dancing, as usual.

June 30, 1915, Wednesday

This p.m. Mary, Vera, Helen, and I went down to hotel and went on top.   Took pictures of the lake and "Elephant Back".  Went through part of hotel and then visited the fish hatcheries.  Saw them separate the bad eggs from the good ones; also saw eggs that were just hatched.  We had 95 dudes tonight.  Had popcorn for the first time since we have been here.

This might be Elephant Back Mountiain in the background and Yellowstone Lake, but I really don't know.  I find it interesting that the man jumping off the tree was caught in mid action as photography tended to blur...  Marguerite is second from left, partially hidden.

Marguerite's 1915 Postcard, well preserved!  

My notes:

"HERE" is a thorough and fun read as to how the "Old Faithful Inn" was built.  I THINK this dining room was inside of the Inn I featured here.  If someone knows, differently, please let me know!

The photos I shared with this post are some scattered throughout the box I have and I posted them with the journal's daily posts, realizing they don't exactly correlate with her words.  Oh how I wish there had been a bit more writing on the backs of all the photos I have!

This post is a participant in "Sepia Saturday's, post #80".  Click to see other memorable nostalgic photography.

Cleaning the tents and washing laundry

Yellowstone 1915.  Marguerite Hutchins (Beckington) on the far right.

June 19, Saturday

Ruth & I work together.  Made 32 beds and cleaned up 8 tents.  75 dudes to-night.

June 20, Sunday

Ruth and I worked all morning.  Had 136 dudes to-night.  Sang sacred songs and wrote letters in evening.

June 21, Monday

Made 49 beds.  This p.m. Mary, Vera, Elma and I went along lake to hotel.  Took 3 pictures.  Came back way of Sunset Hill.

June 26, Saturday

Have had an average of a hundred dudes every night and have been settling bungalows.  Last two days have been very cold.  Mrs. Rhodes came to-night and we were so glad to see her.  Elma, Helen, Ethel S., Jam, and I washed yesterday.   (p.m.) saw the most beautiful sunset Wednesday evening.  Mountains were pink, lake blue.   Farther down, the mountains blue & lake pink.  Beautiful rainbow in the sky!

* * * * *

My Notes:

Here is my grandmother, far right, and her friends cleaning the tents (bungalows), it looks to me.  All with beautiful smiles on their faces.

I could not find a specific "Sunset Hill" featured in Yellowstone today, so I am guessing it is just one of many that people walk to and enjoy the sunset.  HERE is a beautiful photo of buffalo in a field during a sunset taken by professional photographer Ron Niebrugge - his photo blog in general (HERE) is quite stunning!  Another beautiful set of photos from "Ron" is HERE. of a waterfall and a view from an observation point overlooking a beautiful view of Yellowstone.

Settling Tents and Feeding Bears

June 16, Wednesday

Settled tents.


June 17, Thursday

Settled tents.  From our tent, can see lake and snow capped mountain beyond.  One mountain is "Sleeping Giant".  One mountain is "The Witch".

This looks to me to be above the camp looking down upon the tents.  The mountains on the right look snow capped, but whether or not it is "Sleeping Giant", I do not know.

June 18, Friday

Settled more tents.   A very rainy afternoon.  122 dudes.  Ruth, woodchopper, milk boy and I went with a number of dudes over to hotel to see bears.  Saw three big bears and two cubs.

Had big campfire and musical program, then dancing after program.  There is always dancing after program until curfew at 10 o'clock.   Trunk came!

A postcard sent in 1926 from Marguerite to her two sons, Herbert & Arthur Beckington. 

* * * * *

My Notes:


The only "Witch" reference I could find was of a creek in Yellowstone.  I also linked an article about the earth's activity of Sleeping Giant and not a photo. 


The above postcard was sent in July, 1926 to my uncles (both recently passed away).  I believe she travelled to Yellowstone with my Grandfather, Ralph Beckington.  My mother was not born yet.  She wrote:


Dear Herbert & Arthur:  I wish you were with me.  We got into the park tonight.  We are staying in a cabin which has two beds.  Hope to see some bears tomorrow.  Yesterday we could touch snow on one side of the road and pick flowers on the other.  Mom

Arriving at Lake Camp, Yellowstone

Yellowstone Transportation 1915

June 15, Tuesday, 1915

Started for Canyon 7:30 a.m.  Stopped at Apollinaris Spring and saw a Cinnamon Bear, Obsidian Cliff, Roaring Mountain, Twin Lakes, Bigah's Spring, and Frying Pan.  Saw two black tail deer, Virginia Cascades, Wedded Trees.

Snowstorm about 5 miles from canyon.  Highest altitude 8,221 feet.   Arrived at Canyon Camp 12:15p.m. for lunch.  Had ridden 25 miles.  Saw Canyon Hotel.  On drive saw Upper Falls 112.  Followed Yellowstone River most of the way to Lake Camp (20 miles).  Went thru Hayden Valley.  Saw elk along way.  Saw Antelope Creek and hill, Green Gable, Mud Geyser.  Saw a grouse and many pelicans, hot pools and hot streams along the road.  Drove along high mountains and deep valleys.

