You’ve probably heard of Bob Jones Road or Bob Jones Park. But to get the whole Bob Jones story — a former slave who became a prosperous rancher and landowner — head over to Southlake Town Square this summer.
“Bob and Almeady Chisum Jones: A True Story of Resilience, Courage and Success” will be on display in Southlake Town Hall between July 10 and September 4, according to a press release. Visitors can see the exhibit from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“Bob and Almeady were exceptional people, able to make their way through a difficult world. They earned the trust and respect of all who knew them,” says Southlake Historical Society President Connie Cooley. “They valued God, family and education. They took pride in who they were.”
A reception celebrating the exhibit will take place on July 26 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Both the reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public.
Letters written by Bob to his father, clothes Bob wore on his wedding day and a dress worn by one of his daughters will be among the items on display as part of the exhibit.
“We were lucky that amateur historians had interviewed Jones family members over the years,” Anita Robeson, a historian with the Southlake Historical Society, says. “This year the Jones family has shared with us memories, pictures, clothing, letters, legal records and other items that give fresh insight into the family’s story.”