The Blog

Chester Inn Museum and Town Tours Gear up for 2020 – Docents and Tour Guides Needed

The Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum will open for its 2020 season on Sunday, March 1 at 1:00 p.m. This season, the Museum will offer new exhibits with various, interactive components, tours of the upstairs rooms, and multiple programs in the Inn and next door at the Christopher Taylor House. History Happy Hour will return to the Museum in March with all new presenters and topics. In March and April, the Museum will be open from 11:00-6:00 on Friday-Saturday and Monday and from 1:00-5:00 on Sunday. The Museum will switch to its summer hours on May 1.

The Chester Inn Museum is also the meeting point for the Town Tours! The Main Street Strolling Tour will be offered at 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays from March-December. Tickets are only $5.00 per person. The Jonesborough Mythbusting Tour, where guests get the chance to be history detectives, will be offered the second Saturday of the month at 1:00 p.m.  The popular summer evening tours will return in June at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays.  There’s never a bad time of day to tour Tennessee’s Oldest Town.

No tour season would be complete without the Old Jonesborough Cemetery Tour. The Cemetery Tour will return on May 2 and will be available at 2:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month through October 3. Tickets for the Cemetery Tour are $3.00. Combo ticket options are available. All tour tickets are available at the Chester Inn Museum.

The Heritage Alliance relies on an amazing group of volunteers to help docent the Chester Inn Museum and lead town tours. If you are interested in welcoming visitors at the Museum or leading a Town Tour, we could use your help. Volunteer docents and tour guides have the wonderful opportunity to experience Jonesborough’s history and share it with others. Time commitment is minimal and flexible. Please contact the Heritage Alliance at 423.753.9580 or at info@heritageall.org for more information.

The Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Historical Commission.

Tour dates and museum hours are seasonal, so make sure you visit www.heritageall.org, or like the Heritage Alliance or Chester Inn Museum on Facebook to stay up to date with the full calendar. For more information, please contact the Heritage Alliance at 423.753.9580, or the Chester Inn Museum at 423.753.4580. To schedule a tour for a larger group, or another day/time, please contact the Heritage Alliance directly.

History Happy Hour 2020 Season

History Happy Hour is back for its fourth season. Programs will take place March-November. The full schedule of presenters and dates is below.

Heritage Alliance Receives Funding for History Detective Kits

Nancy Kavanagh, of the Wild Women of Jonesborough, presented The Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia with a check for $300 at their annual meeting on January 30, 2020. The contribution fully funded a new program, entitled “History Detectives,” which allows local youth to learn more about the past by analyzing historical artifacts.

In 2019, the Heritage Alliance served over 36,000 people, including local residents and out-of-town visitors. Specifically, 850 youth benefited from the organization’s educational initiatives, not including school groups, historical tours, or special programs. The Wild Women of Jonesborough generously provided monies to purchase new “History Detective” kits, enabling kids to experience a more thorough, thoughtful, and hands-on object lab. With the new and improved materials, The Heritage Alliance will be able to serve up to 40 students per hour and the program is available for classrooms, homeschool groups, community centers, Girl/Boy Scout troops, and more. The History Detective initiative is mobile, allowing Heritage Alliance staff to bring historic artifacts directly to participants.

Now, the Heritage Alliance staff can spark young peoples’ interest in history from anywhere!

This project is offered through the Heritage Alliance and generously funded by the Wild Women of Jonesborough.

For more information on the History Detectives program or the Heritage Alliance please call our office at 423.753.9580. You can also contact the organization via email at info@heritageall.org.  Additional information about the Heritage Alliance and its mission can be found online at http://www.heritageall.org/. Be sure to follow the Heritage Alliance Facebook pages for updates about History Detectives and other Heritage Alliance programs.

Anne G’Fellers-Mason New Executive Director

From Board President Gordon Edwards,

On behalf of the Heritage Alliance Board of Trustees, I am privileged and pleased to be able
to announce the appointment of Ms. Anne G’Fellers Mason as Executive Director of the
Heritage Alliance.

