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Rubin Hancock LbNA #68884

Owner:rakoonz
Plant date:Jul 24, 2015
Location:
City:Austin
County:Travis
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: Bloomin' Gramma Jo
Last found:Sep 28, 2015
Status:FFFa
Last edited:Oct 1, 2015
Rubin and Elizabeth Hancock were among the first African-American farmowners in Travis County. Former slaves of Judge Hancock of Austin, upon emancipation, they bought land and settled in North Austin. The location of their farm was around the current interchange of Parmer Lane and Mo-Pac Expressway. The area hosted a community of African-American farmers and was called Duval. In 1881, the A&NW railroad cut through the Hancock farm and brought more bustle to the area. Rubin lived on the farm until his death in 1916, and the farm was kept in the family until 1942. The recent expansion of MoPac instigated an archaeological excavation of the Hancock farm. Among the artifacts unearthed were housewares and the skeleton of (presumably) the family dog.

To find Rubin, drive North on MoPac past Parmer Ln and then make a U-turn at Scofield Ridge Parkway to head southbound on the feeder. You will pass a ranch with a metal arch saying “Fricke Arabians” and soon after, there will be a roadway crossing the train tracks to the right (Oak Creek Drive). Park in the first parking lot on the left. From the parking lot, head past the gate, going south on a disused road. Follow the road to the clearing north of a retention pond. Walk west across the clearing. At the point where the clearing ends, the fence makes its northwest corner. About 7 meters NNW of the corner of the fence, there is a limestone rock with a perfect fossil shell. From here, look WSW about 5 meters toward the creek and Rubin is hiding under a large rock with a hole in the top. Tuck him back in with the other rocks when you’ve stamped in.