This 1900 clapboard siding cedar shake roofed one story and a half 1375 sq.ft. home was built by a family named JONES (?), on a farm north of Ashtola Tx, on U.S. Highway 287 nine miles northwest of Clarendon in western Donley County. Ashtola was established in 1906 as a section house on the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway. The townsite was originally named Southard and was granted a post office in March 1906, with Thomas F. Lewallen as postmaster.
In January of 1996 the home was moved west on 287 to its current location on east side of Ranch Road 294 north of Goodnight Community approximately 1 mile.
Extended awnings and steel roofing have been added all around to protect the original structure of the 1900 home.
The unique 7' square 23' high turret tower originally had windows on east and south sides before stucco was applied. An Amarillo craftsman recreated as nearly as possible, a piece for the top of the turret!
An upstairs window above the west room with gable roof was covered when the clapboard siding was stuccoed. Possibly the 48x72 original window had a stained glass upper sash, as do many unaltered similar period homes.
A red brick chimney rose to the south side of the east side cedar shake covered dormer in the photo. At current location, 2 dormers were added, 1 on west and 1 on north roof surfaces, in approximately same size as original. The home is 2bdrm, 1 bath, kitchen, dining room and 'formal' living room accessed by entryway beneath the tower. A vintage in appearance, soapstone and iron heating unit has been added in the dining room that sufficiently heats the home.
Effort is underway to restore the original grandeur of this 1900 'Folk/Queen Anne Victorian'. by treating exterior siding, and exterior moldings, then adding trims and moldings, windows rescued from other period homes that were under DEstruction by the new owners.
Through the years, occupants removed the chimney, stuccoed over exterior clapboard siding, removed interior original woodwork, trims, cabinetry, updated all to '70's', covered original flooring with plywood, then linoleum tile, indoor/outdoor carpets and shags in green and oranges of the day :( The 'formal' room was painted ceiling and walls in pepto bismo pink with 2' black gloss trim.