John Colter Memorial Boulder - New Haven, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 36.894 W 091° 12.784
15S E 655574 N 4275557
"Boulder in Colter Memorial came as a gift from the people of Montana, with a little help." - New Haven Leader Sept. 17, 2003
Waymark Code: WMJWVM
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 01/08/2014
Views: 5
County of memorial: Franklin County
Location of Memorial: Main St. & Miller St., New Haven: Location of Rock: John Colter Memorial
The John Colter Memorial is to the Private in the Army who served with The Lewis and Clark Expedition and was killed during the War of 1812 serving with the Missouri Rangers, under the leadership of Nathan Boone, Daniel Boone's youngest son.
John Colter was also the only member of the Corps of Discovery who was released from his enlistment and stayed in the west. He discovered what today is called "Yellowstone Park" but then was known by mountain men as "Colter's Hell".
Read about John Colter at these sites:
Wikipedia, University of Virginia, Yellowstone Gate, eMissourian, Missouri Rangers
About the ROCK:
"So how did a granite boulder from Montana wind up in the John Colter Memorial Shelter in New Haven?
"The story of the rock is an interesting sidelight in what's been a project full of interesting stories.
"David Menke, who organized the Colter project, said the original design for the Shelter included a rock column with a plaque on top. But when workers had finished the Shelter, the idea came up to put a large boulder at the center of the Shelter instead.
"But how would you get such a rock, and how would you get it here?
"Menke made some phone calls....Phyllis called back...said she was trying to find a rock in the Billings area [Montana]."
"Once the rock was chosen it was taken to a monument company where it was inscribed. From there it went back....to...the brickyard, where it was wrapped and crated for shipment.
"...Bockting [had] a truck driver ... pick up the rock at the brickyard loading dock....drove 2,300 miles arriving on Sunday August 31. The rock was unloaded Sept. 2 .....loaded on a Bobcat and placed in the memorial.
"Afterward, Menke called Phyllis....her voice resonated with joy....her "Montana Pet Rock" was home.
"And it all came free of charge as a gift "from the people of Montana," and the ones that made it happen.
"Menke said several people deserve acknowledgement and thanks for their efforts, including Phyllis Friesz and Jim Meade, (who each made cash donations); Gerald Hill Masonry (who helped pick out the rock); Teylor Enterprises (which helped pay for the rock and moved it to the monument company); Billings Monument Company (which donated more than half of the cost of engraving); and Hill Masonry, Inc. (Phyllis' daughter and son-in-law , who helped manage the project.)"
New Haven Leader, Wednesday, September 17, 2003