The Jones House | Alleghany County, North Carolina | c. 1892
This home has been empty for decades and without anyone to care for the land, it seems to be losing its battle with the overgrowth. It’s sad to see it in this condition, but I prefer to try and imagine the time when someone still called this place home. I discovered that its first owners were Lee Ander and Bettie Jones who married in 1892. They built this house around the same time on 80 acres of land that had been given to the couple by Lee’s father. The couple had their first child here in 1893 and over the next 20 years, that number would grow to 8 children who grew up within these walls.
Lee was a farmer who operated a sawmill, ran a country store, operated a flour mill, and also had a blacksmith shop. When the new highways were built near through the county that ran outside his home, Lee was hired to keep the mule’s shod so he was a prosperous business owner during this period. Later on, when Roaring Gap Lake was being dug out, he was responsible for shodding the mules, but without any means of transportation there, Lee would walk to his job at Roarinf Gap Lake which was 24 miles away from his home, each way.
Lee served as a deacon of their church and Bettie was the church clerk, superintendent, and Sunday School teacher for years. Lee and his brother Solomon offered their land to host the first church camp for Brethren youth in North Carolina. Bettie was a devoted mother and active member of her church who was remembered to have been a great entertainer, opening her home to guests for regular visits. I found this quote in a local history book about this house which helped to breathe a bit of life back into the place:
“Their home was noted for its kind hospitality. Hundreds of friends and church workers were entertained there.”
Bettie passed away in 1941 and Lee continued to live in this home, with the help of his adult children, until he died in 1961. They’re buried together in the church cemetery nearby. No one comes to visit anymore as it’s been empty for decades, and without anyone to care for the land, it seems to be losing its battle with the overgrowth.
