The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-12

Knox castle, after the name of its
builder, John d. Knox, a wealthy min
lister and banker, was erected as a
honeymoon house in the center of
what was then a country estate, the
most beautiful in the west, of several
hundred acres.
Knox Pennsylvania.
Knox came to Topeka from Penn
sylVania when Topeka had hardly
assumed the proportions of a village.
He was regarded as fairly well fixed"
in the viewpoint of those days and he
married the daughter of a wealthy
family Then began the story of Bel
voir castle. Knox built it for his
BRIDE as their honeymoon house, Snort
ly after they came to Topeka. he
had become interested in Topeka
bank and was successful Forty thou
sand dollars, at the time, would have
bought the majority of most any Kan
sas county west of Topeka, but Knox
spent this neat sum on the castle.
The castle was opened with pomp and
gayety, so the story goes. 1t was the
social center of all Kansas. But thru
out the whirl of gayety, the bride held
it s a sacred place. Years later when
the Knox family and estate had been
broken by a financial panic, she lay
on her death-bed and her last words
were of her honeymoon castle, its wide
surrounding meadows and walnut
the story.
Was Beautiful Site.
AS has been said-Belvoir castle was
gay trysting place of Kansas and
Topeka society, just after Topeka be-
came the capital of the state. In ad-
dition to being the finest home of
other days, it was also the most beau
tiful. To the north it overlooked the
I<aw river and the black walnut for
ests where North Topeka now stands.
To the west the meadows, and, far in
the distance to the northeast, Calhoun
bluffs were family outlined. Hills and
rolling prairies, covered with daisies
and wild roses in the summer time,
stretched to the south.
Altho there is a story told about ev-
cry room, romance is probably most
closely connected with the main tower
The young people called it. Moonlight
towerEand probably more early day
social history was made between
dances on Moonlight tower than any
other place in Topeka. Here, with the
moonlight strea ming upon them and
casting their shadows upon the SHIN
mering river below, lovers found a
trysting place. Safe to say, many a
gray-haired Kansas club matron who
today occupies her time with suffrage,
prohibition and the like. can remem-
Der things of avery different nature
that held her interest in Moonlight
tower There lovers quarreIs were
patched up" engagements were seal
ed. for were not western winds and
moonlight on the water and a silvered
tower in a honeymoon castle enough
to work any~love charm?
End Of Happy Dreams.
But years of love and gaiety for
Knox and his bride in Belvoir castle
came to an abrupt end one day. A
financial panic swept the country, and
Knox and his bank did not weather
II. When the panic receded Knox
was broke. Belvoir estate began to
dwindle. Death then took a hand
and removed the master of the castle
which every month heard the foot
steps of fewer and fewer servants
Mrs Knox followed her husband
shortly afterwards. With a few rela-
tives and friends at her bedside she
spoke OF Belvoir castle, recalled her
honeymoon therein, the scores of ro-
mances she had helped to guide.
Since that time Belvoir castle has