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Yukon, Oklahoma
WPA Mural “The Run" detail
TE photo 2009
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| Second
only to Indian attack, prairie
fires were the most terrifying threat to pioneers. The threat
continues today with recent (2010) fires in Oklahoma, Texas
and Colorado. Kansas seems to have diminished the threat by fighting
(future) fire with (intentionally set) fire. Dead grass is burned
after winter throughout Kansas, eliminating potential fuel and creating
fertilizing ash. A fast-burning fire twelve inches tall can easily
be controlled while drought-dry 30 inch grass can ignite outbuildings,
cars and homes. |
Charred Kansas
landscape after a controlled fire
TE photo, April 2009 |
Prairie
Fires became the subject of at least two Depression-era murals,
and provided a backdrop for another. The following gallery comes from
two Oklahoma murals and one from West Texas. They are:
Yukon, Oklahoma,
(SW Oklahoma) “The
Run, April 22, 1889, Taking the Lead” Artist Dahlov Ipcar painted
the oil on canvas mural in 1941
Madill, Oklahoma,
(South Central Oklahoma) “Prairie
Fire” by Ethel Magafan, a tempera painting installed in 1941.
Location: Madill’s current post office
Brownfield,
Texas : (West Texas) "Ranchers
of the Panhandle Fighting Prairie Fire with Skinned Steer" by
Frank Machau. Located in the Brownfield Police Headquarters (the
former Brownfield post office)
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"Ranchers of
the Panhandle Fighting Prairie Fire with Skinned Steer" by Frank Mechau
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, March 2010 |
“Prairie
Fire"
Detail of Madill, Oklahoma WPA Mural
by Ethel Magafan
TE photo |
| A detail from
the Brownfield
mural was used for the cover of the book The Texas Post Office
Murals. Image left shows the detail as it appears in place, while
the right side shows a reverse image for the cover. |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage or recent photos, please contact
us. |
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