From the Horses Mouth

Here in the sticks there is little graffiti. When Obama was running, we had a spate of Hopes and stenciled Barack heads ala Shep Fairey. (That’s when I knew Barack would win…). But, through it all one piece has endured up here. Not TJ + Rhonda. Or Tim hearts Tammy, but “Mr Ed” – big, white and spray-painted with dripping Krylon. You can find this wonky masterpiece on a boulder on the way into Bovina Center. It’s been there ever since I can remember – which for the record is 2004. (I’m no rural old timer, I admit it.)

 

Turns out that this Mr. Ed isn’t some kind of rural slander but homage. The talking horse hails from here. Yes 1960s famous TV talking horse is a Catskills’ creation. He comes from Walter R Brooks’s story “Ed Takes the Pledge.”  Long before another New Yorker contributor was living in Maine and writing about anthropomorphic animals was Brooks. He left his life as a former ad man and big-city NYC resident and moved to Roxbury NY. So, while Bovina is a full 18 miles over New Kingston Mountain Road (up here this counts as close) Brooks’ creation Mr. Ed endures as does his original home on Main Street in Roxbury.