This portrait and interview exhibit aims to display the rich diversity of people that make up this East Tennessee town. To the best of our ability, we have interviewed and photographed people from across Jonesborough’s broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. There are always going to be disagreements to work through. There are always going to be differences to celebrate. As this group of people consistently resounded, a thriving community is built by people who know each other and work for each other’s good. By presenting their portraits side by side, the exhibit illustrates how these stories, as parts of this community, are intertwined. This project offers an opportunity to hear and celebrate stories from people as they share parts of their lives.
Going into the project, the McKinney Center staff discussed, among other things, two aspects of the intended exhibit. First, should the portraits be in color or black and white? Black and white would provide a more uniform exhibit that shows how these people all live in the same place. Color, on the other hand, might show more unique personality but sacrifice uniformity. In the end, color photos projected the personalities of each person. We also discussed location. Early on we considered letting each interviewee select the photo and interview location. This would communicate a connection between each person and a particular place in Jonesborough. Later, we wondered if the portraits might highlight each person’s facial features better if we set up a backdrop at the McKinney Center. We ended up settling on a middle ground: the photos intentionally prioritize facial features and expressions, and we asked each person to pick the location. With a few exceptions—due to rain, cold, or other circumstances—the location was chosen by the interviewee and communicates a part of their life in Jonesborough.
Through interviewing thirty-five people from different places and perspectives, we were surprised by how similar the answers were. Many said they appreciate the town’s quaintness, knowing their neighbors, and how people work together to accomplish things. Many of those who grew up here were taught to “treat others how you would like to be treated.” Most people, in discussing their hopes for Jonesborough, said they support growth but don’t want Jonesborough to lose what makes it special. A few exceptions said they think it would be better for Jonesborough to not grow.
The interviews are a reflection of memory. They show the differences in how folks remember Jonesborough across age, race, gender, and experience. It seemed like many were reluctant to share difficult times in Jonesborough. This is an interesting introspection into how sometimes we shape our stories around the good rather than the bad. For each person, we attempted to convey slices of their life with their title card. Our goal is to portray a part of their unique connection to Jonesborough. But we know one sheet of paper could never encapsulate all of a person.
A video can come slightly closer. To hear more from each interviewee themselves, see the playlist of edited interviews on the McKinney Center’s YouTube. Editing people’s stories into five to ten minute videos felt impossible. People are complex, and these conversations are just a quick glimpse. Our biggest takeaway is how enjoyable it was to hear from someone, even for just an hour, about their life.
More than we encourage you to watch the videos, we encourage you to get to know your neighbors. It may be someone out of your comfort zone, or even someone you think would be uncomfortable talking to you. Connecting to one another can answer these questions from Mary Oliver that speak to all of us: “What does it mean that the earth is so beautiful? And what shall I do about it? What is the gift that I should bring to the world? What is the life that I should live?”
This exhibit took place in 2024 and captures a certain moment of time for these individuals. Things may have changed in their lives. Unfortunately, this also means some of our participants have passed away as well, including Theresa Bryant and Jaiden Morgan. We are grateful we were able to capture a bit of who they were before they left us.
Adam Dickson
Born in: Jonesborough, TN
Lived here: 46 years
Interview location: Alfred Martin Ray Historical Marker, 2nd Avenue
Alfred Ray, Adam’s ancestor, was born enslaved and later, as a freed man, fought with the “Buffalo Soldiers” in the Spanish-American War. Adam grew up watching his father, Fred Dickson, “move with a great deal of confidence” in Jonesborough and thought if his father could have that, he probably could, too. He is now Vice Mayor of Jonesborough and Center Supervisor of the Langston Centre.
“I would love for Jonesborough to live out its moniker, to be the Storytelling Capital of the World and really hone in on telling its story of what I like to call interracial cooperation. I think that’s a rich story to tell. I think that it’s also important to tell: segregation did exist in Jonesborough. We ought to showcase that as part of our story. So I have high hopes that we will be the Storytelling Capital of the World and want to tell who we are and what distinguishes us, what distinguishes this region. Not in the context of blending in with a narrative of ‘Yes, this history existed, and it was abhorrent.’ I would hope that we would tell the story of, ‘Yes, this history existed, but we’ve always found ways.’ The Jonesborough way, some people might say. We’ve always found a way of working around that history… You can be honest in telling the history, but there’s also a rich dynamic to Jonesborough that we ought to be bold enough to tell… I hope that for people coming from all over the country, parts of the world, to Jonesborough, that we will continue to be a space that they feel included and affirmed.”
