My first recollection of Knox House was during one of my grandmother’s “visiting afternoons”. I kept her company, riding shotgun in her big Buick and we’d drive all over Montgomery County making social calls on her friends and relatives. One of those afternoons we drove up the long driveway to pay a visit to Miss Shirley Knox. We were served iced tea and then we settled down in the rocking chairs on the front porch. While they chatted I took in the scenery. The old oak trees reached out across the sweeping lawn and the big house with the long shady porch captured my imagination. It was magical and I was thoroughly enchanted. I remember thinking that it was the prettiest place I’d ever seen. I was 5 years old, and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect house.
I grew up in Kilmichael, and went to college in Mississippi. In the early 1970’s I married and moved, first to northern California, then to Chicago, where I finally settled down and established a graphic design business. I enjoyed all that city living has to offer, but the longer I was away from the South, the more I felt the “tug” to come back home.
In June of 1990, I came back to Kilmichael to attend my 20th class reunion. The “for sale” sign at the bottom of the driveway had my name written all over it. And just like magic, I stood once again on the long shady porch and looked out across what is still one of the prettiest places I’ve ever seen —– but now, this is my house.
Over the past twenty years my family and friends have enjoyed this wonderful house and grounds, celebrating family milestones with both big events and small parties. We’ve had weddings, Christmas open houses, family reunions, birthday barbeques, and autumn bonfires. It’s a hometown gathering place for us. My parents still live in Kilmichael but my nine brothers and sisters are scattered all over. We still enjoy our get togethers here but it’s now the “cousins” who are making their own memories of the big house, its shady porch and that great lawn.
And now I want to share with you this magical place I call, . . . Knox House.
Melissa Lott, Homeowner