Most Beautiful Yard The APC has announced that 16809 Westview, the home of Jack and Sharon Gaskill, is the winner of the Most Beautiful Yard award this spring. Congratulations to the Gaskill family. We appreciate them for enhancing our environment with their attractive landscaping.

July Fourth Parade Get ready to celebrate summer at our annual Fourth of July parade and picnic. Make plans now to watch the parade, then feast, and visit with your neighbors at our common area. Gina Crouchet will be organizing the popular and fun event again this year. Contact the editor for more information or if you have suggestions.

Neighborhood History: The Cattle Queen and the Preacher

South of Driftwood, at the intersection of FM150 and FM3237, stands a gas station rejoicing in the name Hays City. A blink-and you-miss-it indeed, but had the vision of the Reverend Hezekiah Williams and his second wife, Lizzie Johnston, panned out, Hays City would be our county seat. Hezekiah Williams is given credit for laying out the plans, but it was no doubt his enterprising wife who was the brains behind the scheme.

Lizzie was born in Cole County, Missouri, in 1840, the second of the children born to Thomas Jefferson “Old Bristletop” Johnston. She was four years old when the family headed for Texas. Lizzie was educated at her father’s Johnston Institute on Bear Creek, before graduating from Chappell Hill Female College in Washington County. At the age of nineteen, she began a teaching career that spanned twenty years in Lockhart and Austin.

Lizzie knew many of the local cattlemen and investors, and being good with figures, was soon doing their bookkeeping. She realized there was a profit to be made from cattle, and, in 1871, registered her own brand under the name, Elizabeth Johnston. An early Cattle Queen, she is thought to have been one of the first women to ride the Chisholm trail, driving her own herd to the northern markets.

It was in 1879, at the age of 39, that Miss Johnston married the widowed preacher, Hezekiah Williams. The savvy Lizzie had a prenuptial agreement drawn up, in order to keep control of her own finances and property!

The Williams’ ranch was at the geographical center of Hays County, so, when the courthouse at San Marcos burned down in 1903, the Reverend Williams decided it would be appropriate to relocate the county seat to that spot. It was to be known as Hays City. Elaborate plans, including sites for several denominations of churches, were drawn up. Lots were sold. A lumber yard, hotel and livery stable, plus one of the churches, were built. A newspaper, The Hays City Enterprise, began circulation. Williams even proposed a railway line from Kyle.

In order to move the county seat from San Marcos, all the landowners in the county had to give their approval. The Reverend Williams appeared before the Commissioners’ Court, armed with a petition signed by all the landowners in Hays City and the northern part of Hays County. Sure of victory, he called for an election.

The ingenious citizens of San Marcos, however, were not about to give up their county seat without a fight. They defeated the motion with the aid of 100 new voters. Their devious plan centered on a new subdivision to the north of town where 100 lots, 35 feet by 50 feet, were sold to landless residents for one dollar per lot.

Hezekiah and Lizzie Williams’ grand design for a more centrally located county seat was quashed. The buildings they so confidently erected were dismantled. Lizzie outlived Hezekiah by ten years, spending most of them as a hermit. The eccentric old lady was worth a quarter of a million dollars, a fortune in these days, when she died in 1924.
• © 2004 J. Marie Bassett

Board of Trustees News

Landscaping Design Committee The Board would like to make some modest additions of shrubbery and other landscaping to our public areas, including the property around the pool fence and pavilion. However it seems that such improvements would be most cost effective if we have a landscaping plan for these areas. Residents who are knowledgeable and experienced in landscaping our hill country terrain are asked to consider serving on a special committee for the purpose of devising a landscape plan. Please contact the editor to offer your assistance in this endeavor.

Oak Leaf Roller Protection It’s time to think about protecting your trees against attack from the Oak Leaf Roller next year. Predator Trichogramma wasps, which are unnoticeable to humans (they are the size of a pencil point) but deadly for the moth larvae, can be obtained from The Natural Gardener (288-6113). You will need to call or visit in advance to place your order. The wasp larvae come encased in paper cups or sheets which may be placed around your yard. These beneficial wasps will keep the leaf-eating caterpillars from damaging our oak trees next spring. Also, take care of your mockingbirds, which are natural enemies of the leaf rollers as well.