Allyson Wilkinson
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 6 years
Interview location: Mill Spring Park, Spring Street
Allyson’s mother was a Washington County native, and they moved to Texas when Allyson was young. She is now a lawyer for Washington County. She and her husband keep a farm and this store-building. A friend of hers remembers getting bologna there when it was called Mr. Beckett’s store.
“I love the job that I have now…You really are trying to help at some level. But I also love the problem solving. I love that you, you know, you can identify something and how to make it better. But right now, my job is actually, I’m the county’s attorney. So it really was an answer to my prayer to be of service… I love it. Love, love, love it… Once a month, all of the committees of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners meet. So from 8am to 6pm, one Thursday a month, they meet one after the other. And at every one of those meetings, there’s a prayer and there’s a pledge. And so I always joke that it’s like prayer and pledge day. That that many times a day, we’re reminded, you know, of how fortunate we are to be here, and to be of service, and to, you know, to live in such a great country, and to be able to do the work that we do.”
Amber Jackson Crumley
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 42 years
Interview location: Jackson Theatre, Main Street
Amber’s great grandfather and grandmother started a dairy farm and saw mill here. One relative helped bring the railroad to Jonesborough, and another started the Storytelling Festival. After studying interior design and interning in New York City, Amber did not expect to return to Jonesborough. Eventually she realized she wanted to return home. She has worked for the Town of Jonesborough for sixteen years and recently started working as the Operations Manager of the Jackson Theatre.
“One of my earliest, and probably my favorite memory of Jonesborough, was coming to Jonesborough Days… I would come with my parents and my family. Of course we would come down and check out all the vendors. And of course I wanted to do all the fun kids stuff when I was younger. Listen to musicians. But one of my favorite things was my grandmother and I would always get a funnel cake and share it. We would always eat it on the courthouse steps. So to this day, I still get a funnel cake, one a year, during Jonesborough Days, and I eat it on the courthouse steps. Just because I love nostalgia and kind of like those memories that it ignites. And being able to do this now at forty two, you know doing something that I did when I was like two and three.”
Anna Floyd
Born in: Jonesborough, TN
Lived here: 21 years
Interview location: Her screened-in porch, Woodrow Avenue
Anna’s grandfather was one of the first deans of the College of Medicine at ETSU. She grew up on Main Street, riding her bike around town with friends. She moved away for college and did not plan to return. Now she owns and runs, with her partner Elena, The Opossum’s Tale in downtown Jonesborough.
“I really never planned to come back… just because this really wasn’t a very safe place for a gay person. I had a lot of trauma from growing up here… I lived in Asheville for eight years. It really allowed me to be exactly who I was, and that felt really nice. And I was scared to come back and not feel as safe doing that. Whether it was safety, in physical safety, or just for my own mental health. But I mean Jonesborough had kind of changed in the ten years that I was gone. And I had changed a lot in the ten years that I was gone. I became more comfortable with who I was and had the space to be able to explore that… After a year, I was like, you know what, this isn’t so bad. There’s actually some decent people, some young people who were moving here who either are from here and re-establishing themselves or moved here and are establishing themselves. And I was like, this actually feels nice.”
Bobby Apodaca, Jr.
Born in: West Covina, CA
Lived here: 5 years
Interview location: The McKinney Center, Franklin Avenue
Bobby was born and raised in southern California near Los Angeles. He dreamed of living a country life but thought it would always just be a dream. Then a remote job meant he and his family could move to Jonesborough. His wife—who comes from a family of fifty to sixty that gets together every Sunday—was hesitant to leave California. But she has found a place of acceptance and belonging at their church. They live here with six kids; their oldest daughter recently graduated high school and returned to California.
“It’s a tight knit community, but you still have diversity that you wouldn’t expect. It’s like I said, some of those negative stereotypes that get, you know, put on small towns like
Jonesborough… but it’s nice to see that even amongst diverse opinions and differing opinions that there’s still camaraderie, community, and, you know, friendliness. An ability to look past certain things and just kind of let people do what they do. I mean, even if you don’t agree with certain choices or lifestyles, people still are friendly and can look beyond that.”
Brittany Dunn
Born in: Jonesborough, TN
Lived here: 22 years
Interview location: The old Jonesborough Elementary School, Forest Drive
Brittany’s parents moved here in the 1990s. Firework shows and downtown events were a large part of her childhood. During her school years she participated in choir, had great teachers, and met people who are still good friends. The COVID-19 outbreak began her senior year. She works at Food City while studying psychology at ETSU, hoping to help children as a school counselor.
