The Dr. George and Ruth Jones House
Last time, I shared my blog post about how our small Texas family-run business got started by us creating custom woodwork for our old house. I had quite a few questions about the house's history, so I decided to share some of that with you today.
Right in the heart of Texas, Springtown, is my beautiful antique Neoclassical in the style of Greek Revival home that was built in 1915 by Dr. George and Ruth Jones. Everyone asks if this was the country singer, George Jones' father or grandfather's home. It would make the story much more interesting, but I found no connection between the two in my research on the house.
A Texas Historic Landmark
Because the 1915 Neoclassical Greek Revival home is one of the most distinctive older homes in Springtown, Texas, it was designated a Texas Historical Marker by the Texas Historical Commission. My house, as it has been called for a long time, The White House, is just blocks from the historic downtown of Springtown, which was designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 2019. However, the house earned its landmark status just as much for its history as for its architecture. And yes, the stories are true - it is really haunted. My house was once a haunted house that you could tour. More on that to come.
Who were Dr. George and Ruth Jones?
Dr. George Martin Jones (1867 - 1943) was the third of six children to Joseph M. and Sarah Elizabeth (Gibbs) Jones. From Arkansas, the family settled on a farm in Springtown, Texas, in 1876. While attending College Hill Institute in Springtown, George (not yet a doctor) met his bride-to-be, Ruth Peterson (1870 - 1958). Ruth, the second of three children of Dr. Owen G. and Elizabeth (Dubois) Petterson, came to Springtown in 1889 to join her father. She also attended College Hill Institute. Both George and Ruth attended the school to become teachers.
Springtown Methodist Church in Springtown, Texas: Photo is courtesy of the Church Website
Springtown Methodist Church - Built in 1891
George and Ruth were married at the Springtown Methodist Church on June 25, 1891, and they were only the second couple to marry in the newly constructed wooden-framed church house, which George helped to build himself as a young man. Later, the wooden building was torn down, and a lovely stone church was built in its place. Dr. Jones not only helped with its construction but also helped finance the new Springtown Methodist Church.
The church sits directly across the street from my house, and I am currently staring at its chapel as I write this blog post.
Dr. and Mrs. Jones: Photo is courtesy of History of Springtown - Parker County, TX, page 268
Medical Practice in Springtown, Texas
As both Ruth and George became classroom teachers at Clear Fork, George's desire to practice medicine grew, and it wasn't long before he moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and entered the University of Louisville School of Medicine. After graduation, Dr. Jones practiced medicine in Springtown, and it flourished. He was a member of the Texas State Medical Society and the Parker County Medical Society. The doctor was also a member of the local Masonic Lodge, which is still there today and is only a block away from our home.
One of Dr. George Jones' greatest achievements was attending to over 4,400 births in Springtown and across Parker County. That is a huge amount for a small community. Many of the babies he delivered were from the same families across three generations. One lady on Facebook messaged us to say that he delivered her as an emergency years after he retired, so he was always there to support his community, even in retirement.
The Original Piano Sits in My Carriage House
They were quite active as members of the local Methodist Church, and Dr. Jones actually helped to finance and build the church's rock-faced sanctuary across the street from their house - my house. Ruth was a beloved Sunday School teacher and played piano at the church. Her original piano is actually in my carriage house, but it is in terrible condition. My son found boxes and boxes full of her church music up in the attic. She was also a charter member of the Women's Missionary Society.
Springtown Cemetery Founded in 1854
The Jones family was blessed with two sons. Roy Ritter Jones (1896 - 1969) and Owen Martin Jones (1891 - 1981). Dr. Jones passed away on July 15, 1943, and Ruth passed away on August 1, 1958. Both the doctor and his wife are buried in the Springtown Cemetery close to a beautiful pecan tree. I have visited them at the burial site several times at this beautiful cemetery, founded in 1854.
Ruth Peterson Jones and Dr. George Martin Jones burial site in Springtown Cemetery: Photo is courtesy of Find A Grave and photographer Helen Parker
American Foursquare Neoclassical Greek Revival
With the two of them spending so much time at the church, why not build a house right across the street? Dr. and Mrs. Jones built their house in 1915. It is a two-story variation of the traditional American Foursquare, in the Neoclassical Greek Revival style. Some of the standout features include a huge balcony, a full gallery porch with Ionic columns, an offset front door with swan-neck pediment woodwork and sidelights, a pyramidal roof, dormer windows, and a modified four-square floor plan.
Dr. Jones had his medical practice in the home. There is a porch on the south side of the house that was the entrance to his medical office. Now, it is the entrance into my formal dining room. The large double-door closet where he kept his medical supplies is still used today, but now for cleaning supplies.
The house remained in the Jones' family until 1956, when Ruth sold it and moved to Weatherford, Texas, to live with her son and daughter-in-law. Dr. George Jones passed away in 1943 from cirrhosis of the liver.
From Doctor's Office to Haunted House
Once Ruth sold the house, it changed hands many, many times. The White House has been owned by 18 different families. The most amazing part is that the house still has almost all of its original woodwork, staircase, and heart pine wood floors after all the times it has been sold. Sadly, the fireplace was walled over, but we do still find chimney soot from time to time.
The house has had many different roles over its lifetime. While always being used as a family residence, it has also been a medical practice, a donut shop, a wedding venue, a haunted house, and now my family and I recreate antique wood trim screen brackets, porch brackets, and stair riser brackets, as well as do custom orders. Our house is no longer zoned for commercial use, so we either sell online or go to our local clients' homes.
In its Haunted House Era
When people hear about the haunted house era, they always want to know more. In fact, when people find out that we own the White House, the first question we get is, "Is it really haunted?" In the 1980s, my home was used as a seasonal haunted house where the community would come into my home and tour the house decorated in Halloween and scary decor. I can just imagine all of the places they would just pop out and yell BOO! The house is actually haunted, but there is so much I will have to share that I will have to do it in an additional blog post.
We Have an Elevator in Our House
One of the most interesting features of the White House is the elevator. The elevator went from his medical office downstairs up to the hall upstairs, where he would do more invasive procedures. It is no longer working and is now used as a closet on the first floor. But all the parts are still there, and since it operates on such a simple system, we are hoping to get it working soon. Since we don't use the elevator, here is our staircase that we use these days instead.
The American Foursquare Design
The house was built in 1915 as a modified American Foursquare with Neoclassical Greek Revival styling. The American Foursquare is a style of American house that was quite popular from the mid 1890s to the late 1930s. While people were slowly tiring of the very ornate design elements of the Victorian that were the rage of the last half of the 19th century, the American Foursquare was simpler, while still incorporating handcrafted woodwork. Detailed screen brackets were very popular at the time.
What made the American Foursquare a foursquare was its boxy, square design. In most cases, there were four large rooms on each floor. Many of these homes also included a center dormer, a large front porch that goes along the entire front, and wide stairs.
Thank you to my Sources
When writing this article, I gathered my information from many sources. I would like to thank my sources, including Gloria Peoples Elam (Springtown historian), History of Springtown and Parker County, Texas, and Parker County Precinct 1 County Commissioner George Conley.
All the best!
Jennifer