Pets In the last newsletter we presented the first part of the Hays County Animal Control Ordinance. The following is the second part of this important ordinance:

Pet owners are asked to remember to be considerate of their neighbors’ comfort and safety. Any resident who is troubled by a neighbor’s pet is encouraged to calmly talk with the neighbor. Often, surprisingly, the pet owner is unaware that their pet is disturbing anyone.

Misdirected Mail Residents who receive mail intended for a neighbor are asked to bring the mail to the proper recipient no later than one day following the misdelivery, or to put it through the outgoing mail slot so the carrier will replace it into the correct box. Packages intended for another person should be brought to the intended recipient promptly or the delivery service contacted for redelivery. 

Coyotes Living in the scenic Texas hill country brings us into closer contact with wildlife. Recently, residents have reported missing pets and, according to our area animal control officer, coyotes may be to blame. While coyotes hunt mice, rats, and help to control the deer population, they also have been known to capture cats and dogs. For this reason residents are encouraged to keep pets indoors at night. Coyotes are nocturnal hunters, but do sometimes venture out in daylight. Pet food should be brought in at night, and outdoor garbage should be sealed tightly. Food left out may attract deer as well as coyotes and other wildlife. It is important that coyotes and other wild animals do not find food here because they may become acclimated to humans. As in any natural setting, young children should never be left outdoors without adult supervision.

From the Administrator Thank you to everyone who paid dues in advance this month. This helps save the POA mailing costs since a monthly statement is not sent if you have a zero or positive credit balance. You may choose whatever payment schedule is most convenient for you: monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.
 
Garage Sale Several residents are planning a community garage sale to be held under the trees at the pool area on Saturday, June 5th, from 8 am to 2 pm. Families wishing to participate are asked to contribute one or two dollars to help pay for ads in the newspapers. Contact Gina Crouchet (glcrouchet@austin.rr.com or 858-4108) for more information.
 
News from the APC

Property Improvements Residents are reminded to submit a Request for Approval form to the APC for any project that requires APC review and approval before starting such improvements. Without prior approval, such projects are in violation of our Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions and become subject to our established procedures. Remember that the purpose of our covenants and restrictions is to protect our property values and encourage good relationships between our members. Request forms may be found at the community mail station or downloaded from our web site. Visit the “Resources for Residents” page for forms and other useful information.

Thank you The APC extends a heartfelt thank you to the following residents who assisted in the work day to prepare for sodding the pavilion in our public area: Jerry Stanley, Stewart and Julie Cooper, David Crouchet, Jay Kolar, Dena Seligman, Ron Sherrill, Al Vargo, Reid Boyer, Marc Habkirk, Eric Russell, and Warren Hayward.

News from the GWW Water Board

Goldenwood members who attended the annual meeting on May 19th had an opportunity to view the new filtration system equipment and other improvements to the water system, and also to ask questions about the improvements. Unfortunately we did not have 25 percent of the members present at the May 19th meeting to constitute a quorum, therefore no action was taken on the election of two board positions. As a result we will have to schedule another “Annual Meeting” date in the next month and actively encourage people to mail in or attend the meeting in order to cast a ballot. Members who will be unable to attend a scheduled meeting should mail in or drop off their ballots at the POA drop box. This year only ten paper ballots were received via these methods.

Members of the water system are earnestly encouraged to participate in the Annual Meeting and election process which will allow the WSC to conduct the required annual business and fill two board positions in a timely manner. The lack of participation costs members money for postage to send out a second notice of an annual meeting. Please watch your water bills, the bulletin board at the mail station, and the neighborhood web site for notice of the date of the rescheduled meeting.

Water well filtration project As of this date, the water well filtration project is 95 percent complete and will be up and running in the next two weeks. Once the system reaches full completion the WSC will hold an open house and present the new system and entertain questions at that time.

Business Sponsors

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors®Audrey Pudder
Goldenwood West resident for seven years, specializing in Northern Hays County.
Cell 512.925.9720