The Keys Ranch is the chief example of early settlement in the Joshua Tree National Park area. Named after Bill Keys, it is a representation of the resourcefulness of early settlers. The ranch is a substantial complex of small frame buildings built between 1910 and Key’s death in 1969 and include an adobe barn, a schoolhouse, a tack shed, machine shed, cemetery and a variety of houses and cabins. In order to make a living in the desert, Keys pursued both ranching and mining. Mining equipment at the ranch includes an arrastra and a stamp mill for ore processing.
Cornerstones was invited by the park to partner in putting on a series of preservation maintenance workshops at the Keys Ranch in order to reverse deterioration of various structures. The program began in September 2016 with a project assessment. The first workshop occurred in February 2017. Volunteers from the area have been very active in these workshops.
Nichols Holmes and Geena Mason-Bjornstad(nps), led a preservation workshop at Keys Ranch from February 3 through February 8, 2020. Helping them were volunteers, Cheryl and Jim Kubow, Steve Bardwell, Ann Garry, and Melisa and Peter Spurr. Kyle Hanson and Nathan McConnell are interns working with Cornerstones.
Two structures on the historic ranch, the Guest House and the School House were the focus of the workshop.
Keys Ranch, Joshua Tree National Park
Left to right: Nicholas Holmes, Cheryl Kubow, Genna Mason-Bjornstad, Kyle Hanson, Steve Bardwell, Ann Garry, Dave Garry, Nathan McConnell, Melissa Spurr, Peter Spurr and Jim Kubow.
Our New Board Member, Todd Sickles
We are pleased to introduce our new board member, Todd Sickles, who joined Cornerstones’ Board of Directors in January 2020. Todd has spent most of his professional career in IT and business consulting having worked with clients both domestically and abroad in the areas of business transformation and large program delivery. He is currently CEO of Tsymmetry, a Washington, DC based IT consulting firm specializing in classified solutions for select Federal Government agencies. He has served on the board of Brainfood and managed 4 American Red Cross shelters during the Katrina disaster recovery effort. He and his wife Cathy have been coming to New Mexico for the past 15 years, own a home here and are in the process of relocating to Santa Fe later this year. They are both active in non-profit work and look forward to making tangible contributions to our local community.
We welcome Todd and Cathy to Santa Fe and know he will bring a vitality and unique perspective to Cornerstones.
