Empire Ranch her space her dreams

by Jerry Bokowski

Original - Not For Sale

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Not Specified

Dimensions

20.000 x 16.000 x 1.000 inches

Title

Empire Ranch her space her dreams

Artist

Jerry Bokowski

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Canvas

Description

I have always been fascinated with old abandoned homes, barns, and buildings.
So when I started to learn about the history of Vail, Arizona, I just had to know more about whom the area was named after, Walter L. Vail.

I learned that he founded Empire ranch in August of 1876, along with investors Herbert R. Hislop and John N. Harvey. I now live near the corner of streets named after these two Englishmen. By 1881, Walter Vail had bought out his partners and decided to marry his child hood sweetheart, Margaret Newhall, back in New Jersey. As a wedding present, he built a half hexagon bay window for his bride that looked north to the Empire Gulch lined with Cottonwood trees, and view of the Rincon Mountains, that would be part of her new home.

While visiting the historic ranch site, just north of Sonoita, I could not help but reflect back on the dreams of Margaret Vail. I am sure it is safe to say that she would have dreamed of a front yard like this. Yes, green grass, hedges, vines, and trees that would make this feel like home for her and her future seven children. So I was moved to capture her dreams of her new home on canvas. Margaret in a stunning 1880s Victorian dress, vines of Ivey on the cowboys quarters, the little sapling grown to a huge shade tree, and hedges around and beneath the bay window.

It is said that behind every successful man, is a good woman. So true! The Empire Ranch grew to over 100,000 acres and 40,000 head of cattle.. Walter also had interests including real estate holdings in California, Colorado, and Kansas along with the Total Wreck silver mine in the Empire Mountains. Most importantly, 22 Grandchildren, the loves of Margarets life. In reality, though, the front yard probably looked more like this after the Boice family purchased the Ranch in 1928.

So, the next time you see an old home or barn, long abandoned, think back to the dreams and hopes of those that once lived there. Reflect on how short life can be as time relentlessly marches on! To paint Margarets dreams, her space, has been such a reflective time for me personally. I hope it conveys the heart, mood, and emotion I intended!

Information provided by the Empire Ranch Foundation, whose mission is to restore and sustain the Empire Ranch historical buildings and landscape as an outstanding western heritage and education center.

Uploaded

January 1st, 2016

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