The Salt House

There was a shortage of salt during the Civil War. In January 1864, the Jonesborough community purchased $4500 worth of salt for distribution at $15 per bag.

Since then the building has also served as a post office, the Masonic Hall and a grocery, but the building is still called The Salt House. The website (see link below) states that the building is currently being renovated as a "fine dining restaurant."

The Mansion House (or the May House)

The Mansion House was built in 1851 by J. W. Simpson. It was a stagecoach stop early on but the railroad (south of town) and the Civil War drove travelers away.

A resident near the new depot, John Blair, added a third story onto his house to make the Washington Hotel and took the business away. However, today the Washington Hotel building is gone and the Mansion House is still standing.

The Old First Christian Church (the modern Parson's Table Restaurant)

Construction began on this church began in 1870 but a cholera epidemic stopped the building. The interior was temporarily used to build and store coffins for victims of the plaque. The Church was completed in 1974.

More recently, the church was the setting for the Parson's Table Restaurant, a restaurant famous throughout the region. The restaurant was sold and now caters events for special occasions.

Home of Buffalo Soldier
Alfred Martin Ray

Alfred Martin Ray was born as a slave in 1849 and served in the U.S. Army from 1872 to 1903. He first served as a buffalo soldier in the 10th US Cavalry and later served in Cuba and the Philippines.

In 1898 while serving in the Spanish-American War, Lieutenant Ray planted the U.S. flag on San Juan Hill in Cuba. He purchased property in Jonesborough after he retired.

Jonesborough Presbyterian Church

This church was originally organized as the Hebron Presbyterian Church by Samuel Doak and Hezekiah Balch in 1790. The Hebron name was dropped in 1840.

The congregation became divided during the Civil War. In 1847 they purchased the lot next to the Chester Inn.

"The original designed called for wide front steps outside the building, but the women in the congregation demanded an alteration. Although hoop skirts were the fashion rage, social standards required that ladies' ankles never be displayed. The open stairs had to go. They were replaced by an inside staircase."
    ~ Touring the East Tennessee Backroads pg. 94 by Carolyn Sakowski

There are many other well-maintained and re-stored historic buildings in Jonesborough including the old Telephone Building at left.

The restoration and planning work completed by the citizens of Jonesborough earned the town inclusion on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2005 list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destination:

"Northeast Tennessee is a beautiful and fascinating place to visit," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "When you combine the spectacular natural beauty of the region with Jonesborough’s architectural and cultural heritage, it’s easy to see why this is such an ideal destination."
    ~ NationalTrust.org (see link below)

Links related to this article:

• RootsWeb.com article about Jonesborough
• The Chester Inn
• CulturalHeritageTourism.com article about Jonesborough
• TheSaltHouse.com
• See a vintage postcard of the Taylor house on its original site
• The International Storytelling Center
• The Jonesborough Presbyterian Church website
• NationalTrust.org - Jonesborough
• JohnsonCityChamber.com article about the International Storytelling Center
• RootsWeb.com article about the Washington County Courthouse
• RootsWeb.com article about Alfred Martin Ray
• Bed and Breakfasts in Jonesborough
• Blair Moore House
• Hawley House
• Rose Hill Bed & Breakfast
• Old Mill
• Mohler House
• Febuary Hill
• Cherokee Mountain Llama B&B