“I grew up volunteering to clean an older woman’s house, and her name was Mary Gearhart. She was an alderman at Jonesborough. And every year around Halloween, she had this Halloween party, and she would invite people from—it started with just her neighborhood and then people from outside the neighborhood, just in the community—would come to her house. And everybody just knew about it, and I thought that was just very sweet, and how warm and kind she was. And I aspire to be like that… Being open and generous to people… She’s a big part of when I think of Jonesborough, I think of her. She did a lot for the town, and she’s very passionate about what she believed in. And she’s very passionate about this town. So when I think about Jonesborough, I think about how much work she put into it when she got here. And that inspires me to want to help the community and serve the community in ways that I can.”
Carlos Turriate
Born in: Lima, Peru
Lived here: 9 years
Interview location: Jonesborough Senior Center, Main Street
Carlos moved from Peru to Florida and worked at a hospital in the cardiovascular unit. After fifty years, he and his wife moved to Johnson City. He worked as an Anesthesia Technician at Johnson City Medical Center, and they lived together in Jonesborough until she passed away. He has retired and spends a lot of his time at the Senior Center. He recently remarried, and they are visiting Peru so she can meet his family.
“I was born in Lima, Peru. I was there until I was five years old, I believe, and my dad worked in tourism. So he was transferred to a place called Cusco. Cusco is where the Inca ruins are, the Machu Picchu Inca ruins… I grew up over there, and I went to St. Francis school. The St. Francis of Assisi private school… It reminds me so much of Jonesborough. Why? Because everything was nice, green mountains. Except the mountains here, they are very short in comparison to the ones over there. They’re 13,000 feet. You know, here what, 5,000 is the highest?”
Chad Fred Bailey
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 33 years
Interview location: Jonesborough Library, genealogy section, Sabin Drive
Chad’s ancestors settled here in the 1770s. His sixth great-grandfather owned the land grant that would become the town of Jonesborough. Chad grew up here and studied at ETSU. Chad now works as a Production Planner for ebm-papst and leads monthly genealogy help nights at the library.
“I really started into genealogy after my grandmother died in 2010. Met a lady named Elaine Cantrell at a genealogy meeting that I came to and then met her at her house. And she had a binder on my mother’s family, one of the many binders that she had. She said, ‘Go upstairs and get Book 10 of the Huffines.’ So when we started going through that, it had a clipping of mom and dad’s wedding announcement in the paper. Things like that. So she always said that she was one of those people, that she wasn’t gonna let me go. So she would come to my house, drive to my house in her eighties, and pick me up. We would go to
genealogy meetings, and we would drive around the county. So she would tell me things that had happened and stories that she knew about. So that sort of drew me into it even more.”
Cody Armstrong
Born: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 34 years
Interview location: First Class Floral Design, Main Street
Cody grew up running around downtown Jonesborough and thinking it would be fun to own a shop. He just did not know what kind. He ended up flying airplanes for a while, working in a flower shop, and deciding to open his own store. He runs First Class Floral Design and is the treasurer for Jonesborough Area Merchants and Service Association.
“I think it means being progressively traditional. It’s as simple as that. Progressively traditional. We’re a type of people in Appalachia that really hold tight to our values, and really hold tight to our customs, and hold tight to traditional aspects of every bit of what we’ve grown up experiencing. But I think there’s still progress to be made, even with those values.”
Daniel Tester
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 15 years
Interview location: Papa John’s, East Jackson Boulevard
Daniel enjoys the rush of the city but also likes slowing down. He grew up in Johnson City and now lives here on his wife’s family land. He says it’s beautiful to walk out onto the porch and see the deer that come out at night. He works at Papa John’s and enjoys getting to meet the variety of people coming in for food.
“Over the years, me and my wife… we were blessed to have each other and be a part of each other’s lives. It just slowly turned into her family became my family… And they’ve been part of this community for years. The road we live on is named after her great-great grandfather, I believe. So it’s like family generations that’s been passed down and passed
down, and just kept up. They’ve been down here for so long. I guess that’s what’s made it home, is just being able to be part of their family, and seeing the look on her grandfather’s face when he talks about the property that’s down there, and everything. It’s different. That’s something I want for my girls, when they get older. I want them to be able, one day, to be talking to me about it… If your family’s handed something generational like that, you don’t mess it up.”
