The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-07-25
TOWN RECALLS
FORMER CITIZENS
LARGE CROWDS EXPECTED
Some Interesting and Memorable
Spots Will be Shown Pilgrims
From Over the Country.

| - " HOSNeT uTlDkS ITOI0 Olu Mill spring
Is sure to come back and drink again.
Thousands of invitations bearing the
foregoing have been sent out from
Jonesboro, the cradle of patriotic inspi.
ration in the days of the American rev.
olution.
Jonesboro, the oldest town in Ten
nessee, older even than the struggle for
American independence, has laid plans
for the first homecoming" in it's his
tory.
The boys and girls of old Jonesboro
and upper East Tennessee, who have
been going out to all parts of the coun-
try from this quaint old town of his
toric significance, are now receiving
invitations for the first homecoming
week since the dawn OF the republic.
There is hardly state in the Union
and certainly none In the south or west
Ito which Jonesboro has not contrib
uted substantially in brain and bone
collegiate institution, Washington col
lege, that so many of the prominent
men of the earlier days were gradua.
ted, the records of that institution
showing that at one time there were
twenty-five graduates of that school in
the upper and lower house of the Uni.
ted States congress.
This historic spot, the capital of the
one-tIme state of franklin and the
home of some of the more conspicuous
figures of the American revolution, and
in later years the stopping place of
jackson, is still the centre of historic
interest and sentiment, many of its old
buildings holding the relics of more
than century ago. Many of its older
residents can trace kinship to Shell
by, Sewer, Campbell and others who
figured in the decisive battle of Kings
When the business and professional
men of Jonesboro got together few
weeks ago and mapped out plans for a
home coming, they found
every family in the community
heartily in favor of such an occasion.
The mothers of the town, many of
them being descended from men and
women who figured conspicuously in
the early history of our country when
Jonesboro was the center for ideal
resolves and patriotic impulses, at
once showed an interest, and in order
that the invitation might carry with
1t winning sentiment, with the
distinct ring of pioneer patriotism,
group of these mothers assembled at
''Old Mill spring." gushing fountain
in, the heart of the town, to have their
pictures taken. They posed for the
camera men, and this picture, typical
If the welcome which JonesbOro
extends to her sons and daughters, in
whatever state or cline they may be,
S being mailed with every invitation.
The old stones that wall the spring
nave been there for more than century.
The mothers whose pictures are shown
N the view of the spring are descended
rom revolutionary stock and are types
counted for so much in the early strug-
gles of the country. The women
shown in the picture are: Mrs. Murphy,
descended from Jackson; Mrs. Dosser,
Mrs. Wilds, Mrs. kirkpatrick and
Mrs. Maloney. These good mothers,
ypes of gray honor" await with a
leep and sincere interest the coming of
he hundreds of former residents of
Ionesboro and washington county
who are scattered over the southern
md western states, particularly over
he states of Missouri, Illinois, Texas,
Indiana and some of the far western
tates, including California, Oregon
ind Colorado.
Homecoming week includes from
Aug. 2to Aug. II. During that week
he people of this old and revered town
will turn aside from business and
levote their every energy to the
of the home coming
hrong. 1t is expected that many
will drift in during the week,
md in order to provide ample enter
ainment, additional Accommodations
ire being arranged at the hotels, while
many of the private homes will be