Picture this. A grand cypress mansion stands proudly on Main Street. This is the Jones House in its prime. Built in 1899 it was a stunning French Chateau style. It occupied a whole city block. Imagine the lavish parties held within its walls.
The Jones House wasn’t just a beautiful home. It was the heart of a prominent family’s life. It was home to lumberman James Ira Campbell. After his death Jesse Holman Jones bought the house and lumber company. Jesse was a remarkable man. He shaped Houston’s 20th century. He built many buildings. He even owned the Houston Chronicle.
The Jones family filled the house with life. Aunt Louisa and her children lived there. Jesse himself lived there while settling his uncle’s estate. He even converted the stables into a garage for his Pierce Arrow. One of Houston’s first automobiles. The house was called “The Boarding House”. It housed a rotating cast of family members.
After Jesse’s uncle’s affairs were settled the house was sold. It became a funeral home and then the headquarters for the Arabia Temple. Eventually it served as a boarding house.
Sadly the Jones House was demolished in 1937. The neighborhood fell into disrepair. However today the area is fashionable again. Midtown Park now stands on the spot where the grand mansion once stood. A testament to the ever-changing landscape of Houston. A reminder of the Jones House’s rich history. A significant chapter in Houston’s story.