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Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) · 30 Jun 1955, Thu · Page 17 Downloaded on Feb 4, 2022 1955 Running Rope Ranch Copyright © 2022 Newspapers.com. All Rights Reserved. Clipped By: rdenney5041 Fri, Feb 4, 2022 Knox il , And believeritrdr notr- :th*re's rthis charfi in$ little who lives. on ff.. l$racre: bee,farrfi llghJ' smack in the middle of Northwest Hills. ,l-l*r rrams is -3aret Knox..'',qnd,,' rirels, .wlliltqn a , delightful :!'en's bqo.k Setse.yls,,,8eel'?ree,,:,1 ,Tlp words of - Craig, 'ssgsker., E!,:a,:UT :writertf , *urn*hnp, i' * r ouse.' lA r',lUrn. r Ont0:-,.tlr-eii,, dirt, lane,{irinss' a I -., : aie feeling;rr. Ihe l,,naiiOw.,foad r,winds r throu gh :+s. and curvos.:aioil,nd An:,aliyg'gr.een stu0eo cot. ;: ;apped withS,q{m$onilihfoojr,,:::., r,,..1 I, , :, -- the righl,,a.c0mmunity of beehives ne$tles ::, a wild' - -K npove,r,ttFu,fthert,'ahEed,. 16n515*t - = :r of hives. SroWsr.Out,r Ot,,ArgUnnV: rneadow,, eaoh ,. ::splaying,'a'rajnhpw:p,aintedron its, cade,,To " ::i. Margateti' K0CIx,,,sta$d$rb,sneqtii an arrboi :=- .*ith vine$:of..otiinge ladyfinger blossom$' *- - : e f or ch ildron :!o.Jla*nt,,an,lheir:,finEertips, $he :' . eloquent,,r.iUst,,,,Qory,.,:l,wOtcdmi1r0 r r'rne,'.with' rB ,-=::iy-groomed giant poodle by her side. ; r'eiax in,, swinCIingi,,roanVgs..chairs;,,which she j, : la me f rom,{he arinualHsnai$sAncerlostival,neei .:..ciia, Texasr. pping honey:flavored tea: to,,a '* r : cr'ly of ,locusts,rbenaa,th t,the,,gra$e,arbor, we :e 3he's arecntgfi:lp,ofary,Mothqi,.GOo$e, Re$lled ';eart ol $UbU,t'ban,tAmbricar .' : r::;r:,r:, i'i':':r'll 'l,i--, ,, '., :- = '-l'va t't&d *n* nelev&b*r 3*lJ rr:9. {Fr*ple lil<* 3r*t;*iigltr t* *t*y ir: the wis*try" ' / f*J# ir#i', 'i r'.fA# i* ihe ecuniry {ilt },*'ii ii:*i"**i i* aro*n# fi18'." "Fgel pretsured to change viiih ;urrc*r'icii;:;:': Yeg, wg sometimes do, i've had orre neiglhDJr r=ll nne, 'People like y*u oughi to stay in lhe couriryv'." lvlargaret, in bewildered, rnatter*of-faci inannei', ccn- tinues, "l tald lier, 'l was in tne couniry teli ya'll moved in around me'." Th* peiite lady witl'r fluffrt white hair speaks frorn uvithin a *clishad appearanc*. ELxt fi#r clnwir-t*-*arth rnessase$ reflsst afi attiiude *iypicai *i thf $tsreolltpod upper crlrst. Both she an* hei Nirrne $eerfi to be steeped ln good tast*; thsre i* ii' ."[,- mistakabie staiemsnt e>l class, "This is rny husbandls fan'riiy's iand, an*1 il1'y' flir{l dssir* is thal we never have tc *ell. *ut ii'o nof *a$ir. we hav* a lot of appr0aches. '1*r:r otd:rancl"ih*u'se isn't built w*ilet ail" li's srnaii and has'allkincis o{ probisnrs. But ldon't warrt a i:ig hsuse, to scrub lour baths. I gu*$s l'rn getting ec- centris in ray oid age, L:ut I r*ally liks it. Anej I don'i rryanr tc,change it. Th*t's the hard pari *- to bc in ihis area and nni change.'i fra any of your ruergnbors carnplain abaut th* bees? 'JJust the one. I wcrk reai hard for them fi$t ts eomplain. We're iucky we have the cre*k* and springs, and we also keep water right in the b*eyard. But those bees will hang around the neighh*rs' swim poals. They've gol a mind of tlieir own, and ii they take,a notion tc go elselvhere, there's not rr:u*il y*l: can do about it. Ma!'Jaiet Knox 7l "When Jim retired in 1966 and v"e ca". :a.^ '. this property, our mailbox was wher-e ". -.'.'- i' a station is now, 3/4 mile through pal.