January 2023 MBR The California Shelf

The California Shelf

Rancho Sisquoc: Enduring Legacy of an Historic Land Grant Ranch
Chase Reynolds Ewald, author
ORO Editions
31 Commerical Blvd., Suite F, Novato, CA 94949
www.oroeditions.com
9781954081246, $40.00, HC, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rancho-Sisquoc-Enduring-Historic-California/dp/1954081243

Synopsis: With the publication of "Rancho Sisquoc: Enduring Legacy on an Historic Land Grant Ranch" Chase Reynolds Ewald and four major contributors celebrates the spectacular landscape, fascinating history, colorful characters, and timeless traditions of one of California's last intact Mexican land grant ranches.

The ranch's 37,000 acres extend from the edge of the Los Padres National Forest to the lush vineyards on the mesas to fertile farmland in the bottomland, and range almost the entire length of the Sisquoc River valley in northern Santa Barbara County. Engaging text, maps, and archival documents are paired with both vintage and contemporary photographs to bring the landscape and its history to life, from prehistory to the days of the vaqueros, from turn-of-the-century homesteading to the realities of a contemporary cattle ranch, farming operation, vineyard and winery with a passionate wine club membership numbering 1,500.

Of special note is the inclusion of informative Forewords by former Governor Edmund Gerald Brown, Jr. (a long time California history enthusiast) and Stephan T. Hearst, whose interest in preservation extends to his oversight of the vast ranch lands surrounding Hearst Castle, help give readers a sense of this special place and its unique role on California history. An additional introduction by co-owner Judith Flood Wilbur, and preface by author Elizabeth Clair Flood speak to the role the ranch has played in the lives of one family for seven decades, and their hopes for preserving it for future generations.

"Rancho Sisquoc: Enduring Legacy on an Historic Land Grant Ranch" will give readers a sense of this special place and its unique role in California history.

Critique: Richly and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Rancho Sisquoc: Enduring Legacy on an Historic Land Grant Ranch" is an extraordinary, impressively informative, inherently fascinating, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library California Landmark/Monuments, California Regional/Historical Architecture, and California History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Judith Flood Wilbur is co-owner of Rancho Sisquoc with her sister, Elizabeth Flood Stevenson, and is Chairman of the Board. She is also an owner of the Flood Building in San Francisco and serves as its Chairman. In 1976 San Francisco Mayor Moscone appointed her to the Asian Art Commission. She has since served on and chaired both the Boards of the Asian Art Commission and the Asian Art Museum Foundation, during which time she co-chaired the $125 million campaign and ran two bond measures for the relocation of the Asian Art Museum from Golden Gate Park to San Francisco's Civic Center. Judy was elected to Hillsborough City School District in 1976; she subsequently served as Board Chairman and founded the Hillsborough School Foundation. A former President and Trustee of the Commonwealth Club and the recipient of numerous social service awards, she has served on many other boards, including Wilbur-Ellis Company and the Asia Foundation.

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