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The ranch house as it stands today
On the west side of the
house these windows opened up to the lovely sunsets to be enjoyed during
the evening meals. Those were the days before television. People enjoyed
exchanging conversational pleasantries. Velma's excellent cooking was the
thing to contribute to a life full and loving for the children and adults.
 Directly inside and across
the bottom of the windows was a bench. A short distance beside them stood
the long formal dining table. The table was a dark wood in a French
provincial style. It was almost always covered with a white Damask table
cloth. Sometimes, there was a hand crocheted off white table cloth. In the
dining room there was a stove and another matching piece of furniture
which was called a buffet.
 This is where tablecloths, extra company
glasses, and silverware was kept.
Across from these windows,
on the outside there were Rose of Sharon bushes. Their flowing could also
be seen from the table as meals were taken.
There are two stone work
chimneys on the top of the house. One is for the middle of the house,
close to the kitchen. The other is for the front living room and front
bedroom. These chimneys were created by Lee Otis and set there since, as
mentioned before, he was simply young enough to be able to climb up
there. They are lovely works of art even today. Lee wanted to put stone
on the whole house but lack of funds and the turmoil that began stopped
his work.
The Jones's were masters at
going about a peaceful life. their mental activities went toward music,
art, religion. They were dreamers and enjoyed not only seeing their
dreams come true but the dreams of the people around them accomplished.
There was a mastery and talent of supporting the people they knew so that
their goals could be reached. They were busy people who loved life.
Ura May was gifted with a
hauntingly beautiful lilting singing voice. Velma played the violin going
to the classics. Bell was an old time fiddle player. She had a brother
Bill who was an award winning Blue Grass fiddle player. His sons went into
music, recording their songs. Uncle Bill also played for many a "kitchen
sweat," where dancers longed for an evening of escape through dancing.
Bob Wills came to set up
his band on the rock porch and the old house became a hostess to many
visiting neighbors. |
