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Jones House celebrates 100 years as historic King Street landmark |
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
by LINDSAY TIGAR
Lifestyles Editor
Established in 1872, the Town of Boone has many historical landmarks, residences and businesses that serve as icons in the history of Watauga County.
One such landmark, the Jones House Community and Cultural Center located on King Street, celebrates its 100th year in 2008.
“The Jones House is an iconic part of Boone history,” senior public relations major Maggie J. Hindsman said. “For 100 years, the Jones House has been an eyewitness to the hustle and bustle of King Street - the center of Boone activity.”
 The Jones House Community and Cultural Center in downtown Boone is celebrating it's 100th anniversary with a birthday party. Photo by Jameykay Young
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Hindsman, along with senior public relations majors Ginna A. Clement,
Erin B. Moss, Ali P. Prince, and Cody A. Costner have organized a
birthday party for the Jones House as part of a public relations course
at Appalachian State University.
The birthday party will take place in Plemmons Student Union April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Appalachian
studies second year graduate student Whitney K. Coe is the project
manager for the Jones House Centennial Celebration.
With the help of the Eury Collection in Belk Library & Information Commons, Coe wrote a brief history on the Jones House.
The Jones House first served as the residence of Dr. John Walter Jones
and his wife, Mattie Mae, in 1908. The couple spent the first five
years of their marriage developing John’s practice and a farm behind
the property, Coe said.
In the next few decades, the Jones’ watched Boone grow and progress.
“If the Jones House could talk, what a story it would tell,” Hindsman
said. “From dirt roads with wagons to restaurants, retail stores and
variety of government and other business offices.”
The Jones’ had two children, Mazie and John “Jay” Walter, Jr.
Mazie married Harold Levenson, and his family inherited the house in the early 1980s.
However, they decided to sell the property, and the Jones’ daughter offered the house at a reduced price to the Town of Boone.
Coe said the town purchased it in 1983 for $190,000 under one condition
- that the house would become a community and cultural center.
Today, the Jones House is managed by the Watauga County Arts Council
and serves as a venue for the community to host events, including part
of the Boone Art Crawl.
Coe was inspired by the amount of joint work that went into changing
the Jones House from a residence to a center for community members and
Appalachian students.
“The most encouraging thing for someone who is interested in community
development was Boone’s project of turning [the Jones House] from the
private residence of a family to a cultural center,” Coe said. “It was
a lot of hard work from the Town of Boone, the Watauga Arts Council and
a bunch of community members. It was a group effort.
Seeing all of that and understanding that, I really recognize the
importance of group effort and how much people care about their
community.”
The Jones House has three art galleries that change throughout the year.
“The contents of each gallery change periodically, ranging from
photography, art by students, area children and emerging artists,
exhibits and installations,” Hindsman said.
All events at the Jones House are free.
“The Jones House holds a variety of annual events, including the
Concerts on the Lawn Series throughout the summer and early fall,”
Hindsman said. “The front lawn is also a welcoming and ideal spot to
watch events like [Appalachian’s] homecoming parade…The house is also
available to rent for special indoor or outdoor events such as
weddings, parties and receptions.”
Coe hopes students will gain a historical understanding and
appreciation for Boone and enrich their experience at Appalachian by
visiting the Jones House.
“The Jones House is a cultural center – it’s a place to celebrate the
arts and music, particularly of the Appalachian region,” Coe said.
“Students at Appalachian could really gain experience in the region
they are living and hopefully they’ll come to appreciate the arts, the
music and the history of their region.”
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