[BCMA] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE O'Keefe Ranch Fountain Will Flow Again, February 9, 2018

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 9, 2018
Contact: Kelly MacIntosh
Marketing and Events Coordinator
250-542-7868   <mailto:events at okeeferanch.ca> events at okeeferanch.ca 

 

O'Keefe Ranch Fountain Will Flow Again

 

2017 was an incredible year for the O'Keefe Ranch. The Ranch turned 150 in
June, just two weeks ahead of Canada. That same day was the 50th anniversary
of the Ranch opening as an historic site. The Ranch does not plan to lose
any momentum going into 2018, and would like to make a variety of
improvements to the site-one of which is inspired by our own Tierney
O'Keefe. 

 

Tierney was the youngest son of Cornelius and Elizabeth O'Keefe. He took
over operation of the Ranch in 1929 upon the death of his mother, and he
sold his last herd of cattle in 1961. Trading in a branding iron for a paint
brush, Tierney set forth to set up his father's ranch to look as it would
have in its heyday. Along with his wife, Betty, and their children, Tierney
moved buildings, re-laid floors, and scoured attics to bring out his
family's treasures. Tierney was immensely proud of his father's pioneering
legacy, but the act of preserving that history has become just as great an
accomplishment. In celebration of Tierney's 107th birthday in February,
O'Keefe Ranch would like to help beautify the 

Ranch by raising funds to improve the iconic fountain in front of the
O'Keefe Mansion. 

 

Cornelius O'Keefe had the fountain installed around 1900, and it has not
been in operation for a number of years. In 2017, private donors gave a
total of $1100 toward fountain repairs, and the O'Keefe Ranch needs to raise
an additional $2000 to ensure that it is flowing again by summer of 2018. 

 

"Like most improvements to an historic site, repairs and maintenance to aged
structures can be a challenge. And because repairing the fountain is not
urgent, it was left for years. It would be wonderful to see the fountain
working when guests arrive this season. There is significant meaning to the
fountain like everything else we present at the Ranch." - Kelly MacIntosh,
Marketing and Events Coordinator.

 

Donations for the fountain project can be made by contacting the O'Keefe
Ranch at 250-542-7868, or by making a donation online
okeeferanch.ca/about-us/donations 

The O'Keefe Ranch is a registered Canadian charitable organization
(BN#108090713RR0001), museum and historic site. The Ranch is currently
closed for the season will re-open to the public in May 2018, and is located
at 9380 Hwy 97N Vernon BC. For more information visit
<http://www.okeeferanch.ca> www.okeeferanch.ca 

The O'Keefe Ranch tells the story of early BC Ranching and endeavors to
preserve the history and culture of the early ranching era for future
generations. The Ranch is a registered charitable organization, historic
site and museum.

Photos: O'Keefe Mansion from the O'Keefe Ranch archives, date unknown

###

 

Kelly MacIntosh
Marketing and Special Events Coordinator

250 542 7868 ext 201 events at okeeferanch.ca  
 <https://okeeferanch.ca/> Okeefe_Logo_Stacked_Black cropped          
The Ranch is now closed for the regular season, re-opening May 2018
Book your private or corporate event at the Ranch!
<https://okeeferanch.ca/tours-events/book-your-special-events> 

 

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