- :' houses. We had deer feeding in the frcri ,a.. a'. silver fox we fed at night under the tree. T'e siars looked that bigl You could come out anC nct see a light - which-l loved. So ldon't feel iike l'm in ine country any more, but we're keeping it as colntry as we can. "l was born and raised in Austin, so i really like it here. liust pray it'llnever get too big and citified. lt's still a friendly little town, I think. And l've heard more delightfultai-es about all the things people did to help others who were in trouble over the recent flood. Now, rnaybe those things would have happened in a bio citv" but I don'i much believe so. Columns and columns of names of people who would give their time and services. Churches, Bed Cross, neighbors, strangers, everyone helping everyone. "The flood didn't affect us much up here, except that our spring-fed pool is full of debris. So I've stayed busy trying to clean it. And I like to sew, I Oa6bte in art, we do our own yard work, and keep bees. All these lovely articles about running a home, raising a family, having a career - how in the world can ahybody do a good job of any of it? Some peo- ple seem to be able, though. I have friends who play bridge and socialize and don't understand why I like to stay home so." Explaining the history of each piece of furniture inside her house, and offering samples of hon{ which she displays and sells from a back room nootl Margaret revdals her artistic flare in it all. Obvioustyl perf6ct housekeeper, she also designs attracti{ displays for the honey - choices of calico'ribbonel baske'ts to support 6rock jar containers, or simfll pint jars glowing with the gcitden sweetness. And thl iabel, "H"oney "Hut Honef - trom local bees w{ love. Austin, Texas." I "l've always given my children medicine madl from honey, wh'iskey anb lemon juice. lt's ;ust tt{ best thing for a croup." Here are samples of "Cropl ln" postcards sent to regular customers at hon{ harv'est time. And on a riooden wine barrel whd stands in the center of the nook, sits the book abol Betsey's bees. _l As we settle into her small office, Margaret t{ the saga of why she wrote the book. "Jim and I startedkeeping bees in 1977 when we took a coun{ in beekeepingLt tttattnews Community School' Thl more I gdr iito it, the more it fascinlted me. Tr{ course h"elped a lot, but when you learn is when yu{ get the bees. We got our two hives and called th{ Ils and hers, a big- joke. Because the first thing y( find out about b6ekeeping is that no two peof, keep bees alike. We belong to the Austin Arel Beekeepers Association. lt's on a friendly basis, hl it's funny how everyone differs in their ideas abot beekeeping. _ I "Most beekeepers are calm, gentle people. Eu{ !r I t above: "l was born and raised in Austin, so lreally like it here. liust pray it'll never get too big and citified. lt's still a friendly little tovln." "Conseouentlv. the first sentence in my booh, 'the dun was Peeking over the 72 Austin Originals "or*rn" -e men. There's an easygoingness' af 9 1r^'' -:' bettei with the whole J'-' ::- :^ ...* io l"; i firk ii;. tionr observing bees' beca-u-st^'f::"-' ,ii-,ing ihrt;Jror" in tune rt,ith natr'rre than a cc '-.' -'bees. :5I our. hls and her hives were just kin9 9] lf.t: :,1 the big joke is that now we have 52 nlve5 r"d' c -ave names." As a matter of fact' the lingo at tfre -'1oxes' farm more closely resembles a Bluegrass ' tsic festival than an aPlary: ::;-^.