Pitch for grant to rebuild Ewing-Snell ranch house made during site visit

 Around 20 community members including many influential leaders turned out on Friday to support a grant request to rebuild the historic Ewing-Snell Ranch main house that burned to the ground on Dec. 9, 2015.The group met at the historic site, which is located in the Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area on Layout Creek southwest of Barry’s Landing. Grantors Javiar Torres and Kendra Jenkins from the ArtPlace America organization were there to tour the site for consideration of a “placemaking” grant request submitted by the National Park Service that would rebuild the old house patterned after its original style, but with modern building techniques.Torres said ArtPlace received 1,400 applications for the grants. The request for funds to rebuild the Ewing-Snell main house is one of the requests under consideration, among 80 requests that are being considered for the $10-15 million in funds that will be awarded this year. Torres estimated that 35 to 40 of the grant requests will receive funding as a result of their application.ArtPlace America is a collaborative effort among a number of foundations, federal agencies and financial institutions, working to position arts and culture as a “core sector of comprehensive community planning and development in order to help strengthen the social, physical and economic fabric of communities.”The “placemaking” grants are designed specifically to fund projects where “art plays an intentional and integrated role in place-based community planning and development,” according to the group’s website.The group met in an outdoor picnic area near the charred remains of the ranch house foundation. Those attending were allowed a few moments each to present their view regarding the proposed funding of the project. The grantors made themselves available to answer questions about their organization and about the grant itself at the conclusion of the individual presentations.[caption id="attachment_11479" align="alignright" width="300"] Around 20 community members and influential leaders met with grantors Javiar Torres and Kendra Jenkins from ArtPlace America at the Ewing-Snell Ranch on Friday, to support a grant request to rebuild a historic house on the property that burned to the ground on Dec. 9, 2015.
Patti Carpenter photo[/caption]“I do think it was a positive turnout of local leaders,” said Bighorn Canyon Chief Interpreter Christy Fleming. “The grantors enjoyed their visit and seemed to feel good about the area and the project, even though they weren’t able to spend as much time with us as they would have liked.”Artists in residence Stephanie Rose and Lynn Richardson spoke individually about their positive experience living in the old ranch house during their time spent as artists in the program.Current artist in residence Kit Frost, a photographer, spoke about the challenges she currently faces living (in the absence of the old structure) in a camper without the some of the conveniences like internet access, a reliable source of electricity and shelter from the sometimes extreme weather conditions that are common in the area.Ray Snell, who grew up on the ranch after it was purchased by his parents in the 1920s, spoke about the historical significance of the building. Many others touched on the their personal experience visiting the ranch house and noted the high level of community interest and personal attachment to the ranch.Everyone attending spoke in favor of rebuilding it. Fleming presented information on its many uses which include serving as a research center for scientists studying everything from bats to mountain lions, as a place to house artists in residence for extended periods of time, as a place to conduct youth programs and many other uses by park service staff, volunteers and community members.Bighorn Canyon Superintendent John Bundy spoke on behalf of the project, noting that he felt like he lost “an old friend” when the house was destroyed. He said it is one of the few places where you can actually “touch the resource.”“Those who visit are not just touched by the area, they can actually touch it themselves,” he said. “That is very unique.”Chief of Resources Virginia DuBowy, Natural Resources Leader Bill Pickett, Park Archeologist Suika Rivett and Maintenance Foreman Mel McArthur also spoke on behalf of the Park Service.Leah Bruscino, Director of Field Operations for the Wyoming Business Council, spoke about how the project would favorably impact local business. Vice President of Academic Affairs for Northwest College Gerry Giraund talked about how the structure has been an invaluable resource for many colleges programs prior to its demise. Gerry Burton of Boy Scouts of America Pack No. 7 echoed many of the same sentiments about use by local Scouts.Big Horn County Commissioner John Hyde was also present and spoke favorably about the importance of the structure to nearby communities. Former commissioner Keith Grant was also on hand to offer similar comments.Fleming said she and other Park Service officials had a brief meeting with the grantors after the presentation, during which time the grantors offered their advice on the best way to prepare grant application materials to have a chance of being selected among the many others under review. She said the Park Service is already rewriting its grant to include those suggestions and will have another opportunity to review it with the grantors during a telephone conference on July 29.Fleming said the original grant asked for $250,000 to rebuild the old ranch house. One of the suggestions by the grantors was to raise that amount to $350,000, which she said has been done in the revised grant.Fleming said she was grateful for the “outpouring of community support” with regard to the grant request, which included many “humbling letters of support” from individuals and organizations in the community and more than 30,000 positive comments on Facebook. She said the grantors were very impressed with the turnout of community members and leaders during their site visit. She said the comments expressed during the meeting and through other means are being taken into serious consideration as part of the grant application.

By Patti Carpenter