David Phillips
Born in: Waynesville, NC
Lived here: 25 years
Portrait location: Dogwood Lane, Fox Street
After a few weekend visits from Asheville, NC, David already knew a lot of people in Jonesborough and felt comfortable. For eight and a half years, he and his husband Jeff ran a restaurant downtown. He has been the Store Manager at Boone’s Street Market for five years. He cooks, handles orders, and interacts with a lot of farmers who sell food there.
“I’m surprised at how accepting a lot of people are in town of gay people. When Jeff and I got married, we got married at the Parson’s Table building. We invited about fifty people, and over two hundred people showed up. It was crazy. But that’s what really surprised me about the community… It was the social event of the season that year, that’s what people said… The other thing that surprises me about the community is what a tight knit community it is. We’ve got a lot of great people that live in town. We’ve got great neighbors and great friends. And I enjoy being here.”
Elena Gonzales
Born in: Flemington, NJ
Lived here: 4 years
Interview location: The Opossum’s Tale, Fox Street
Johnson City brought Elena to the area. Her cousin started Lazy Lady Baking Company out of Johnson City, and Elena would go to the Jonesborough Farmers Market to sell the pastries. She then moved to Jonesborough during the pandemic. Elena runs The Opossum’s Tale with her partner Anna, and she is the primary cook.
“I mean, it’s a tough thing in a town that I feel like has a very strong… community and a strong liberal presence, but also a very strong conservative presence. Those things coexist in a really interesting way in Jonesborough. In a way that I don’t—I mean I’m sure it exists in other places—but I haven’t been able to kind of witness it in the same sort of way. That people come and they’re neighbors here… And they have conversations. They have serious conversations. But, community and neighbors first in a lot of ways. And I really respect that about a lot of people here.”
Jaiden Morgan
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 23 years
Interview location: The McKinney Center, Franklin Avenue
Jaiden grew up in Jonesborough and continues to live here. She frequently volunteered at the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre. After graduating high school, Jaiden worked for a few years because she did not know what she would like to study. Now she is studying theater at ETSU and is part of the gamer’s club. Her favorite class has been theater production, in which she learned more about sewing than she ever thought she would and has learned to use a lot of saws.
“I love the area. It’s a beautiful place. But it doesn’t feel like it’s catered toward someone like me who’s more of like an indoor, video-gamey kind of person, obviously. Because, you know, it’s an outdoorsy, historical kind of location. Those aren’t things that are inherently natural to me as like interests… but obviously some interest, you know, it’s where I live. It’s my home.”
James Scott, Sr.
Born in: Jonesborough, TN
Lived here: 88 years
Interview location: Mill Springs Park, Spring Street
“Can’t think of another place I’d wanna be.” James grew up in Jonesborough. He attended Booker T. Washington School and remembers going down to Mr. Beckett’s store to get bologna. His son and two daughters grew up here too. He now has many grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His youngest daughter teaches at Daniel Boone High School. James works as a carpenter.
“Everybody was like family. There was no issues of any kind. Everyone got along just fine. One of the most important things that I liked about Jonesborough was the water fountain we had in front of the courthouse. And everybody drank from it. Everybody. White, black, and a dog got up there and got water if it could, but anyway. You know, and that’s what made, I think, Jonesborough unique from all other counties in the state… The only thing that we didn’t do—we played together—but we didn’t go to school together. But we could have, I’d say, about twenty years before anybody else, because everybody got along. Everybody got along.”
Jeff White
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 25 years
Interview location: Lincoln Park, Longview Drive
Jeff was raised in Johnson City. He began his Jonesborough police career in 1992. He then spent some time in the fire service before returning to law enforcement in 2015. He and his wife have been married for twenty four years. Her family has lived in Jonesborough for a long time, and he has learned a lot of history from them. He says he hopes the town keeps its small town feel.
“My whole career has been within public safety… It’s been great. I mean it’s a place that people here are a very supportive community… with the law enforcement, with just, everyone is just inviting, welcoming to anybody new that comes to Jonesborough. You can see that everyday… throughout the town when you’re out here and you wander around places like Lincoln Park here that they just built. Or downtown through the events that we have. You can see people come together, which makes it a wonderful community.”
Jess Parks
Born in: Orlando, FL
Lived here: 17 years
Interview location: The McKinney Center, Franklin Avenue
Jess, growing up in Daytona Beach, enjoyed trips to the beach. Her family would also come to East Tennessee for summer vacations, and she could see herself living here. Her parents ended up moving to Jonesborough. Then she studied ceramics at ETSU. Now she teaches ceramics at the McKinney Center. She frequently incorporates sea creatures into her own work.
