Riding the Rails in Jonesborough

Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough, is tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains, a part of the country that is famous for its storytelling heritage. What better place to park a quaint library?

The town of Jonesborough is the traditional home for the annual National Storytelling Festival that is held every October. The Appalachian penchant for storytelling draws people from all over the world. Care to spin a yarn or two? There is no need to wait until October. Every Tuesday night at 7, the Jonesborough Library hosts the storytellers who spin yarns, fables, folktales, fairytales, tall tales, as well as historical narrative and personal anecdotes. For more information, check out their Facebook page Jonesborough Storytellers Guild  or their website: storytellersguild.org/ 

Located in historic downtown Jonesborough, The Jonesborough Library is known for its extensive collection of genealogical resources.  The collection, managed by the Jonesborough Genealogy Society, includes books on local and regional history as well as a microfilm collection of every newspaper published in Jonesborough. The Library also serves the community by offering artist exhibitions, weekly book discussion groups, and cross stitch groups.

Among its unique resources, the Jonesborough Library houses a railroad collection of about 100 unique books, and numerous periodicals, specific to the history and lore of the railroads, especially the Northern Southern Railway. Many of the railroad reading materials are on loan from the Jonesborough Railroad Museum. Earlier this year, the restored Chuckey Depot Museum launched an exhibit, “Working on the Railroad,” which displays railroad tools and artifacts. This exhibit will be open to the public through July 2019.

The Washington County/Jonesborough Public Library is located at 200 E. Sabin Dr. in Downtown Jonesborough. Jonesborough, Tennessee. 37659-1306

The Library is open: Mondays & Thursdays - 9 am to 8 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays - 9 am to 6 pm, Saturdays - 9 am to 2 pm

For additional information, visit wclibrarytn.org, call 423 753 1800 or email, or email Christy Widner cwidner@wclibrarytn.org

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Patricia Vaccarino

Patricia Vaccarino is an accomplished writer who has written award-winning film scripts, press materials, articles, essays, speeches, web content, marketing collateral, and ten books.


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