December 14, 2002
In the midst of the Appalachian foothills, I made my way into Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town. Here I came across the Historic Eureka Inn, located conveniently in town on Main St., the old Stage Road. This lodging establishment is a treasure of a find for anyone who appreciates restored, historic lodging, not to mention being located in a town with plenty of history to offer itself.
Opened for lodging in 1900, the original building dates back to 1797, when it was built as a private residence. It changed owners and names several times during the 1900s, each time adding or changing the hotel in varying degrees.
As with many historic hotels, it fell into various usages and eventual disrepair. Fortunately, it was purchased in 1997 by a group of local investors, who undertook the sizable task of restoring it to its original glory. Their two and a half million dollar renovation created a stunning hotel, with unique, beautifully appointed rooms, each filled with antiques and period reproductions.
I settled into “The Cook’s Room,” located in a quiet upstairs corner at the rear of the building. The large, private bath, originally a staircase to the former kitchen below—now “The Kitchen Room”—was immaculate, with a state-of-the-art tub/shower combination, telephone, and attractive basket of complimentary bath products.
The room itself was spacious and luxuriously comfortable, with a high ceiling, queen bed, overstuffed chair, armoire, writing desk, data port, voicemail, and individual climate control. As an added bonus, a balcony porch just outside the main hallway offered an outdoor seating area, overlooking the garden and surrounded by white, wooden railings and planters filled with ivy and geraniums.
Included in the very reasonable lodging expense was a complimentary breakfast, including bagels, english muffins, danish pastries, fresh fruit, cereal, orange juice, coffee, and tea. The leisurely check-out time of noon allowed me to linger over my meal at an antique oak table before sauntering outside to explore the town itself.
The town of Jonesborough has the distinction of being Tennessee’s oldest town, established in 1789, many years before Tennessee became a state. Originally a part of North Carolina, an attempt was made in 1784 by Jonesborough, along with other towns, to form a new state named Franklin, after Benjamin Franklin. Four years later, when Congress failed to recognize it as a state, it reverted back to North Carolina and remained so until the official establishment of Tennessee as a state in 1796.
Shawnee, Chicksaw, Cherokee and Creek Native Americans were the area’s original inhabitants, dating back into the 1500s. The first cabin built by a white settler was in 1769, ten years before Jonesborough officially became a town.
Not far from the hotel, I found the 1777 Christopher Taylor House, where Andrew Jackson, who would later become the 7th president of the U.S., lived briefly in 1788. Located at that time outside of town, the house was moved into town in 1974.
One of Jonesborough’s main claims to fame is that it is home to the International Storytelling Center, which packs the town full for the Storytelling Festival each year. The website for the Eureka Hotel cautions would-be visitors that rooms are booked years in advance for this popular event. Any time of the year is a good time for entertainment, though, as the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre is located right next door to Eureka Hotel.
There’s history around every corner in this town. The first anti-slavery papers were written here long before the Civil War and the attempt to establish the “ill-fated State of Franklin” took place. An historic marker commemorates the abolition publications that were generated.
The Jonesborough Visitor’s Center is a gold mine for local information and has a museum and gift shop, as well. It’s a great starting point for exploring the town.
Leaving the Visitor Center, a walk along Main St. will take visitors past the plentiful dining and shopping options. I enjoyed both the country cafe ambiance and a plate of soup beans, cornbread, and chow chow, a traditional local relish, at The Cranberry Thistle, just across from the old courthouse.
Art galleries and shops along Main St. provide plenty of browsing opportunities, showcasing a wide range of hand-blown glass, paintings, ceramics, quilt-making supplies, and local crafts. Antique browsers will not be disappointed, either.
Shoppers can also find a few unusual gift items. I picked up cans of “Tennessee Possum” as souvenir treats for my brothers, a clever re-labeling gimmick that the area has been offering for years.
One day wasn’t enough time to see everything Jonesborough had to offer, so it goes onto my “must go back” list, as well as into my “great small towns” collection. As an alternative to larger, crowded tourist-type destinations, this quaint southern town was an excellent find.