“I have just been personally developing my own style, and working on it in my own time, secretly. And then I come out and share it with my students when I figure it all out, because there are other people that want to know what I’m working on. And it’s really nerdy, it’s almost like IT. But when you connect with somebody who’s like, ‘what have you been doing in your closet? I want to see your bin of strange.’ And like it really helps people grow and get to the next step when they’ve been struggling with that themselves. And we all kind of have a little fear of something, but I’m not afraid to fail, to try it out. Half of everything I try I fail, but just not knowing would kill me.”
Jonathan Baker
Born in: Elizabethton, TN
Lived here: 32 years
Interview location: The McKinney Center, Franklin Avenue
In 1992, Jonathan’s family found land in Jonesborough where they could build a house. At that point, he did not know what he would get into. He went to Daniel Boone High School. He started helping with the International Storytelling Festival in 2004. He started helping with the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre in 2006. Leon Overbay eventually convinced him to get involved with the StoryTown Radio Show at the McKinney Center.
“Leon was my dear friend. When we first started the Radio Show he usually helps me with the words and the scripts because some of the words I couldn’t get out, so he usually helps me. And he gives me a ride home a lot. And actually he’s the one that talked me into doing the first “I Am Home” play here. I came and saw what they had done in the spring. I believe it was 2010, that’s the year they done it. But he talked me into it and told me, ‘Jonathan, they’re having auditions for “I Am Home” play. Do you want to come out and try it?’ And I said, ‘You know, I’ll do it.’ I came out and tried it and got in.”
Karan Sue Greenlee Glispie
Born in: Jonesborough, TN
Lived here: 73 years
Interview location: Her house, Depot Street
Karan says, “I go by many names.” Her parents were both born and raised in Jonesborough, TN. She married a man from Sullivan County, TN and has worked many jobs. For one job, she helped make latex gloves at the Pharmacil factory. She earned her associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and began working at the child support office. Now she is an avid bowler.
“Down where Depot Street Park is, it used to be a field. So every summer, all of us, parents and all, would get down there. We’d clean it out, and we’d make our own softball field. And then in the wintertime, my cousin, he made this sled that held twelve people. A homemade sled. That held twelve people. And we would get out here on Depot Street. We’d make a bonfire. There used to be a big old tree. We’d make a bonfire, and we’d sleigh ride all the way down this hill… one in the back that was guiding it, and the other one was keeping it straight. Twelve man sled. Homemade.”
Lisa Whaley
Born in: Princeton, WV
Lived here: 30 years
Interview location: Jimmy Neil Smith Park, College Street
Lisa grew up in a town of 300 in Washington State. She worked as a reporter at the Bristol Herald Courier. She then worked at the Jonesborough Herald and Tribune for almost 30 years, starting as a reporter and eventually working as Publisher. In 2023, she began working as Director of Development for the International Storytelling Center.
“One of my first jobs as a young reporter was, ‘go cover the Storytelling Festival.’ And I tell this with some embarrassment now. My thought was, ‘Okay, that’s cool, we’re gonna go all stand in a tent and listen to somebody talk for an hour or two hours’… If you haven’t actually gone in and listened to a good storyteller, there’s no way to describe it. It is, it pulls you in. It captures you. It all of a sudden, you’re wherever it is that they’re talking about. You’re part of that story. And I started to realize that it was a whole lot more than that. So year after year, with the newspaper, I would come and cover at the Storytelling Festival.”
Lucas Schmidt
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 15 years
Interview location: Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, Main Street
For Lucas’ first shows at the JRT, he played drums for the 1940s USO show. He then studied at Milligan College and started performing at the JRT. He said he never had a one-moment decision to stay. He kept doing shows, never wanted to stop, and now considers the theatre as his chosen family. Lucas continues to be a volunteer performer and works as the House Manager.
“I wasn’t big on performing in front of people. Then in college, I don’t know why, I realized I was able to sing confidently… I did a lot of mockery, privately in my car. I’d like mock an opera singer, not to be mean, but to like *sings opera*. I didn’t know what they were singing, but I’d just kinda sing along. And one day I thought, ‘If I can sound like them to make fun of them, then I guess I’m actually singing? I can sing, I suppose.’ And I decided to audition for the USO instead of play for it. And then, from there, I enjoyed it more than playing. And that’s when I decided to perform. I guess I was twenty one when I started actively, heavily performing on stage… I like performing in front of people, mostly to make them laugh, that’s my favorite thing, is making laughter occur. Or, second place is scaring… so frightening people, but in a light-hearted way.”
