Placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982, the Siler/Jones House is a treasure trove of early Macon County history, and saving it has become a mission of Mainspring Conservation Trust. Earlier this year, the house underwent Phase 1 of a structural preservation and restoration effort. When funds are secured for Phase 2, finishing work will ensue so that the Siler/Jones House will enjoy new life. Discussions are underway for the house to possibly serve as Mainspring offices, a public museum, or an educational gathering space.
The house is difficult to miss, but many long-time Macon County residents – and certainly newbies to the area – have no idea of its historical significance. Located just past the United Methodist Church and Lazy Hiker Brewing Company, heading west on Main Street, its monumental fluted Corinthian columns are a distinguishing characteristic. The ongoing process of restoration has revealed that under its fading, white-painted wood siding is a sturdy log cabin. This unusual combination of architecture inspires observers to try to determine what has occurred at the 19th century-era property.
Historical relevance
The house sits on 1.84 acres and is surrounded by residents and some commercial property. But in 1821, when Jessie Siler bought the more rural property from the State of North Carolina, it ran alongside what was then called the Great State Road – now considered NC 28, running from the Georgia state line on the other side of Highlands north to the Tennessee state line past Fontana Dam.
According to Mainspring’s communications director, and Siler-Jones House restoration project manager, Molly Phillips, historic documents indicate the cabin situated on the property when Siler bought it may have been Cherokee built. Siler had married Harriet Patton, whose prominent family were some of the founders of Asheville. The couple raised six children in the house.
Siler was one of the first Appalachian settlers in the area, helping to establish Franklin’s First United Methodist Church and building First Baptist Church.
“This home holds countless stories within its walls just waiting to be unearthed,” said Phillips. “It’s deeply rewarding to peel back those layers of history.”
The Siler-Jones House is also considered a Witness Structure for the Trail of Tears, where more than 200 Cherokee walked past the house sometime after the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
“In Siler’s diary, he wrote that soldiers were living in his house when his son, Jesse Weimar, was born,” said Phillips, who has delved deeply into Siler’s history. She also pointed out that Jesse Weimar was in the cavalry under Confederate J.E.B. Stuart in the Civil War. Jesse Weimar was killed in the war and his body was brought back to the house. He is buried in Franklin’s United Methodist Cemetery.
Although the house is known by two last names, it never officially ceased being owned by the Siler family. In 1888, Jesse’s son, Julius Grady Siler, decided to swap properties with a cousin named Harriett like his mother, and her husband, George Jones, a Macon County judge. Julius moved to another area of Macon County, while Harriet and George Jones moved closer to town.
The Joneses oversaw an addition in the rear of the house that added two large rooms surrounded by porches, as well as the addition of an attic and embellishments of intricate woodworking. Drawings and signatures of various Jones family members are written in chalk in the attic.
In modernity, Richard Jones, 91, a long-time Macon County attorney, is the local patriarch of the Jones family. The house was his boyhood home. In fact, the top right-front room was his bedroom. The house was occupied until the early 2010s.
Last May, the Jones family agreed to ensure the lasting legacy of the home by transferring “the house at the foot of the hill,” as it is affectionately known locally, to Mainspring.
“We had long discussions, including my wife, Melissa, our children, Laura and Fred, and his wife, Jennifer, and our grandchildren, about their dreams for the property’s future. We felt it was time to entrust this important piece of our family legacy, and really our community’s legacy, to an organization committed to preserving our collective cultural heritage,” Richard Jones told Mainspring last year.
“The Jones family donated the cabin to Mainspring because they believe it has an important story to tell,” said Phillips. “They’ve remained deeply involved — sharing family photos, historical documents, and memories — to help bring that story to life for the whole community.”
In fact, Richard Jones’s daughter-in-law, Jennifer, is going through historic family trunks with the assistance of Franklin High School intern Graham Caldwell. The trunks were left behind in the attic when some of the Siler-Jones family members and other travelers were moving out west. Jennifer is cataloging photos, letters, and mementoes, some of which may be on display in the newly restored home.
Fred Jones told Mainspring last May, “Our family values the beauty of these mountains, the valley’s warmth, and the cool, clear waters that flow. We cherish the memory of those who have gone before and are committed to abundant opportunity for those who follow. Mainspring is the perfect partner for this special place, as its whole purpose is to preserve our natural and cultural resources and to make our region a place with deep roots and far-reaching branches. We are so pleased to partner with Mainspring and cannot wait to see what the future will bring.”
Fred shared a recollection about the house.
“I have very happy memories of gathering with my grandmother, Lois Jones, (we called her ‘Gramsy’) in the backyard around the picnic table under the old maple shade tree. She had a pretty large garden in the side yard and was determined, even as an 80-year-old woman, who couldn’t have been 5 feet tall, to plow the garden with the rototiller and put in the garden every year. I never liked tomatoes, until I ate the tomatoes that came from her garden. It would be nice to see a garden plot down near the house — and a picnic table for people to share meals and stories beneath a shade tree.”