^; Pinkers uabov' Hobos, Cedarchoppers Peach Pickers, Happy Hobos, ueoarcnoppurs' r.-mpiumpers. Lexington Laoles' l\rgr rtrravv^r' v mnirrmners Lexinqtoil Ladies, Nighthawks C- ington ufl : -,I"J, 1""',i: : Fi i rE r.- .. y : .: i'."';i ir[l'iir r " -;:";. *';"'; *J g"i th-" l"'ives, or ql-tu,]igT"tl:-YlI t :;"B#'ai;: iitlr.t'' r"i to t-ar\ 3?:Xt"tl: ;[':ii";: ilr-, Flilr.b. inin to sav Hive #5 on - e back row. ' The first hive we got we called the HUpPJ P?ll; --.1;l: il.t .#Linins uoout bees swarmins that ,.";. td; r6ox iixe t[ev're happv. Tl"Y *919:13 ;i;. tdIil, roiLii'rie tfiev're happv' Thev were on a 'akes them look Iike e thistle and all we r'al to Oo was srrll:-ll"::fj -Since then, we've really, gotten some ,; ih;hi";. ,.. v-.., ihui"uiv inliiation was mabe to order for ,3 green beekeePers' 'l've been stung many times' and,it's true-that the ,,e tirn"jVou g;t stun'g, it isn't quite as big a deal' :.'t of it is understanOiig your bees When they're you they'te not iebtty concerned . ino ;.'Y;;;;;ii'h"; or xnoix their hive over rhev a/ bump into you, O"l"tu they're loaded with "iiiu.. 'hurO -ab-out " ^l nectar and they get clumsy' But if you're.not ag- oressive, they go on ,-Uout fheir busiriess' The other irick is to act slow. "'Y'binJ.ii-." lney'rt get on the defensive and the ouards will come out Jnd tun you off'.1 wear the veil -oto il;'"hr;." n io1 ot time beekeepers .pride themselves on never wearing protection and I say' ;sJtt, tot them,' but I don't like to get stung'; ""F;#;'$;li, M;is;;i pui is r o Iou'nals-she' s ri I led *iir,"net oosltvitioils oi ir'e oees' activities' "They so iJ.iiiriJ v* ot people when you watch -them ;;;h. t'n-" tittte'ones*ali com6 out and scrub the nowi eJery oay They.can't fly y91' [Jr""rr "i "lriJin 5;'il;i;;;ii;. ,r" r.ro,." ouiies''tt's as if Mama said' ;6"iout tl.,"re and clean the Porch'' "So here I was, ta[ing uti tf'ese silly, no-tes' and I said. 'Jim, I've just got td write a story' because kids #; a#;o i" oLiin"& uees and it's so stupid!"' -"H";ve-yoi it*uys i'itien iournals on everything v"Xri5 vou do? My son Chris got me started- He's a natuiliisi,'Lnj-in r,igh icXool he started ke-eping a ilr.j*ri ,jt;r.r"n-r,e oicGcked' I now,realize that iiliitn;'il;;I ',iiii'dtn up vour mind rike nothing 3i.U*.rtj.l'don't care nbw siity'tl.re thought is' lf you out down what you ir,in[, it itarts tatting into place XXl r"ii'inliiil;il;. You iee more in evervthing vou do. li's iust fascinating'" ""ui,i*'aia ioi xnoi where and how to begin your book? Margaret's book Betsey's Bee Tree' Margaret Knox 73 -senlence "l iust naturally think in animation' anyna'| A-' necalie I was tiying to make children u'c'-s:a-' ,n"ril""., itii",j to"in't'gine what it woulc 'ce (' ic be a vounq bee inside a hive' ""'it" t.i io much fun to watch them tn lie mc.n- ing."cii ;p o"tot" daybreak and t":^'1":.'J^ . " ' bfi oovl They're so happy So.glad 19 ?t-: \e or*a In my ;;* ;;y C6nsequently, the firsl book, 'The sun was peeking over t.ne.nrrl' "Then I called ,V O'JgEt"r, wh9^s a graduate of xun.ri'citv nrt-tnstitute, ind said' 'Pat I m going to *iii"'" 0""'k about bees, and will you do the illustra- ii"^.i btiorLe, l'd never written a book in my life uiil o*;t tnlnk she rJitty f'ougnt I meant it' so she iiio, 'on sure, Mom' - You know' "l iust started writing' I don't know how real uutno'rl-io-iL 6rt rto g; along some' then call Pat it. Mavbe s6nd her some thumb- ;; i;ll t.,"t the irt ixlt"r."J, although lrm not