Winter Quarters (North Omaha, Nebraska) facts for kids
Winter Quarters was a temporary home for about 2,500 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They stayed here during the winter of 1846–1847. They were waiting for better weather to continue their long journey west.
Before Winter Quarters, they had a smaller camp called Cutler's Park. This was about 3.5 miles to the west. At Winter Quarters, the pioneers built over 800 cabins. This settlement was in what is now North Omaha, looking over the Missouri River. People lived there until 1848.
Contents
Life at Winter Quarters
Leaving Their Homes
The pioneers, often called "Saints," had to leave their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois. Mobs forced them to leave quickly. This meant they could not bring many useful supplies with them.
A helpful person named Thomas L. Kane spoke with the U.S. government. He helped the Saints get permission to camp on land belonging to the Omaha Tribe. This land included the spot for Cutler's Park.
Building a New Home
For the first month, conditions were very basic. The pioneers lived in tents. The men worked hard to gather hay, find water, and care for their cattle.
Later, the Saints moved their camp about three miles east. This new spot was high up, looking over the Missouri River. Here, they built cabins and sod houses for the winter. Sod houses were made from blocks of earth.
One group of cabins was known as Kimball Row. It had thirteen cabins built side-by-side. The homes of church leaders Heber C. Kimball and Newel K. Whitney were at each end.
Trading for Supplies
The Latter-day Saints traded with local American Indian tribes. They also traded with settlements in northern Missouri and Iowa. They exchanged things like household goods and small amounts of money. In return, they got food like hogs, grain, and vegetables. They also bought supplies for their journey west.
Young men in the community made handmade items to sell. These included willow baskets and washboards. Money from the church also helped them build a much-needed gristmill. This mill used water power to grind grain.
Facing Challenges
Even with trading, food was often simple. Their diet mainly included corn bread, salt bacon, and a little milk. Sometimes they had fresh game or meat from their animals.
Many people got sick. Scurvy, a disease from not having enough fresh vegetables, was a big problem. It was called "blackleg" back then. Eating Missouri potatoes and horseradish helped some. Still, everyone lacked fresh vegetables.
Other illnesses like tuberculosis, malaria, and fevers also affected the camp. A church member named Louisa Barnes Pratt wrote about her experiences. She shared how hard it was to be sick and see friends pass away. She could not even leave her room to say goodbye.
Church records show that 359 people died from diseases. This happened between mid-September 1846 and May 1848.
The Florence Mill
Brigham Young helped oversee the building of the Florence Mill. This mill is believed to be the only building from the LDS camp that still stands today. The settlers needed a mill to grind corn, wheat, and rye. This would make cornmeal and flour.
The mill was built next to Turkey Creek, which flowed into the Missouri River. Work on the mill started in the fall of 1846. It was finished by the spring of 1847 and cost $3,000. Brigham Young later sold the mill. Later settlers used and fixed up the mill for many years.
Winter Quarters Today
The area where Winter Quarters once stood is now part of Florence, Nebraska. This community is in North Omaha. Several places remember the pioneer community today. These include the Mormon Pioneer Cemetery and Cutler's Park. You can also visit the Mormon Trail Center. The Mormon Pioneer Memorial Bridge also honors their journey.
In April 2001, the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple was dedicated there.
Images for kids
-
Pioneers at Winter Quarters
-
Cutler's Park in the 1840s.
