Photos courtesy Archives of the Big Bend, Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library, Sul
Ross State University, Alpine, Texas
A photo dated 1935-36 of, from left, Lutie Britt, Allie Townsend and Alice
Cowan at the Musquiz Ranch ruins.
painting the sky with a paint-
brush. She loved to marvel in
wonder at the glorious colors
that were created and would sit
for hours discovering figures in
the clouds of the Big Bend.
After many scouting mis-
sions, Allie remained at home
to look after their daughter
Margaret and protect the
homestead. “Bye, bye Allie
sweetheart,” her husband
would say as he rode away with
a heavy heart to fulfill his duty.
Allie worked diligently to keep
their home and land in good
working order – always a
daunting task. She darned
socks, sewed buttons and took
care of the family. She was
never short on adventure,
which brought both hilarity
and danger alike. When E. E.
Townsend would go on scout-
ing missions, which often lasted
weeks, he would beg her to seek
refuge in more populated
towns like Marfa or Shafter.
She always refused, insisting
that she would keep a fire burn-
ing in their home. She was the
only English-speaker in the
area, and in her husband’s
absence, she took time to learn
the Spanish language and knit
close relationships with locals.
Today, it’s hard to imagine
living that type of life. I don’t
exactly inspect the horizon for
outlaws prior to opening my
front door. If a button needs
replacing, there’s a chance I
might consider the work in -
volved, weigh my options – and
favor ordering a new garment
online. When my husband
comes home from a long day’s
work, and I’m not feeling par-
ticularly productive, ordering a
pizza is certainly not out of the
question.
Bearing this in mind, as I
pore over Allie’s biography so
lovingly written by E.E.
Townsend, it never fails to
move me. I can’t help but long
to have my actions, even those
diminutive daily tasks, mean
something. While she may not
be as well-known as her hus-
band, the part she played in
making the Big Bend what it is
was significant. As a “guardian
of the West” her desire to pro-
tect its beauty was equally as
profound and resonating as Mr.
Townsend’s. He said of her,
“knowing its beauties, its
strange and unnatural ele-
ments, as well as its ugliness,
Allie was an enthusiastic boost-
er and worker for Big Bend
International Peace Park and
some day her dream and my
dream will come true.” Part of
their dream did come true in
1944, when 750,000 acres of
Far West Texas became Big
Bend National Park.
Information surrounding
Mrs. Townsend’s induction
into the Rangers is scarce. Why
she was awarded this title so
late in life, which of her contri-
butions the Rangers specifically
valued and what she did with
her title can only be speculated.
What is known is that Henry
Hutchings, adjutant general,
bestowed her with this honor in
February of 1934.
Coke R. Stevenson, who
was elected governor of Texas
just after Allie’s passing, wrote
of her settling the Trans-Pecos,
“It took courage, fortitude and
pioneer spirit – a spirit not pos-
sessed by every person – to
undergo the hardships, priva-
tions and obstacles in such an
undertaking. Such courage,
perseverance and attention to
duty has entitled Mrs.
Townsend to special distinction
and has furnished an example
to others of the reward that
may be attained by being a
worthy, patriotic and coura-
geous citizen of Texas.” Her
recognition as an honorary
Ranger, though a seemingly
simple acknowledgment, may
have paved the way for other
women to enter the force –
although it wouldn’t happen
for almost 60 years.
At the age of 66, only a few
years after her induction, Allie
fell ill and was confined to the
hospital. Reflecting on her last
days, E.E. Townsend wrote, “I
could write many more pages as
a tribute to this noble woman,
whose love was an honor to me.
The doctor had told me that
afternoon that barring accident
she would be with me another
three months. The next morn-
ing, answering an urgent call, I
returned hastily to the hospital
and found that she had just
gone – God bless you, Allie
Dear, bye, bye sweetheart.”
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Cenizo
First Quarter 2012
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