Thus , the Mojave National Preserve Artist Foundation ( MNPAF ) is raising $ 25,000 through an online campaign and personal outreach . While we have obtained commitments for some equipment and appliances , we still need volunteers for painting , landscape repair , and skilled trades . Cash raised is for specific hardware and trade work .
An Iconic Western Heritage Home
The OX is an iconic location that is at the heart of our Western American Heritage . Founded in 1894 as the Rock Springs Land & Cattle Company by George Briggs and LeRoy Blackburn , the ranch grazed at times more than 10,000 cattle on a fifty-square-mile fenceless range .
A massive drought from 1920 to 1928 contributed to changes in the Mojave . The Rock Springs Land & Cattle Company dissolved under the drought pressure , and most of the cattle had perished on the range , but the remainder were rounded up and sold in urban markets . In September 1928 , the Nevada part of the Rock Springs range was sold . The rest of the California lands were sold to a group headed by Claud Halsell , Sr ., who took complete control within a year of the ranch they called the OX . The Ranch continued in operation with various owners until it came under the National Park Service in the late 1990 ’ s and has been used for several National Park Service Housing purposes .
Today this great ranch house with its rich heritage is available for the arts , and the Artists in Residence program .
Please take a few minutes to watch this video https :// vimeo . com / mnpaf . You will be inspired and learn much .
Volunteering
If you want to volunteer your skills and labor , we will enroll you as an official National Park Service Volunteer . We will assign you to a workgroup , with work schedules usually on the weekends .
Some Specific Help Areas for Volunteers :
• General Labor ,
• Painting Crew ,
• Stucco Crew ,
• Carpentry Skills ,
• Electrical ,
• Plumbers ,
• Carpet and
• Tile Trades
Count on me to volunteer !
14 THE DESERT LIGHT | Jan / Feb 2017