Heritage House Museum

history of heritage house

It is difficult to determine the exact date the house was built. The lot (part of the 20 acres donated by John Grammer in 1818 for the county seat to be called Jonesborough) sold to Caleb Frick in 1828. The Frick's sold to Randolph Marshall in 1847 and the increased price of $225 indicates a house and improvements had been made.  The sale to Moses Goodman for $525 leads us to think a part of the house had been built. Goodman was a farmer and later a merchant in the new town of Anna. He gave the northern part of the lot to his son, Dr. M.M. Goodman for his medical office.

The next owner was Rev. Isaac N. Albright. In 1872, Thomas J. Watkins, a pharmacist, purchased it; his family had come from England. He had an apothecary shop on the corner, was town mayor, and a Civil War veteran. The 1870 tax records show the property worth $9,000. The Chas M. Sansom family purchased the house in 1924 from the Watkins heirs and enjoyed the home for 25 years. Mr. Sansom opened the first gas station on the corner lot of the square adjoining this property. Later owners were Mr. and Mrs. Ray Corbin and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Bailey.

Much appreciation is given to the late Mr. and Mrs. George and June Harvel who purchased the home in 1992 and worked to lovingly restore and update the house and grounds. In November of 2012, the Heritage House was purchased at auction from the estate of Mr. George Harvel.

heritage house today

Founding Families' Room

The Founding Families’ Room collections began when Geneva Davie Wiggs gave the Winstead and Anna Davie bed to P.A.S.T.  She said P.A.S.T could have the bed, if we could rescue the parts from under the back porch of her Photography Studio on Jonesboro’s Heacock Street.  Mrs. Wiggs' daughters, Mary J Sullivan and Billie K Hamlin gave the large pictures of Winstead and Anna Willard Davie and there is a chair that was “caned” by Geneva Davie Wiggs. The baby cradle is from the Davie-Walton family, loaned by Barbara Walton Throgmorton.  Stories of the extended Davie family are told in pictures and exhibits.

Other early Union County families are featured in revolving exhibits with books, clothing, quilts, photos and other items of interest.  Special collection exhibits have included music boxes, hand decorated egg ornaments, wood carvings, nativity sets, dolls, hats, children’s clothing and wedding memorabilia.

Families and individuals are encouraged to exhibit items and share family histories at Heritage House Museum.

Samson Room

The home was purchased in 1924 by Charles and Minnie (Lingle) Sansom, and in 1944 deeded to their son, Clifford and Mable "Cook" (Frick) Sansom.  Clifford and "Cook" owned the home until 1949. The house was built (1893-1900) by Nelson Lingle, uncle of Minnie Sansom.

Curators of the Sansom room today are descendants of the Sansom family.  Emily Boyd Meyer is the granddaughter of the Clifford Sansoms. She is assisted in the care of the room by her niece, Lea Ann Boyd Davis. The room exhibits furnishings that were in the house when the Sansoms lived there. Emily notes that she has traced the Sansom family back six generations to discover connections to the famous Hatfield and McCoy Feud in Pike County, Kentucky!

Items given or loaned by other families are displayed along with family histories.  Other folks are encouraged to donate items or written family histories for exhibit at Heritage House.

Quilt Room

The quilt room at Heritage House is used to showcase artistic quilts and wall hangings with special themes or stories to portray.  Along with the quilts, clothing, or collectibles displayed here, are family histories and stories about generations of Union County residents and their ancestors.  Exhibits are rotated regularly. 

The Quilt Room exhibit features a replica Civil War Soldier's Cot Quilt, a display telling about Quilts of the Civil War era, and early, hand-made children's clothing (shown in photo on right).