I want to extend to each and every one of you my appreciation for all your support in
everything that the Heritage Alliance does. We cannot do what we do without you.
The Board of Trustees is excited about our future and believes that Anne will lead the
organization with enthusiasm and vision.

To learn more about Anne and her new position, read this write up in the Herald and Tribune.

Christmas at the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum

Come and celebrate Christmas at the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum!

On Saturday, November 30, you can take a free Town Tour at 1:00 or Railroad Walking History Tour at 2:30. Both tours depart from the Chester Inn Museum. At 11:00 and 1:30 that day, head docent Joe Spiker will be reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas in the restored parlor room.

The upstairs dining, parlor, and lodging rooms will be decorated for Victorian Christmas from December 7 – December 30.

On Saturday, December 14, stop by the Museum from 11-3 and make a Victorian Christmas card!

42nd Annual Colors of Christmas Progressive Dinner

The magic of Tennessee’s oldest town comes alive during the Colors of Christmas Progressive Dinner hosted by the Heritage Alliance. This year’s dinner takes place on the evening of Saturday, December 7^th. Multiple seating times are available at 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00.

Now in its 42^nd year, the Progressive Dinner is a unique event, combining fine food, rich history, and great entertainment. Proceeds from the Progressive Dinner help ensure that the educational programs of the Heritage Alliance remain accessible to a wide range of audiences. Proceeds from this year’s event will help us grow our Hands-On with History initiative to bring artifacts and programs into the classroom.

This year, the evening begins at the historic Oak Hill School, this one room schoolhouse serves as the heart of the Heritage Alliance’s educational programs. Each of the following courses are set in a former school, including Academy Hill, now remodeled condominiums, the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington School, once a school for the African American community during segregation and now an arts center for the region, and the Warner Institute, an 1850s brick structure that is now a private home. Two of the locations have not been featured on the dinner in over ten years.

The Colors of Christmas Progressive Dinner has become a traditional start to the holiday season for many people throughout East Tennessee and surrounding states. Seasonal music by several of our area’s finest musicians, including the ever popular Jonesborough Novelty Band, gourmet food, memorable camaraderie and great fun are the hallmarks of this popular event.  One seating time has already sold out. Make sure you get your tickets today!

Ticket price is $85.00 per person and proceeds go toward the educational programs of the Heritage Alliance. Seating is limited. On-line ticketing through the Town of Jonesborough is available at jonesborough.com/tickets. You can also make a reservation by calling (423) 753-1010. If you would like to make a reservation for a table of 6 or more, please contact the Heritage Alliance directly.

Heritage Alliance Executive Director Deborah Montanti Retires

As most of you know, I have announced my retirement effective September 20th of this year. During my seventeen years with the Alliance, it has been my pleasure to work with incredibly dedicated and talented individuals, both staff and volunteers. I suppose it is only natural that I take a moment to look at the things accomplished through that dedication.

When I began my tenure with the Alliance, I found no effort to track the number of people served by the organization. Though not necessarily a key reason to provide a service, numbers are one way to illustrate impact and communicate value, especially to potential funders and stakeholders. Beginning in 2004, we tracked attendance for all programs and services. That first year, we provided services to 5119 individuals, most of whom were school aged children taking part in structured educational programming. These types of programming are vital and will always be an important part of the HA. However, they are only one component. Washington County’s demographics dictate a wide variety of adult and family programming and we have striven to provide those services as well. By increasing our menu of programs and services, attendance last year reached 35,073 individuals! (And we did it with fewer staff, so a deeply heartfelt thanks to our volunteers who last year alone provided over 3000 hours to the HA.)

The increased number of programs was, in part, enabled by a series of grants from a variety of sources. For me personally, I am incredibly proud to have administered two different “Teaching American History” awards through the federal Department of Education. During those seven years, in partnership with the Department of History at East Tennessee State University, we were able to work with 17 different school systems and 39 individual history and social studies teachers to increase their comfort levels with various major themes of American history….and we did it through a local lens, thereby increasing their awareness of the history right here in their own backyards. Some of these teachers earned graduate credit through these programs and they all earned professional development hours. But most importantly, they returned to the classroom with renewed understanding and enthusiasm for this important subject.