Marissa Hendrix
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 10 years
Interview location: The Black Olive, East Jackson Boulevard
Marissa moved here from Johnson City when she was fifteen. She appreciates how community members in Jonesborough are supportive of each other. Specifically, she remembers when the Barrel House burned down, and businesses and individuals rallied around them. She has worked at The Black Olive for 10 years and has enjoyed getting to know all sorts of people, some who have lived here a long time and others visiting for the weekend.
“I think of Johnson City. Whenever I was younger, it also kind of felt like a pretty small town, but it’s just kind of felt like, as it’s grown, just more and more things have been popping up. And it’s just things that I feel like aren’t necessary. I mean, it’s cool that they have like more restaurants and things opening up, especially when those are small businesses and local owners and things. But I also notice there are Dollar Generals and McDonald’s popping up on every single corner. So it just feels like a lot of times, with that influx, then it brings attention of, like, corporations… I just hope that we’re able to maintain this small business and supportive vibe that we’ve got.”
Mary Ann Clark
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 41 years
Interview location: Mauk’s of Jonesborough, Main Street
Mary Ann grew up here. For six years she walked a paper route with her dog Red. She then went to Liberty University and lived in Winston Salem, NC for a while. When her second son was two days old, they moved back to Jonesborough. For twenty years, Mary Ann worked with the youth group at Jonesborough United Methodist. Now she goes to early church and Sunday School before picking up her mother for second service. Mary Ann often works the front desk at Mauk’s.
“My family’s had some tragedies in it. And the town took care of us. Just even customers in here. So, when you have that kind of support, you can’t help but love your town. I mean it’s just, you know, you wouldn’t think of going anywhere else. And you don’t have to explain yourself. Everybody knows, and everybody’s, you know, concerned, but they give you space. And they just love on you. I got cards galore. And so, you know, the whole family did. So, we’re just very blessed. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
Meagan Day
Born in: Salem, OR
Lived here: 34 years
Interview location: Depot Street Brewing, Depot Street
Meagan’s family is from Louisiana, where her grandparents worked at a paintbrush factory. They then visited the Great Smoky Mountains, fell in love with the area, and found out a factory was opening in Boones Creek, TN. Meagan has lived in Washington County since 1992 and Jonesborough since 2004. She thinks of Depot Street Brewing as “the back porch of Jonesborough.”
“I had a little bit of a health scare last year. They found this place on my lungs, and I got really nervous that it was cancer. And so, you know, I didn’t tell a lot of people. But, word gets around in Jonesborough. And so I had, everybody would stop by at the coffee shop and they’re like, ‘Hey, I heard what’s going on, you know. How are you doing with it.’ I’m like, ‘I’m fine. I don’t know anything yet.’ But I just felt really supported by those people. And actually when I got my results back, it turned out it was just some weird malformation on my lungs. They threw me a you-don’t-have-cancer party here at the brewery. And it just, I don’t know, knowing that that many people care about you. And you’re not blood related. But, they’re family.”
Sadi Hyatt
Born in: Greeneville, TN
Lived here: 12 years
Interview location: International Storytelling Center plaza, Main Street
Sadi’s grandma brought her to Jonesborough. One of her first memories was the StoryTown Radio Show at the McKinney Center. She was so young she couldn’t read, so she memorized the lines. She has enjoyed school, particularly a science teacher who has an impressive amount of ways to answer the phone. Sadi has a lot of pets.
“There’s a lot of good people. And when you start making a friendship with some of the people, if you put the effort into it and put the effort into seeing them, whether it’s a lot or you see them occasionally, then the friendship could last you a lifetime.”
Mike Morgan
Born in: Flint, MI
Lived here: 25 years
Interview location: The McKinney Center, Franklin Avenue For a while, Mike lived in Orlando. He wanted to get away from city life and the heat. His kids have grown up in Jonesborough and enjoyed participating in activities downtown and at the McKinney Center. Mike really appreciates how the town’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen is full of people who are open to talking about anything, from policies to football.
“If you begin from a place of respect and civility, and that other person matches your demeanor in that, I think that any conversation can be had… I try to come to a place where, when I’m actually talking to a person, I talk to that person, like I said, with respect and civility and just try to go to a place where we can stay respectful and civil, and have a conversation. Maybe minds are changed. Probably not. Maybe opinions differ. But that’s gonna be fine. Differing opinions is not the problem with our, with what we got going on in our national politics right now. It’s not differing opinions. It’s the inability to see the other side’s humanity and treat them with the respect and civility that that humanity deserves.”
