While waiting for the fire to burn down over the weekend, I hiked up the hill to the location of the Old Schilling Homeplace. It was frame house, built in the early 1900's, and it burned in the late 70's. The views from their front porch were spectacular!
Ernest Schilling had a reputation for being one of the best ranchers around. He took his best bull to the World's Fair in Chicago in 1933... and it won! He put the bull back on the train and brought it home to Winchester Ranch. Ernest Schilling found a mail order bride and paid for her to come to Willcox on the train. It seems she was not enamored of the ranch, so Ernest bought a little house in town for her. He would visit her on weekends. Ernest Schilling lived on the ranch over 40 years.
