lodge archives 1947 - 2003

the official archives of Stagtrail Lodge, Mourning Star, OR - remembering town history

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The Lodge is a core part of Mourning Star history, attracting tourists from all over to visit our town. It was founded in 1947 and has been run by Mourning Star citizens until today in 2003, where we've seen an influx in tourism. Stagtrail Lodge is renowned for its activities such as hiking, fishing, orienteering, hunting, archery, and survival, each course included free with your stay package. Another reason for its attraction is the views from our mountains, where the sunsets are a must-see.

This blog is dedicated to the lodge's archives and Mourning Star history.

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August 30th, 1949, personal diary of staff

"We had a visitor today, a child of about 7 years, alone, who asked me if I'd seen her missing brother. I asked a lot of questions, like where he'd been seen most recently, a physical description. The boy has been missing since 1945, she tells me. Would be 21 years now, red hair like hers. I think I have a clue, but I don't dare ask Mr Cain about his life before. I told her I didn't know, however she booked a stay anyway. I'm deciding whether or not to ask Mr Cain if he ever had a sister."

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June 10th, 1949, personal diary of staff

"Hunting range has been successful, tourist numbers have been increasing. I play my accordion at nights and sing songs that the english speaking citizens can't understand yet still love. I impress them with novelties in my bag, like the cage of butterflies I brought from home, games of cards, instruments they've never seen before in their lives. My son turns one year old in two months, and life is good."

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April 29th, 1949, personal diary of staff

"In light of the summer, we're thinking of opening a hunting range. All moving smoothly, and tourism has been wonderful. Settling down in Mourning Star is not something I ever could've predicted just years ago, and yet I'm content and can see us staying here for a long time."

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February 12th, 1949, personal diary of staff

"Personal diary/lodge archive. Here is how the story goes. After the war, (and after the birth of my son) I and a large band of musicians left our country and came to America in search of freedom. We've spent the last year playing our music all over the country from West to East, and are currently staying in Oregon, in a little town named Mourning Star (not on my map).

We discovered the town during a series of particularly bad weather and began asking around for somewhere to stay. "An inn? A lodge?" And we were told that they did, in fact, have a lodge. But unfortunately for us, in the mountains. We spent the night instead in the town's newly opened jazz bar, where we played our music along with other acts and for the owners to sing. The town captivated us so much that we decided to stay, and took to the lodge the next morning.

The owner is kind and generous despite his condition, and gave us great rooms and storage for all of our instruments. In fact, when we played our music for the other guests that night, they and Mr Cain liked it so much that he asked us to stay there. He would employ us as entertainers and give us good pay. Before, we had been playing for tips, so steady pay and a place to live sounded so great. Of course we accepted, and I played my accordion in the main room for all the guests every night.

Cain and I became good friends. I began to help him with the financial and management issues with the lodge, and he eventually asked me to keep this diary. Both as something personal, and as a sort of archive for the lodge's history. He offered to pay me more for a different position, so I accepted of course.

The winter is cold and dark but the lodge is warm and bright."