Lake Camp 1915

Snow capped mountain in distance.  Snowstorm in mountains.  Saw herd of 22 elk about 50 feet away.  Arrived at Lake Camp about 6:00 o'clock.  Helped do dishes after dinner.

Marguerite Hutchins far left.  Lake Camp, Yellowstone 1915

Went over to Lake and Lake hotel.  Saw four bears.  Had 24 dudes tonight.

Elk behind Lake Camp, Yellowstone National Park, 1915

Behind Lake Camp, Yellowstone 1915.  You can see the lake and mountains in the background

Livingston, MT & The Gardiner Entryway to Yellowstone 1915

June 14, 1915, Monday

Arrvied at Livingston, Montana at 5 o'clock.  Saw elk horn fence and snow capped mountains.  Arrived in Gardiner Montana at 10 o'clock.  Took dinner at Gardiner Hotel.

Left for Mammoth Hot Springs 12 o'clock (5 miles).  Arrived there and stayed two hours.  Saw Soldier's Fort and hospital and chapel, homes of soldier's officers, Terraces, Hot Springs, Devil's Thumb, Liberty Cap, started for Swan Lake.  On way saw Devil's Slide, Eagle (Nest) Rock,  Hoodoos (Basin), "Golden Gate", and Swan Lake.  Stayed there all night.

* * * * *

My Note:  HERE are 100 amazing photos of Yellowstone taken in 2003 by Charles M. Kozierok.  Granted, my b&w photos are almost 100 years old, but she saw the same magnificent colors - that hasn't changed. 

The entryway into Yellowstone is well captured in the above unique angle - I believe that is an ox or a cow in the foreground.  It is funny to see it just wandering around.  I like the stone foundation of the building on the left; I wonder if it is still there?  

I am not sure of the age of the postcard. I have vintage postcards that her sister, Bertha, sent to her when she visited the park in the 1920's.  (I will share these here someday, too.)  The back of the "Gardiner Gateway" postcard reads...  Gardiner Gateway to Yellowstone Park.  At Gardiner Gateway, the original entrance to Yellowstone, begins the incomparable "In Gardiner - Out Cody" tour of the Park.  The Northern Pacific Railway serves all principal gateways to Yellowstone, permitting the traveler to go in one entrance and leave by another - at no extra cost. (the bottom left corner has a circle with Northern Pacific written inside)

I will be adding photos the next couple of weeks that depict the sites she mentioned above.  The b&w photos I have are small and in pretty good shape.  But I have highlighted each with a link that shows what each looks like today.

The Badlands, South Dakota, 1915

(Mary) Marguerite Hutchins is seen above in her highschool graduation photo.  She attended State Normal School in Dekalb, Illinois.  The summer of 1915, when she was 23, she and a group of friends traveled to Yellowstone National Park to work for the summer.  I have her journal and her photos.  This is my attempt to document this period in her life.

June 12, 1915 - Saturday

Took North Pacific line at St. Paul at 10 o'clock at night.  Came through S. Dakota.  Saw Bad Lands in afternoon on Sunday.  Came through Montana.

The above is a photo I particularly like that she took in 1915.  My guess is there are places that still look a lot like this.  But I do wonder what the big building on the right with the bell tower is.  I would hazard a guess to say it is a school as it seems in the middle of nowhere for a courthouse or post office.  Below I have linked the National Park Service's web site and a link to Google images of the Badlands.

Click HERE to be transported to the National Park Service Web Site

Click HERE for images of the Badlands National Park.

Admirable Women of 1915

Margaret Bednar's archival family photograph - 1915

Admirable Women

Post victorian women, 

sidesaddle adventurers,

educated and free.

Dared to partake, a bit,

in a man's world.

Exceptional individuals

who forged paths

 mostly forgotten now

except in sepia images,

looking old fashioned and quaint.

But look closely and you will see

energy, determination and spirit.

Three qualities still valued today.

by Margaret Bednar,

03/01/2011, Art Happens

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872.  I have in my collection a number of photographs and a journal dating 1915.  My grandmother traveled from Northern Illinois with a group of friends when she was a young lady to Yellowstone National Park to work for the summer.  My grandmother is front and center on the mule.

The photo is a picture taken in the "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado Springs, Co.  Click HERE to see google images of this amazing place.  I'm thinking this might be a formation known as "balanced rock".  The proportions are a bit off from what I can find on the website, but it has been over 100 years and maybe the elements have been at work.

In my very brief research, I found out that the song "America the Beautiful" was inspired by the beauty Katherine Lee Bates saw in 1893 while she journeyed in private wagon to the summit of Pikes Peak.   Katherine Lee Bates was a long-time professor at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, and lectured at the summer session at Colorado College.

This is the beginning post of my documenting her experience.  I hope to post every Thursday and hook up with "Sepia Satudays" regularly.