Historic Jones House

This historic house on King Street was built by Dr. John Walter Jones in 1908 for his family.  Dr. Jones, originally from Alleghany County, was one of the first doctors in the area and his wife, Mattie Blackburn Jones, was the daughter of Manley Blackburn, a prominent Boone merchant and active community member.  Dr. Jones was active in the practice of medicine from the early 1900’s until his death in 1925.

The Jones had two children; John Walter Jr., who died in 1938 while serving in the Marines, and Mazie Jean Jones Levenson, who resides with her husband, Harold, in Greensboro, N.C.  Mrs. Mattie Jones lived in the house until 1975 and died in October, 1978 at the age of ninety-five.

Dr. Jones bought the land from the Councill family.  It originally included the area where Blue Ridge Legal Services, Mast Store, and High Country News are presently located.

This home was typical of the houses of  this period with large windows and rooms, high ceilings,  and a front and back porch.  The entrance hall and parlor were paneled in pine with tongue-and-groove construction for the ceilings.  Wainscoting of chestnut was used in the entrance hall and dining room, part of which is now serving as a public art gallery.  

During Mazie Jones Levenson's visit in June 2005, some additional information was shared about her family.  Her brother "Jay" Jones, Jr. was a well-known wrestler. He was a Marine and was killed in WWII.  Their father died when Mazie was 10 and her brother was 8. Her mother took in boarders and worked at Belk's Dept. Store (across the street) to make ends meet.

Visit the photo album of Jones Family Photos....

PARLOR:

Many of the furnishings currently in the parlor actually were in the house when the Jones' family lived here.  The Jones’ daughter, Mazie Jean Jones Levenson, donated to the Community Center the sofa, chair, tables, floor lamp, and the 1907 sewing machine.  They were in storage for many years and the Town of Boone paid to have them reupholstered and refinished:

The oak mantle was a gift from John and Kathleen Rowell.  The fireplace is a replica of the original that had to be torn down and is not functional. 

The parlor and reception area are the only rooms in which the original chestnut and oak woodwork has been refinished.

DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY AREA:      

Originally these were two rooms; a front bedroom and a dining room.  To finish this area, wainscoting was “made” from closet boards and other matching woods from other parts of the house.

The Mazie Jones Gallery was named in honor of the Jones’ daughter in honor of her foresight in restricting the use of the building through its deed.

KITCHEN AREA:

What once served as a kitchen area is now being used as a gallery space in the very back of the house.  On one wall there is a stove pipe flu and on another wall are sink marks.  The existing kitchen area used to be a closet/dressing room.

UPSTAIRS:

The upstairs originally had five bedrooms and a bathroom. Two bedrooms serve as the Open Door Gallery, which showcases the works of emerging and student artists, and the Senior Gallery, which features the works of area senior adults. The smallest upstairs bedroom is currently serving as general office space for both the Jones House and the Watauga Arts Council. The remaining upstairs bedrooms serve as offices and meeting spaces.

The house has a large, unfinished attic space typical of its period with ceilings stretching to over 8 feet in places.

The back of the plot was used for a vegetable garden with pear, cherry, plum, and apple trees on the north side.  Beyond the fruit trees was a barn, ice house, and pasture for a cow, horse, and sometimes a pony for the children.  The front yard has become smaller over the  years with the successive widening of King Street as Boone has grown.

Dr. Jones had his office and pharmacy, along with the Boone telephone exchange, on the upper floor of the Mast Store building next door. 

TODAY:

In 1982 the Jones House was sold to the Town of Boone for the purpose of providing a community and cultural center for the citizens of Boone.   Its upkeep and necessary improvements are supported by the Town of Boone.  The Jones House is one of the few buildings in the area to be listed on the National Historic Register. By contractual arrangement with the Watauga County Arts Council, the Executive Director of the Arts Council also serves as the Director of the Jones House and oversees the building use, maintenance, and staffing in cooperation with an Advisory Board appointed by the Boone Town Council.  The three galleries of the building are maintained courtesy of the Watauga County Arts Council.  The building is the site of many activities and events throughout the year including the ever-popular Summer Concert on the Lawn Series, annual Ice Cream Sociables, Fourth of July Celebrations, and a spectacular Christmas Festival complete with five locally grown Christmas trees each of which is decorated by different local community groups each year.

Read "A Visit Wtih Mazie Jones -- Last Remaining Member of Historic Boone Family Reflects on Town's Past" by Jeff Eason in the Mountain Times Online archive posted May, 2006.

View the actual nomination form for the Jones House entry into the National Register of Historic Places.

The Jones House, one of downtown Boone’s landmarks, will be 100 years old in 2008, and the Centennial Celebration events will be launched with the release of a Jones House painting by the well-known and highly respected local artist Richard Tumbleston. Limited edition giclée prints of Tumbleston’s painting, Evening Glow, will be available at the Jones House Community Center when it reopens for the holiday season on Friday, November 23, 2007. More info...

Did you know ... the only two Boone entries in the National Register of Historical Places are the Jones House and the Boone Post Office. View the actual nomination form for the Jones House entry into the National Register of Historic Places.

In order to maintain, beautify and provide safe access for all, the historic Jones House has undergone recent improvements with more planned forthe future. Click on the above pictures to view landscaping plans. Click here for photos of recent improvements such as those shown to the right.

Mazie Jones Levenson Visits Boone for the 4th of July Holiday. Photo album of the building of the Jones House Model for the parade.

 Photo album of the 4th of July Parade through downtown Boone.