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Tea and Old Times — June 13, 2008 & August 15, 2008 Jones House Today and Tomorrow Reception — October 10, 2008
Watauga County NCGenWeb Project Page by Sharon Miller Willliamson -- Includes Church Histories, information about the Genealogical Society of A History of Watauga County by John Preston Arthur
New River Notes - Historical and Genealogical Resources for the Upper New River Valley of North Carolina and Virginia Johnson County Tennessee Genealogy Page
| Welcome to our Jones House Centennial Website. We hope you enjoy a view of life in 1908. Have historical pictures circa 1908? We'd love to add them to the website! A Sampler of Submitted "Watauga Township News" of 1908: — The holidays passed quietly, but right interestingly in this section. The boys, some of them, had a little "oh be joyful," but not enough to make them fussy, but just enough to make them giggle at every fool thing. Of course drinking in its most modified form is wrong. But I sometimes think if drinking could be tolerated at all it would be in a boy from 16 to 20 years of age, for he is about the biggest fool then he will ever be unless however, in later years he becomes a widower, then, "ge whiz!" — Sugar Grove Doings, January 16, 1908. — The recent meeting held at Blowing Rock by Revs. Brendall and Davis, though in no sense an “old time revival” did good in reviving the luke warm members of the church, and was especially timely, coming as it did in prohibition election week. — Blowing Rock Briefs, June 11, 1908. Top Twenty Surnames with the most family members in the 1910 Census: Brown, Church, Coffey, Cook, Green/Greene, Greer, Harmon/Harman, Hodges, Miller, Moretz, Norris, Presnell/Pressnell, Smith, Storie/Story/Storey, Townsend, Triplet/Triplett, Trivett/Trivette, Ward, Watson and Wilson. Most prolific surname: Green/Greene. Is your family's surname on the 1910 cenus? Check here... A Sample of news from the "Watauga Democrat Local News in 1908" webpage:
— Messrs. Mast and Edens, of the Watauga Telephone Co., are hard setting poles preparatory to moving the switch board to the home of Mrs. Toppings near Cook Brush. June 11, 1908 Watauga Democrat. — Fair warning is hereby given to all persons that promiscuous shooting must be stopped in the town. Numbers of complaints have been made to be about this and it must be stopped — J. C. Fletcher, Mayor. July 9, 1908 Watauga Democrat. — Mr. Roy Reese, son of Mr. Welborne Reese, of Beaver Dam, was married last Saturday to Miss Julia Justice. The bride is a sister of Mrs. John Sherrill, and is a very attractive young lady. The Democrat extends congratulations. July 9, 1908 Watauga Democrat. — Poplar Grove Singing Class does hereby challenge any choir in the county to a contest in vocal music. Any class accepting this challenge will name the place and select half the pieces and we will select the other half in any book they may choose in shape notes. W. B. Green, Leader. July 9, 1908 Watauga Democrat. — A rabid dog has created considerable excitement on Cove Creek, and little wonder it is. A cow belonging to J. B. Horton, has died from the effects of a bite, and one belonging to Hard Mast was raving mad, Tuesday evening from the same cause and trying to bite everything in sight. The dog was killed later, and now the idea is to make a clean sweep of the dogs and advert further trouble. July 9, 1908 Watauga Democrat. — The little boy prisoner, Bynum Holsclaw, who made his escape from county jail a few weeks ago, was re-arrested and again placed behind the bars last week. About sundown Monday evening this young criminal in knee pants, tiring of the narrow confies of his prison cell, made another dash for liberty, but after a lively chase he was overtaken by the jailor and is again bemoaning his fate in the prision cell. He is a handsome youth of 15 summers, rather small and is very bright. It seems that he has a perfect mania for steeling. July 9, 1908 Watauga Democrat. Visit the Wataua Democrat "Local News in 1908" page for much more! |
 There were dozens of small one-room schools in Watauga County in the early 1900s. Children walked to school which lasted from 8 to 4. Toilets were built over streams, were possible and children brought their own drinking water from a neighboring spring. But if the crops needed harvested or if mother was doing the laundry, children were kept home to work. Read more ...
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Michael C. Hardy, Civil War Author and Historian
There is hardly a section in the State where the death of Mr. Moses H. Cone is more keenly felt than in Watauga, not on account of his great wealth, but because he was a man who would condescend to those of low estate, and make them feel entirely at ease in his presence. He drew the mountain people to him with kind words, kind deeds and kind actions, and his sudden death has brought deep grief to thousands of people who never handled a cent of his money. Great heart, great mind, strong friend, gone forever and the people mourn his departure. 
Friend John Hardin has certainly had an "elephant on his hands" in reality. During the wee small hours of Monday night he and his family were aroused from slumbers sweet by the crashing of glass in the rear of the house. The ladies were sure that burglars were getting in their work, and maybe John flet a little shaky about the knees, but action just then seemed imperative. So he sallied stealthily through halls, rooms, etc., until he came to the kitchen, and to his utter astonishment he beheld a monster animal munching out of his meal chest through the opening of a window that it had cleared of glass and sash. Upon farther examination, it was found that the intruder was "Mona" the 7,200 pound elephant that belonged to the Clark shows. John mustered up all his courage and shouted at the top of his voice, "what are you doing here?" The elephant turned around and with a defiant snort proceeded to walk over the garden paling with the same ease as if they had been stubble, and when her keeper arrived a few minutes later she was feasting upon the toothsome vegetables growing there. John has recovered from his fright, and the show people made good the damages.
Jones House Community Center |