| Jonesborough History |
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 Jonesborough was founded in 1779, seventeen years before Tennessee was granted statehood. It was named after North Carolina legislator, Willie Jones, who supported North Carolina's westward expansion over the Appalachian Mountains.The town was originally considered a part of North Carolina. In 1784, Jonesborough was one of the towns that attempted to create a new state called the State of Franklin, named after American founding father Benjamin Franklin. The State of Franklin, however, was never recognized by Congress, and was re-claimed by North Carolina by 1788. Jonesborough is often considered to be the center of the abolitionist movement within the states that would join the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Elihu Embree printed his publication, The Emancipator, from the town of Jonesborough. Circulation began in 1820, making "The Emancipator" the first periodical to be dedicated exclusively to the issue of the abolition of slavery. While Tennessee would later join the Confederacy, most East Tennesseans had Union leanings, which is perhaps not surprising given the fact that East Tennessee was not suited to large-scale agricultural production, such as cotton, and very few people in the region other than the very wealthy owned slaves. Today, Jonesborough draws a good deal of tourism because of its historical status as Tennessee's oldest town and its significant preservation efforts. The town's museum describes local heritage of tobacco farming. The historic Chester Inn downtown was built in 1797. Jonesborough is also the home to the International Storytelling Center, which holds the annual National Storytelling Festival on the first full weekend in October. The Festival builds on the Appalachian cultural tradition of storytelling and has been drawing people from around the world for more than 35 years to both tell and listen. Large tents are pitched in parks around town and storytellers sit on stages or at the head of the tent to perform. Occasionally performances are interrupted for a moment by a passing Norfolk Southern Railway train. Past storytellers include Carmen Agra Deedy, Syd Lieberman, and Kathryn Tucker Windham. The festival influenced the development of a successful storytelling graduate degree program at the nearby East Tennessee State University. While exploring some of the most historic streets in the state, visitors can even have ghostly adventure. Andrew Jackson had strong ties to Jonesborough, Tennessee. It was here that he began his law practice in the late 1700s. And during that time, he stayed at the cabin belonging to Christopher Taylor, located about a mile outside of town. Recently the cabin was removed from its original spot and reconstructed in the town's park. The ghost of former U.S. president Andrew Jackson has occasionally been spotted there--usually on foggy nights. The ghost walks up to the front door and disappears into the building. The ghost has also been seen walking down the street, in the direction of the old courthouse. |
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