Chandor Gardens Foundation News

We were thrilled to have, one of the most highly respected and award-winning Western authors, Johnny D. Boggs make Weatherford his first stop on his latest book tour and be our guest speaker at Chandor Gardens on September 20, 2023 .

Johnny provided an entertaining talk on his life, and about his newest historical fiction LONGHORNS EAST , which went on sale August 22, 2023.

LONGHORNS EAST - A DARING ADVENTURE INSPIRED BY THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF TOM CANDY PONTING & THE LONGEST, WILDEST CATTLE DRIVE IN AMERICAN HISTORY – FROM THE HEART OF TEXAS TO NEW YORK CITY

Highly celebrated author Johnny Boggs brings to life the Prairie Cattle King in the first-ever biographical novel based on the remarkable, yet little-known life of Tom Candy Ponting. A harrowing adventure across the grand stage of the Wild West, LONGHORNS EAST is an incredible story of human ambition, pioneer spirit, the savage beauty of nature and the ever-beating heart of the American Dream.

A farmer’s son in rural England, Tom Candy Ponting is just twelve when he’s tasked with walking 53 cattle to London, a distance of more than 100 miles. The journey is harrowing and nearly kills him more than once, but Tom is always learning – about cattle, his trade, the landscape, and most importantly, about human nature. As a young man, he brings these lessons to America’s wild frontier where he’ll take a gamble that would transform the American cattle market for decades.

In 1853, Ponting accepts a bet that nobody believes he’ll live to regret. He agrees to lead a herd of 700 Longhorn cattle from the heart of Texas all the way to New York City – a precarious journey that would take nearly 2 years on hoof and cover more than 2,100 miles across the vast wild frontier. Along the way, he and his motley crew of cowboys cross railroads and rustlers, hucksters and hustlers, with detours and dead ends aplenty. But if they succeed, they’ll make more than just a lot of money. They’ll be the first to introduce Texas Longhorns to the biggest city in America. They’ll make history.

One of the most respected Western writers working today, Johnny D. Boggs has won more awards than any other Western author, including Louis L’Amour. Now, in LONGHORNS EAST, he resurrects a legendary cattleman nearly lost to history, taking readers on an unforgettable journey as big and bold as the American Dream itself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Johnny D. Boggs is the highly acclaimed author of more than fifty historical fiction and western novels. A twelve-time Spur Award-finalist and nine-time Spur Award-winner, he has received more awards than any other author in the history of the Western Writers of America, including Louis L'Amour. He is a member of the Western Writers Hall of Fame and the 2020 recipient of Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Contributions to Western Literature from the Western Writers of America. Booklist has called him "among the best Western writers at work today" and he has twice received the True West Magazine Best of the West Award.

Visit Johnny Boggs online at: JohnnyDBoggs.com

PRAISE FOR JOHNNY D. BOGGS
“Johnny D. Boggs is one of today’s major writers in the western genre…Filled with bandits, bad weather, prairie fires, Indian attacks,disgruntled drovers, and stampedes… written by a masterful storyteller.” – Historical Novels Review, EDITOR’S PICK for A Thousand Texas Longhorns

"Boggs' gift for memorable storytelling rises to its highest level...bringing the reader to a dramatic, page-turning cattle drive, leading to an unforgettable ending. All this is set against Boggs' impeccable research of place and time." —True West on Return to Red River 

 "Boggs excels at describing the uniquely beautiful, if somewhat brutal, terrain of the Southwest. The Killing Shot is a Western in the classic sense, full of living, breathing characters and boasting a story that never sags." —Tucson Weekly

"Boggs is among the best Western writers at work today. He writes with depth, flavor, and color, all of which are evident in this right-of-passage tale...Boggs tells the familiar story with authenticity and power." -- Booklist on The Lonesome Chisholm Trail

Have you ever wondered who might have been guests of Douglas & Ina Chandor?

The Friends of Chandor Gardens Meeting held on Wednesday, July 19 featured the exciting guest speaker presentation; “Revelations: The Chandor Guest Book” presented by Brenda S. McClurkin.

The presentation, "Revelations: The Chandor Guest Book" , provided insights into the social history of the Chandor household via the signed pages of the Chandor's guest book, which Brenda McClurkin serendipitously came into possession of a few years ago. Brenda has researched the background of those who signed this guest book, and shared details about who they were and the significance of these particular individuals having been guests of the Chandor's . 

The guest book undeniably revealed a number of "revelations"!!

Here are a few of the intriguing guests to the Chandor home revealed through the signed pages of their guest book:

For those who would like to watch the full presentation click on the YouTube link below:

Our sincere appreciation and a huge "Thank-you" goes out to Brenda S. McClurkin for all the hours of research she undertook to bring insight and meaning to the signatures on the pages of the Guest Book and for sharing her findings with us. 

After much searching, for just the right piano, we are now the proud owners of an exquisite 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale style walnut piano, just like Ina Chandor's piano.

This elegant piano arrived at Chandor Gardens on Feb 1, 2024, and now has a permenant home in the Great Room.

Project Details:

Historic Relevance to Chandor Gardens:

Current Relevance to Chandor Gardens:

 

The Foundation has purchased a similar Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale style walnut piano as what Ina once had, permanently located in the studio/great room, which returned the room to more closely resemble its original look and feel from when the Chandor's lived in the home.

 

This piano will not be a static display piece as it is a functional concert performance quality piano, which will allow the Foundation to offer a broader range of music enrichment programs to the public including; performance opportunities for emerging artists, children’s music education classes i.e in partnership with The Cliburn, and other musical ensembles. 

 

Project Budget & Fundraising Progress:

The fundraising goal for this project was $45,000 which included; the 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale piano, matching Chippendale piano bench, spider dolly, as well as delivery and set up at Chandor Gardens.

We are pleased to announce that we achieved our fundraising goal, and that we were able to pay off the bank loan for the piano on June 5, 2024.

Thank you so much to; all those who personally donated to this fundraising project, Parker County Historical Society for a $5,000 grant, Weatherford College sponsored concert by Dr Song & Mr Sanders, and the two very successfull Secret Gardens of Parker County Tours put on by the Friends of Chandor Gardens members.