|
 Punta Gorda Murals - Cattle Drive on Marion Ave - Punta Gorda, FL Posted by:  rogueblack
N 26° 56.206 W 082° 02.781
17R E 396124 N 2979861
Located on the West side of the Rooney Building.
Waymark Code: WM4VX0
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/03/2008
Views: 15
From the Punta Gorda Murals website:
This mural pays tribute to the breed which is still being carried on by today’s modern Florida cattle ranches. Known as Cracker Cattle, they were brought to Florida almost 500 years ago by the Spanish.
This mural also brings attention to the Cow Hunters, their breed of horse and dog that were used in finding and rounding up and managing the cattle. They were not called Cowboys, they were called Cow Hunters and they were as at home in the saddle as anybody that made that type of living. They were known to be rugged, independent, poorly educated, cunning and of unkempt appearance. They were experts at using a whip. They never hit the cattle with the whip, but used it to keep the herd together by cracking the whip next to the ear of a cow, which would allow them to maintain control of the herd, thus the native Floridian name “Cracker.”
The mural depicts Cow Hunters moving cattle out West Marion Avenue in about 1903. Two oval cameo scenes shows the cattle being held in pens and finally being moved through a single chute to be loaded on schooners (later steamboats) where they later were shipped to Cuba.
Two larger ovals (left and right) show what the breed of horse and cow look like today and pay respect to the continuation of the breed. In the background you will notice a view of how Marion Avenue appeared around 1903. The Marion Avenue street scene is in vintage sepia tones as is the cattle drive. But as the cattle and Cow Hunters approach the foreground they begin to come alive with color until the lead cattle are in modern day full color.
Last but not least, the mural pays respect to five well known Florida Cow Hunters. Their head shapes have been fittingly placed in the clouds. From left to right their names are: Belford Goff, Corrie Guess, Rob Walker, Pat Johnson and Charlie Slaughter.
City: Punta Gorda
Location Name: Rooney Building
Artist: Michael Vires
Date: June 21, 2007
Media: Not listed
Relevant Web Site: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and description of your visit. One original photo of the mural must also be submitted. GPSr photo NOT required.
|