Phillips added, “The Jones family maintained [the house] well, even when no one lived here. But a house is meant to be occupied.”
Quality workmanship
Franklin contractor Jim Byrd can attest to the loving care and quality construction of the Siler-Jones House. For several months in late 2024 and early 2025, he and his assistants were intimately involved in the uncovering of the original log cabin and the general “bones” of the house, meaning under flooring, behind walls, and in the attic. All wood was evaluated for its condition; anything warped or rotted was replaced. However, few areas needed significant repairs.
“I challenge anyone to find a log cabin from this era (early 1800s) that has logs still in such pristine condition,” said Byrd. “The craftsman who built this cabin first found a nice stand of red and white oaks. Some in the original log cabin are 30 feet long and must weigh over 1,000 pounds. They are good, hard, straight trees with a tight ring density. Unbelievable!”
“We have learned so much about the house by just peeling away portions … looking underneath,” said Phillips. “There is just magnificent woodworking … craftsmanship,” said Byrd. “Punch joists and pegs and dove tailing … bark still on some of the logs.”
Because of the quality construction of the 19th century log cabin portion of the house, Phillips said some of the siding will not be replaced so that people can view the logs for themselves and learn more about life in early Appalachia.
Byrd has also been intrigued by the house’s original fireplace.
“A brick fireplace on a log cabin was unique. Most were made of stone at the time, but this original fireplace was made of brick, granite, and stone. The bricks were made on the property, and the stone has flecks of mica in it. At one time, the fireplace was converted from wood to coal because we found many pounds of coal in the shed in the back of the house.”
Other interesting finds while working on the house have been finger marks in some of the dab chink used between the logs; a working sandbag door and pulley in the attic; and, exposed poplar saplings against planed wood supporting the tin ceiling. In addition, many different types of wood were used in the house’s paneling, floors, doors, and railings, including hemlock, poplar, oak, chestnut, and pine.
The wavy glass in the windows, original hardware, nails, and more have been maintained. When Byrd and his team had to replace or repair a board, for example, they tried to find original nails in the shed to use instead of using new ones.
“We want to keep as much original as possible to maintain the house’s authenticity,” said Phillips.
Phillips explained that fairly soon after Siler purchased the rustic cabin and property, he wrapped the log cabin in wood siding to achieve a more finished antebellum-style home. Later, he added to the structure to more than double the space.
Siler’s additions and then the Jones family additions resulted in the house’s square footage eventually totaling about 4,000.
“We want to bring the three main parts of the house back to their original 19th century appearance,” shared Phillips. The additions in the 1950s and 1980s for multi-family use have been removed. The columns will eventually be removed since they were added in the 1950s; they will be replaced with more period-appropriate columns.”
Phillips said that Byrd’s crew, engineer Chris Hanners, Shane McConnell Millworks, Macon County inspector Bobby Crisp, and others “have done an excellent job consulting and working with Mainspring on this project. The foundation, floors, ceilings, and walls have all been reinforced.”
Supporting history
Now that the house’s structural integrity has been completed, the next step is a full renovation for adaptive reuse of the home. Projected cost is $1 million.
“Phase 1 cost around $300,000, which was provided by an anonymous private donor. While we are applying for any grants we can, we are going to have to rely on supporters to help us complete the project. Any individual, private, or business donation is appreciated to help us finance specific repairs to the home, such as windows, doors, a room, etc. They would just need to specify the ‘Siler-Jones House’ when they donate to Mainspring. We want this project to be as community-oriented as possible.”
Phillips added, “We want the house to be used to educate about the beginnings of Macon County and Franklin. It’s a bookend to the Women’s History Trail, since Salley was a slave owned by Jesse Siler, and Harriett Timoxena Siler Sloan was Jesse and Harriet Siler’s daughter.” Both women are featured in the “Sowing the Seeds of the Future” statue at the entrance to Franklin on Main Street.
To finish and furnish the house so that it conveys primarily 19th century décor, Mainspring is consulting with Shelly Gregg, owner of PastForward Design of Sylva.
“Since it is a home on the National Registry of Historic Places, she is helping us adhere to the criteria that would keep that designation,” said Phillips.
She explained that the Jones family’s donation of the house included many original furnishings, such as an intricately carved sideboard, two armoires, the 1856 piano of Harriett Siler – and many more items held in storage until restoration is complete.
“Once the home restoration is complete, we’d like to add a separate facility for education and community activities,” said Phillips. “And, ongoing will be archaeological geo-tracking to learn of other buildings on the site that may have been lost. We have already found multiple arrowheads, pottery shards dating back 3,000 years, and other forms of ancient to more modern Cherokee artifacts.”
The small stream flowing beside the house will also be restored.
“There is just so much about this house that is fascinating,” said Phillips. “It’s a passion project for me because I love history.”
To make a donation to the Siler-Jones House restoration project, visit www.mainspringconserves.org/be-a-mainspring/donate/ or mail a check to Mainspring Conservation Trust, 557 East Main Street Franklin, N.C. 28734, and specify that the donation is for Siler-Jones House.