an artist ,That's ffi;;;;iJthe whole"thing l'd start to tell her how I ii,T,{x ir.li. 0"" orgrri i" b"iand she'd iake over with' :V;;, I k;;w wrrit vou mean' we had a lot of fun ' with it." i;rfiing from a portfolio the original illustrations "oort done with watercolor and colored pencils'.we marve ;ii;.';;r;iitui sua.n". ind detail Even-hig.hlishts i- t# #"d";y;;;t; nexagon shaPes' as in a bea comb. ""lliltur.t"o writing in June of '78 and had it preti" wett wiitten in six frontis of course' you know ho"' il;i ;; - yo,lrit pori*r'' and polish' even on a litt = 32-page book." "-Ni.at!;;"i says the most difficult aspect of the er- tiro nroiect arose tn her dealings with publishers ,ii"i tl.," manuscript and illustrations were cor- li.i"o. 6eteimination, itong with confidence in he' broduct, f inallY saw her through' . , t'"-Euj'r ir.loiorghrv enjoyed" writing the book a': hooe to write another one " "#il;; ;i;vi;s home to write and keeP bee= Vr"roaret and Jiri can be seen around town unc:- uuuJt, f,rnging from staircases, in treetops - resc-- ing swarms. "You know, people get bothered, by invadir: r*uiri, uno tf-,dy love fdr sornebody to come ta"= ih;; r;;. w. .1o it fiee' but warn ihem that we'= vou oon't pay, you get Mutt a': ."t ri,iil.!l""its. Jeff.' and here we comel" ltt n "That's the hard paft - to be in this area and not to change'" 74 Austin Originals ,-d. .,l,ii{ e,md W ?= refl * gl{F: {AUSTIN\ ORIGINALS Chats With Colorful Characters by Robyn Turner Foreword bv Cactus Prycir I l Ii .l ! I t t : i i i .t I ! ! f $ t J-i_, 1896 Warren Penn Knox born in Mass. 1917 graduates frm New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechaniscs Arts 1917 is in WWI 1919 - 1965 involved in Scouting in Texas; was member of Travis District Committee and Council Member at Large til 1965 1920 marries Mary Lou Rogan in San Antonio. Son James later alludes to having grown up around Randolph AFB 1920 James Knox born in Kingsville 1923 Vivian Knox born in Austin 1937 City directory has family listed at 814 West 22 ½ 1939 deed search from 1916-1939 (last year of on-line deeds w/ county) could not find Warren Knox buying the property 1940 City family still at 814 West 22 ½ but says Capt. Knox is TDY w/ “gov’t” (WWII no doubt) 1940 aerials of property show fairly extensive farmstead / ranch already there .. preceded Hart Ranch 1941 – 45 Capt. Knox in WWII ? 1943 son James Knox marries Margaret Thomas .. the Mrs. Knox we know. 1946 W.P. Knox purchases 184 acres from E.P. Thomas; The Austin American (Austin, Texas) · 26 Apr 1946, Fri · Page 20 1947 first news reference to Warren P. Knox and Running Rope Ranch 1948 daughter Vivian Knox marries; address of parents given as Route_4_Box_239_A (Running Rope Ranch); she attended Austin High, and grad of UT 1945 1949 first news reference to Running Rope as a summer camp for boys 1966 James and Margaret (Thomas) Knox retire from military (26yrs WWII B-17 navigator) move to the ranch 1969 UT archeological dig on property with permission of “Jim Knox” as part of pending sale of property to Walter Carrington. 1971 Warren Knox passes 1982 Margaret’s interview for the book Austin Original; says house was 75 years old (=1907) 1987 Warren Knox’s wife Mary Lou Rogan passes The rest is history; TCAD shows Warren’s children (James and Vivian), wife Mary Lou Rogan Knox, and James’s wife (our Mrs. Knox) on various transactions over time. 2022 Mrs. Margaret Thomas Knox passes