Photos and article courtesy of Lucy Whitmarsh

Thomas ColeOn Sunday, February 18 Light Art Space gallery owner, Karen Hymer,  hosted the inaugural book launch of “Restoring the Pitchfork Ranch” authored by A.T. Cole, owner of the Pitchfork Ranch along with his wife, Lucinda. The book was published this month by the University of Arizona Press. The event at Light Art Space was the first of many talks and book signings that will be offered in New Mexico and Arizona. A list of the upcoming events can be found on the University of Arizona Website.

The event on Sunday was well attended. Guests enjoyed a talk by the author about the writing of “Restoring the Pitchfork Ranch” and mention of materials covered in the book. After the talk, the author had copies of the book available for sale and signed the books that guests purchased. David Wait, displayed engraved woodcuts that were used to create prints at the beginning of each chapter in the book. Wait also created cards from the woodcuts that he prints on a press that he built.

David WaitThe story of the Pitchfork Ranch offers a glimpse into the history of Grant County. Cole told a story about how the ranch got its name. In 1904, then five year old Bartley McDonald was given a heifer and the three pronged pitchfork brand was registered and eventually became the name of the ranch. The ranch is about an hour drive on Highway 90 south of Silver City. The ranch elevation is 5,100, near the Continental Divide and includes 11,300 acres. The newly designated National Historic Butterfield Trail and Soldier’s Farewell Hill at an elevation of 6,173 feet are located on the ranch. Cole mentioned that the name for Soldier’s Farewell Hill might have come about because it is the location where the military escort for the Butterfield Overland Stage left the stage coach.

Bartley McDonald and he was born on September 14, 1899 according to his grave stone at Memory Lane Cemetery. He would have been five in 1904. The ranch website mentions the late 1890s as to when Bartley was 5.