Historic Jonesborough's Hawley House

My Pop loved history, couldn't get enough of it. If you've got a Dad who loves to really get in touch with History, the Hawley House Bed and Breakfast in Historic Jonesborough, Tennesse will make a terrific weekend trip for him. If you're tired of giving your dad slippers and ties for Father's Day, get him something he'll really appreciate-- a terrific experience he'll always remember.

Hawley House is located on Lot #1 in the town plot, and was the very first building in Jonesborough, which is Tennessee's first and oldest town, established before Tennessee was even a state. In Fact, this home sits in what almost became the State of Franklin, NOT the state of Tennessee! And Hawley House owner and operator, Marcie Hawley, will regale you with stories of the historic home, and it's important place in this storytelling capital of the world.

The Hawley House was built on Lot #1 in Jonesborough, before the state of Tennessee was even established.

Construction began on the home in 1791, and records show that by 1793, people were living in and having babies in Hawley House. The original home was two stories tall, with the large fireplace and stonework downstairs in what was the kitchen, and the bedroom upstairs. The original staircase is still in place, long and narrow, and it is easy to see how much the average American has grown since then, as the ceilings and doors are much lower than those built today. The walls are about 2 feet thick, which insulated the home quite well during the cold winters. It also keeps the home cool on the warmer summer days.

In the early 1800s, prior to 1820, as the children in the home grew, additions were added on, to include several more rooms and a wrap around veranda.

Hawley House is a Bed and Breakfast, and has also been used in Educational Service. Historic programs to educate youth have brought children to Hawley House, where they spent the day learning how to cook in a Kettle over a fire in the original fireplace, dipped their own wax candles, and sewed stitches for socks and clothes.

During the early days of the National Storytelling Festival, before the International Storytelling Center was built, Hawley House served as a place to host special guests and storytellers. It continues to house storytellers during the festival.

Hawley House is also incredibly convenient. It sits just above Main Street, above the railroad tracks. Everything in town is walking distance, from the gourmet local chocolatier, to the many restuarants and shops, to the International Storytelling Center and the historic Christopher Taylor Home-- all of these places are mere paces from Hawley House front door.

This Father's Day, if your Dad loves History, take him for a weekend stay at Hawley House and Historic Jonesborough. Doesn't this sound better than giving him a pair of slippers?