| Preserving Rose Lawn as a House Museum |
by Angie Wilson, Rose Lawn Board of Trustees. |  |
Rose Lawn is a place that grows within the heart. I remember Rose Lawn as a child when I used to walk down Cherokee Avenue. The eccentric architectural style demanded my attention. The English manor-style carriage house also fascinated me. Some houses had simple one-car garages tucked behind the main house. But Rose Lawn had a carriage house! Today history is alive and well at Rose Lawn. You can feel it when you enter the front door. Victorian gingerbread, stained glass, and large rooms divided by sliding pocket doors are a few of the things that transport you back into the late 1800s. You can imagine the Sam Jones family living there. Howell Jones, great-grandson of Sam of Laura Jones, is updating the family museum on the second floor. Storyboards will show the history of the house, from a small cottage to the magnificent structure you see today. Pictures of the family and Sam Jones's writing will be prominently displayed. Furniture, clothing, and artifacts that once belonged to the Sam Jones family are presently on display. The museum alone is well worth a visit. Rose Lawn has been in good hands through the years since its rescue by Commissioner Olin Tatum in 1974. Our present Commissioner, Clarence Brown, continues to support Rose Lawn and the Board of Trustees in its vision for the future. Most of you know how exceptionally Rose Lawn was served when recently retired Mary Siniard was Director. Her loving imprint remains today. At present, we are fortunate to have Steven Ellis as Director. Steven is doing an excellent job and wears many hats, the most impressive as ambassador of goodwill for Rose Lawn. We are also fortunate to have volunteers who serve as docents, hostesses, and in various other ways. Docents serve three house one day a month giving guided tours, answering the telephone, and performing miscellaneous duties as assigned by the Director. Volunteer hostesses serve during special events. Without this dedicated group of people, Rose Lawn could not operate as eficiently as it does. Serving on the Board of Trustees has not diminished the charm of Rose Lawn for me. Dealing with all its quirky problems has, if anything, made it more endearing. Although sometimes those problems seem almost overwhelming, there is an indomitable spirit dwelling within Rose Lawn. It is the goal of the present Board of Trustees to preserve Rose Lawn so it can continue to grow in the hearts of future generations in Bartow County. |
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