103237
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The Silver Spur Brochure
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Page Count8DescriptionThe front cover of the brochure for the Silver Spur Guest Ranch features the Silver Spur logo at the bottom left, along with a photograph of Bud, Jessie, Bill Sr. and Bill Jr. Spragge on horseback tipping their hats in a warm greeting. “A Hearty Welcome Awaits You at the Silver Spur Ranch” is the title of the brochure. It reflects the atmosphere created not only by the natural beauty of the Chiricahua area, but by the friendly and welcoming hosts of the Silver Spur Ranch. Bill Sr. sought not to cater to the luxury trade, but to have a guest ranch where “the average wage earner may come for an enjoyable and comfortable stay” (“Silver Spur Ranch Opening Next Month”, unknown newspaper, July 1945). The first page of the brochure “The Silver Spur Ranch” introduces guests to the landscape and history of the Chiricahua National Monument and surrounding area. The Silver Spur Ranch was located in the foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains at the entrance to the Chiricahua National Monument. The drawings on this page are by Bill Spragge Sr. The second page of the brochure, “The Long House” describes the main building at the ranch, which included the lounge, kitchen, and dining room. There is a photograph of the exterior of the Long House on this page, which shows both of the chimneys that Bill Spragge Sr. had added as a part of his reconstruction of the CCC Camp NM-2-A into the Silver Spur Ranch. These chimneys are the only remnants left of the ranch. Currently the namesake Silver Spur Trail runs alongside these chimneys, directly through the footprint of the Long House. The third page of the brochure features “The Lounge”, one of the main rooms in the Long House. The fireplace, particularly during the fall and winter months, was often a center of evening activities such as cards, reading, and popping corn. The following page “On the Trail” features two photographs of Bill Spragge Jr. on his horse Cloud in the areas surrounding the Silver Spur Ranch in the Chiricahua National Monument. The theme here is riding on the mountain trails and in the open valley, and exploring the natural beauty of the Wonderland of Rocks. The fifth page of the brochure “The Chuck Wagon” features a photograph of Dick Spaulding, Bill Jr. and Bud Spragge surrounding a camp fire in front of a Chuck Wagon. Meals were prepared in the open by the ranch cooks and served outdoors in the Ranch's Picnic Grove (also referred to as the Campground). “The Guest Lodge” on page six describes the lodgings at the Silver Spur. Modern conveniences and comfort blended seamlessly with a homey and friendly atmosphere at the Spur. A photograph of traditional Western wear, a hat, holster, and chaps, hanging in front of a guest lodge appears on this page. Pages seven and eight are devoted to a description and photographs of the “Chiricahua National Monument”. The text describes the views of the “mighty columns and tower-like spires” that make the Wonderland of Rocks “one of the Southwest’s most spectacular scenic wonders”. Page nine of the brochure describes “Nearby Points of Interest”, which include Douglas, Tombstone, and Fort Bowie, all located within a half days’ drive of the Silver Spur Ranch. Six photographs of a variety of scenes accompany the text. Page ten “Open Year Round” describes the accommodations, reservation policy, Silver Spur reference, and a list of air and bus lines that drop off passengers at Willcox or Douglas, Arizona. The back cover of the brochure includes the “Driving Distance to the Silver Spur Ranch” from Douglas, Willcox, Bowie, and Tucson, Arizona, as well as El Paso, Texas. There is an address-“Silver Spur Ranch Inc. Box 2, Dos Cabezos, Arizona, Bill Spragge, Manager” for rates and reservations, as well as a map on the left side of the page. The date is indicated with a rubber stamp-JAN 4 1947. The brochure insert “Silver Spur Ranch” is a list of address, rates, amenities, and transportation. It is printed with an initial publication date of September 1946, and has the date JAN 4 1947 stamped on the lower right corner.Browse TopicLand, Environment, and Natural ResourcesRecreationSubjectChiricahua National Monument (Ariz.)Guest ranchesDude ranches--Arizona--History.Horseback riding--1940-1950.Ranch life--Arizona--Chiricahua National Monument--History.Date Original1947Date Range1940s (1940-1949)TypeTextOriginal FormatBrochuresLanguageEnglishContributing InstitutionSpragge Family CollectionCollectionSilver Spur RanchSubcollectionEstate of John O. Spragge Rights StatementIn Copyright. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ To inquire about permissions contact [email protected]
Geographic
City or TownDos Cabezas Geographic FeatureSilver Spur RanchCountyCochise CountyStateArizonaCountryUnited States
Related
PlaceSilver Spur Ranch
Administrative
Date Digitized2020-07-01Digital FormatPDF
CONTENTdm
The Silver Spur Brochure. Arizona Memory Project, accessed 30/03/2023, https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/103237