Mike Ranson
Born in: Bristol, TN
Lived here: 10 years
Interview location: Golden Oak Park, Goldenrod Drive
Mike coached college baseball for twelve years. After being let go, he came to realize that he was burnt out. He started working in corporate sales for a tobacco company and moved to Jonesborough when his daughter was two. On the side, he works as a baseball scout for the Kansas City Royals.
“We were born in Bristol, and then with my father’s job we moved a lot. So every time he did a good job, we would pick up and move. So we’ve kind of lived all over. And fast forward that into my, what I chose as a career. If you do a good job, you’re hired and you move. So I’ve moved a lot. Part of the draw of this place was I don’t want to move again… I guess the pros of moving around is you learn to adapt, and you learn to fit in, and you learn, you know, kind of how to survive. And we’ve wanted that for our daughter… My former wife moved quite a bit. I’ve moved a lot. We wanted to keep her rooted. So she’s kind of got a place that says, ‘You know, I grew up in Jonesborough, Tennessee.’”
Mike Tilley
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 40 years
Interview location: Chuckey Railroad Depot Museum, 2nd Avenue
Mike grew up in Johnson City and would visit his grandparents in Jonesborough. From the house he lives in now, he can see the house where his grandparents lived. Mike worked for the railroad in Erwin, TN for forty years. He is now the President of the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and helps run the Chuckey Railroad Depot Museum, which he helped preserve.
“We would go to Erwin and stay at the Diesel shop. So when I was a kid, I said ‘I want to do that,’ you know. And my daddy would take me over, and the train crews would put me on the train and all that… Railroad work is very hard. It’s twenty four hours a day, and you’re on call, and you don’t know, I mean, I traveled from Kentucky to South Carolina all the time, and spent a lot of time in motels on the road a lot. So it’s not for everybody, you know. You gotta love it before you really do it, you know. If you hate it, you won’t last.”
Nancy Freas Kavanaugh
Born in: Norristown, PA
Lived here: 24 years
Interview location: The McKinney Center, Franklin Avenue
Nancy started coming to Jonesborough’s Storytelling Festival in the mid eighties. She then taught storytelling classes in Atlanta and later joined the Board of Directors for Jonesborough’s storytelling organization. She eventually became President for a stretch of time and has lived in Jonesborough since 2000.
“I’m grateful for the community. I’m grateful for the people. I lived in Atlanta. It was a huge city by the time I left. I didn’t know very many people in my neighborhood because I worked outside my neighborhood. And my friends were work colleagues more than neighborhood colleagues. So what I find wonderful about Jonesborough is… I had a friend the other, yesterday, she said, ‘I’m here at the library. Can I come up and have a visit?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ Now that would never have happened in Atlanta… So those are the things I’m really grateful for. I can call somebody and say, ‘Come over, do you want to do this?’ or ‘Come have dinner,’ or things like that.”
Sandy Freschi
Born in: Winchester, VA
Lived here: 5 years
Interview location: Her orchard, Depot Street
Sandy was in the Navy and is now a spiritual coach with certifications in Human Design and Emotion Code. She and her husband had been high school sweethearts and reconnected many years later. They lived in Unicoi, TN for a while. Then they wanted to live on 100 acres and still near civilization. They started looking for a compromise in Jonesborough.
“When we got this piece of property—having that in the back of our minds that, you know, there is a tax advantage when you do grow something—Bob turned to me and said, ‘Well what do you wanna grow?’… Without even thinking, I said, ‘Well, let’s grow Asian pears.’ Because, when I was in the Navy, years and years ago, decades ago, I had a tour in Japan. And I was welcomed with this beautiful welcome basket and these beautiful, round, crunchy fruits that weren’t apples. They were Asian pears. And I immediately fell in love. And I knew if I loved them, so would the Jonesborough community. And, I was right. It’s just such a joy to grow something that’s so delicious that is in my mind something kind of precious. Then share that with the community, through the farmer’s market and Boone Street Market.”
Stephen Allen Cook
Born in: Bristol, TN
Lived here: 40 years
Interview location: His house, originally a Baptist Church, Spring Street
Steve came in 1979 for Jonesborough Days, the 4th of July festival, and decided to stay. As a young man, Steve told his dad he was going to quit college and become a stained glass artist. He has been doing that ever since. Steve started Music on the Square and Jonesborough Art Glass Gallery, which sold the work of 75 to 125 artists over 38 years.