During this same period, we were awarded a “Partners in the Field” Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This matching grant allowed us to hire a professionally trained Preservationist, who provided technical assistance, logistical support and advice to historic property owners throughout the region. Having preservation staff greatly enhanced both the scope and depth of our programs and enabled us to expand our outreach.

Two separate “Museums for America” awards through the IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services) helped us achieve space in the Jonesborough Washington County History Museum for changing and traveling exhibits, as well as enhanced our ability to provide educational programming. Though these two programs, as well as two awards from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, we have been able to update and secure our Collections storage and to provide more accessibility to our holdings.

During the past seventeen years we have also played a major role, partnering with the Town of Jonesborough, in the restoration and continued preservation of the Historic Cemeteries of Jonesborough. The lessons learned and work accomplished in Jonesborough has allowed us to reach out to other communities to help them preserve their own historic cemeteries. We held our first Cemetery Preservation workshop in 2004 and today this work remains one of our most important outreach projects. Other projects accomplished in partnership with the Town of Jonesborough include the restoration and interpretation of the Christopher Taylor Cabin, as well as the Chuckey Depot.

We have a long list of accomplishments and the few listed above are ones that make me very proud, but perhaps the accomplishment of which I am most proud is that of opening the Chester Inn Museum. This beautiful building was, for many years, the private offices of what became the International Storytelling Center. Indeed it was, in large part, due to their efforts that the building was initially restored and became a state owned Historic Site under the protection of the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC). In 2006, the state approached us to open the building to the public, partner with them to manage the facility and to interpret it, as well as a new museum planned for the street level. Years of planning and negotiation followed. The museum opened in September of 2011, with interpretation of both the second and third floors following shortly thereafter. The Chester Inn opened to the traveling public in 1798, offering excellent accommodations to weary stage coach travelers. The Inn’s parlor became a gathering place for visitors and townspeople both. One can just imagine the stories told in that parlor over the past 221 years; thus it is fitting and proper that we continue to share the space with the ISC!

Since opening, the Chester Inn Museum has become a major part of our outreach. It is the home of several programs, including the interpretation of the Christopher Taylor Cabin, our Town Tours and History Happy Hour. This year, we debuted a new interpretive program called Voices of the Chester. This program, another of Anne G’Fellers Mason’s history based creations, provides an inclusive look at the people who have populated the Inn over the centuries.

A lot of changes and certainly a lot of growth, but there remains one constant. That is the dedication and enthusiasm of our staff and volunteers. I have the utmost admiration and respect for these folk and look forward to the growth and changes ahead. Thank you all for the friendship and support you have shown to me personally and to this organization. Here’s to many great things to come!

With great appreciation,

Oak Hill School Heritage Education Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary!

This October, the award winning Oak Hill School Heritage Education Program will be celebrating its 20th anniversary! Since 1999, the one room schoolhouse has welcomed students from across the region to a school day in 1892/1893. The Heritage Alliance is excited to celebrate the program, and we hope you will join us.

Oak Hill School served the Knob Creek Community of Johnson City from 1886 through the 1950s. It was a part of Washington County Schools, and it was moved to Jonesborough in the 1990s to save it from demolition. The heritage education program was crafted by the Jonesborough/Washington County History Museum, and the schoolhouse is the largest artifact in the museum’s collection. Today, the schoolhouse is operated by the Heritage Alliance, and students of all ages participate in the experiential learning program.

First class at Oak Hill School on October 11, 1999

When the schoolhouse reopened in its current location in 1999, Jean Smith brought her fourth graders from University School as the first group of students to attend the program. We’re excited that University School will be bringing their fourth graders again this year, twenty years to the day. What’s even more exciting, Jean Smith will be their Schoolmarm.

