Anna Leialoha Linday Perry_Fiske was known as the first lady of Ranching. She didn't think anything about competing with men. she was her own person and did what she felt right to her. Her lovely home, now a museum, was our first site-based meeting ground.
Her white estate with it's green lawns and beautifully manicured gardens greeted us as we entered through those white gates. Anna was a stickler for cleanliness so she had all the gates and door handle areas painted black to prevent the hand prints that would spoil the appearance of her white walls and doors. This included the gates and barn doors as well.
What first impressed me was the lovely running stream flowing along the visitor's house. There is a large swimming hole behind this structure and it is surrounded by eucalyptus and other vegetation. It reminded me of another time and another place where I had many happy memories.
Anna was an incredible woman with a generous giving heart. She spent her life helping many charities and by having tea parties and inviting numerous guest to her home as a fund-raising event. Her different rooms are a showcase of memorabilia of her family and her life.
Her brother, Charles contracted Hansens disease and was shipped to Kalaupapa on Molokai where he eventually succumbed to the disease and died. Her other brother, Bill wanted to take over the ranch but he lacked the knowledge and skill to run a ranch so Anna's mother wanted her to inherit the ranch. She made sure that Anna became the legal heir to the ranch.
Traveling on the Lurline was one of Anna's passion. She loved to dress up and adorn hats. Her room is not quite large enough to display all of her pretty dresses but there is a fine example of one there.
Her husband, Lyman was an active Shriner's member. He was also known as the best cattle breeder. He was an architect, an engineer and a surveyor. In his twenties, he was also known as the best jockey in town.
As my reflection is solely based on my quick notes, I do hope I have not made too many errors in facts and names.
Her white estate with it's green lawns and beautifully manicured gardens greeted us as we entered through those white gates. Anna was a stickler for cleanliness so she had all the gates and door handle areas painted black to prevent the hand prints that would spoil the appearance of her white walls and doors. This included the gates and barn doors as well.
What first impressed me was the lovely running stream flowing along the visitor's house. There is a large swimming hole behind this structure and it is surrounded by eucalyptus and other vegetation. It reminded me of another time and another place where I had many happy memories.
Anna was an incredible woman with a generous giving heart. She spent her life helping many charities and by having tea parties and inviting numerous guest to her home as a fund-raising event. Her different rooms are a showcase of memorabilia of her family and her life.
Her brother, Charles contracted Hansens disease and was shipped to Kalaupapa on Molokai where he eventually succumbed to the disease and died. Her other brother, Bill wanted to take over the ranch but he lacked the knowledge and skill to run a ranch so Anna's mother wanted her to inherit the ranch. She made sure that Anna became the legal heir to the ranch.
Traveling on the Lurline was one of Anna's passion. She loved to dress up and adorn hats. Her room is not quite large enough to display all of her pretty dresses but there is a fine example of one there.
Her husband, Lyman was an active Shriner's member. He was also known as the best cattle breeder. He was an architect, an engineer and a surveyor. In his twenties, he was also known as the best jockey in town.
As my reflection is solely based on my quick notes, I do hope I have not made too many errors in facts and names.
Your water color of the steam is lovely. I hope you will share more of your art at our next visit. The ranch does seem to exist in another time and place than the 21st century that we live in with our digital cameras and blogs. Anna and the place she lived are well worth us experiencing and remembering.
ReplyDeleteColleen -- Thank you for sharing the painting along with your writing about Anna Ranch. I look forward to seeing more of your special craft -- along with your writings -- as we continue to explore different venues and learn how they (people and places) have contributed to making the Big Island and the state of Hawaii the wonderful place they are today!
ReplyDeleteI too am looking forward to our next place-based site. THe online session ,I'm not too sure of but we shall see what it offers,
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