“You know, everybody says, ‘Oh, we live in such a special little town.’ I mean, other towns, and stuff. And, you kinda, ‘*scoffs*, you don’t know nothin.’ You know, we got something going on damn near every weekend. And… your town may be special, but we’re really special… I just think it has an energy that is conducive to creativity.”
Summer Buchanan
Born in: Morganton, NC
Lived here: 37 years
Interview location: The Buchanan’s house, Main Street
Summer’s parents brought her to Jonesborough as a baby. She went to school at Davy Crockett. Since then she has worked at the Visitor’s Center and The Corner Cup and has worked at the library longer than anyone else currently working there. Summer is an artist who designs bags and paints. Her work has been featured in regional shows, including a recent juried show in Asheville, NC that displayed her painting of Tina Turner.
“I like the people, and the people who I work with, and my supervisors, my boss, and other people who loves me.”
T. McLeod
Born in: Durham, NC
Lived here: 3 years
Interview location: McLeod Organics, Main Street
T. ran a large agriculture store in Huntersville, NC. The town eventually grew to 100,000 people. He came to Jonesborough looking for a sense of community that he had known as a child. T. now runs a downtown store that sells personal health products.
“I think that’s the success of a community, is for people to really truly understand the symbiotic relationship with everything in a community. It goes beyond just the inhabitants. It goes just beyond the people who live here. It’s everything that’s in that community. It’s the respect of farmland. It’s the respect of small businesses. It’s the respect of nonprofits and what they mean to everybody’s life in a whole. And if everybody goes about understanding that [everybody’s] as important as the next person, then you can have a very successful community. And everybody’s hearts will be thrilled to be here.”
Theresa Bryant
Born in: Johnson City, TN
Lived here: 23 years
Interview location: Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum, Main Street
Theresa grew up going to the Chester Inn building when it was a library. She graduated, moved away for her career, and traveled with her husband who was in the Air Force. When she retired she returned to Jonesborough. She enjoys sharing the town’s history as a volunteer docent at the Chester Inn Museum. Theresa is President of the Jonesborough Genealogical Society and still enjoys traveling several times a year.
“I just love it, it’s home. I mean, even when I lived away, this was home. And my parents lived here, so I was back many times visiting them while they were alive. And it’s interesting, when I was younger I really loved cities, and I just couldn’t imagine moving back to Jonesborough. But, after you live in cities for a long time, and you do a lot of things you want to do, you appreciate the smallness. But also the history. My family’s been here for 250 years, so there’s a real sense of belonging here.”
T.K. Hill
Born in: Jonesborough, TN
Lived here: 25 years
Interview location: Outside the Courthouse, Dogwood Lane
T.K grew up in Jonesborough. His father and uncle ran a general contracting business here for 65 years. His mom came from Liberia, and they met in the Tri-Cities. T.K. went on to work in several states, return to Jonesborough, and live here with his wife and son. He works in environmental health code enforcement for Washington County.
“I like taking vacations other places, don’t get me wrong. But this place will forever be home. I got my family here. I got my son, he’s three months. I think this is the calmest environment he could be in as a child… I just turned twenty six, and I’m a homeowner. I think that’s a big thing around here. Not a lot of twenty six year-olds own homes around here. And I am a homeowner. And that comes with my dad being a general contractor, and it goes back to that and learning the knowledge to it… I’m glad I paid attention to that being younger, and not being the stubborn minded kid that just don’t want to do it… Me and dad, his brother, my family we built it up. Ground up. Foundation up man.”
Xavier Smith
Born in: Oregon City, OR
Lived here: 5 years
Interview location: Tennessee Tails Pet Boutique, Main Street
Xavier was born in Portland. It rained a lot, but that meant there were a lot of fishing spots. His family moved to Jonesborough for warmer weather and wanting more of a country lifestyle. Xavier goes to school at Boones Creek Elementary, plays soccer and basketball, and enjoys playing games with his friends. Xavier has two siblings, and his sister works at Tennessee Tails. They have a chocolate labradoodle named Hunter and a cat named Loki, who mostly get along.
“A good place to move to, because one time there was a Harry Potter festival here, and we were walking around. And you know how like in the festivals, they give you tokens if you pay? Well, this person in one of these shops had accidentally made too many of the candies. So she was passing them away, or she was passing them for free… And they were, I think, the best candy here.”