On October 13, we’ll be hosting an anniversary celebration for the program from 2:00-4:00 that afternoon. Stop by for light refreshments, and try your hand at the slate board or the quill pen. We are also partnering with the StoryTown Brigade that day to offer a story circle at the Jonesborough Public Library. If you are an alumni of Oak Hill School, or the family member of any alumni, please join the story circle and share your memories. It’s important that we record these stories and this history for future generations. The story circle will take place from 3:00-4:00 that afternoon.

In addition to public and private schools, Oak Hill School welcomes a number of homeschool students throughout the year. It has also hosted senior groups, foreign exchange students, birthday parties, and weddings. Jonesborough Elementary has even taught their 21st century lessons in the 19th century schoolhouse. Oak Hill School remains a vital part of the community.

Heritage Alliance Hiring for Programming Coordinator

Have you ever wanted to work in a small museum and gain experience in a wide variety of fields? Now is your chance! The Heritage Alliance is hiring for the part time position of Programming Coordinator. We are searching for an energetic person to assist with exhibits, educational programming, and other museum related activities.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Programming Coordinator is responsible for exhibit planning, installation, and programing in the museums operated by the Heritage Alliance. The Programming Coordinator, working in tandem with the Chester Inn Museum’s Head Docent, is responsible for maintaining the archival collections of the Heritage Alliance using proper collections record keeping and preservation techniques. Additionally, the Programming Coordinator is responsible for collection research, exhibit planning and implementation, and coordinates with the Executive Director and museum personnel on the development and initiation of educational and outreach programs for the Heritage Alliance. The Programming Coordinator shall advise the Executive Director on the current state of the museums, and make recommendations for acquisitions and de-accession in concert with foundation and museum missions. The Programming Coordinator shall inform and advise the Board of Trustees regarding conservation needs including environmental conditions, storage, feasibility of exhibition or collections movement, and direct care of the artifacts.

The Programming Coordinator shall possess an understanding of the use of material culture to interpret history.

Programming Coordinator Responsibilities

1. Responsible for collection security

2. Responsible for registration and cataloguing for the collections of the Heritage Alliance

3. Monitors collection conservation needs and keeps Executive Director informed on exhibit and collection condition

Interpretation

1. Plans and implements permanent and temporary exhibits in the museums operated by the Heritage Alliance

2. Plans and implements interpretative and educational programs for a wide range of audiences that correspond with exhibits

3. Responsible for collection research activities

4. Maintains a verifiable collection data base source

5. Provides tours of the museums and the town of Jonesborough

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in history, Museum Studies, education or related field is required. Work experience should include museum employment (at least one year) and familiarity with standard museum operation procedures, collection care. Desirable skills: carpentry, word processing, data base entry, writing, public speaking, and grant writing

How to Apply: Email Resume, Cover letter and two letters of reference to Anne Mason at amason@heritageall.org.

No phone calls please.

The Heritage Alliance is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Homeschool Day at Oak Hill School on September 13 and 18

The Heritage Alliance is excited to offer two days of lessons at the historic Oak Hill School this fall. The award winning Oak Hill School Heritage Education program is currently celebrating its 20^th anniversary, and homeschool students are encouraged to come and experience history on September 13^th or September 18^th.

Click HERE to access the registration form.

Oak Hill School was built in 1886 to serve the community of Knob Creek. The building served local residents until it was closed in the 1950s. The school building was moved the seven miles from Knob Creek to Jonesborough and placed in its current location behind the Visitors Center. Today, Oak Hill School invites students to come for a day-long experience and enroll in school in 1893. Reading, writing, arithmetic, history, geography – even the pledge of allegiance – are all as they were prior to the turn of the last century.

School will last from 9:00am – 2:00pm on September 13^th and 18^th. This program is limited to 26 students, grades 1^st – 12^th, so sign up now!

Registration information is available at www.heritageall.org. The cost is $5 per student for the day at Oak Hill School. Students must register in advance. We cannot accept registration the day of the event.