About Us

"Moose River: J.C. Twadell had a narrow escape from being drowned one day last week while taking a pleasure ride on his mustang pony near Otter Lake. The animal became frightened at a passing freight train on the new railroad and jumped into the lake taking his rider with him. Fortunately a gang of Indians were at work nearby and rescued Mr. Twadell and his little animal from a watery grave."
                                                                                                                        -Boonville Herald, May 26, 1892


As she researched the history of her family's rustic camp in New York's North Country, author Judy Jones discovered that James Twadell had long ago been a boarder in her home. With more digging she discovered the existence of the mustang pony. Other stories about the "little animal" surfaced...most of them along the lines of his getting loose from the barn regularly and running around the place freely until such time as he chose to head back in.

Soon after these amusing elements of the scene came back to light Judy and her family christened the small bump across from their place Mustang Hill.

The name grew to include Mustang Hill Press (under which imprint Judy Jones published seven books between 2011 and 2023) and, now, Mustang Hill Graphics, which her family runs as closely to the spirit of her mix of determination and irreverence as we can manage.

All to say: the whole thing's based on a giant load of curiosity, hard work...and old microfilm about a man and a pony who nearly drowned in 1892. As Mom (Judy) would say, "You can't beat THAT!"