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Jones House

 

1876-1926, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Jones were owners and occupants

1926-1961, Their son, William J. Jones, and his wife owned the home

1961-, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kreitzman and an uncle, Charles Jones, have been owners

 

Jones / Kreitzman

1325 Western Ave

1885

1885 Birdsey view of

 

c.1895

DISTANT VIEWS

                        

 

1899

CHARLES W. JONES READING COLLIER’S

   

 

Image# KR005 - William Jones standing by his first prize-winning float in the Harvest Jubilee parade held in Sept., 1899.  Taken on the front yard of his home on Western Ave.

 

Image# KR006 - William Jones leaning against his first prize-winning float in the Harvest Jubilee parade held in Sept., 1899.

 

Image# KR007 - William Jones and his prize-winning float in the Harvest Jubilee parade held in Sept., 1899.  The float stands in front of 410 East Main Street, at this time the home of Crosby Bros., bicycle shop. 

 

c.1899

TRICK PHOTOGRAPH OF WILLIAM JONES, PLAYING CARDS WITH HIMSELF

A pair of men sitting at a table

Description automatically generated with low confidence       Trick photograph of William Jones, playing cards with himself.  Circa 1899.

 

1903

VIEWED FROM ROOF OF OCTAGON HOUSE

  

 

c.1910

VIEWED FROM ROOF OF OCTAGON HOUSE

  

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1929

11 11       BARN RAISED

A person flying a kite

Description automatically generated with medium confidence 

An old landmark was being razed today when a barn located on a lot in Livsey Place was being torn down.  It was thought that the building was about 70 years old as it was recalled that it was built sometime in the 1860's.  The property on which it stands is owned by Will Jones.     WDT

 

 

1976

Watertown Daily Times, 06 12 1976

 

The family that has occupied the home at 1325 Western Avenue for 109 years encompasses five generations.

 

The home occupies the highest geographic area in Watertown.

 

This Gothic style back home was built in 1858 by J. H. (Heber) Smith, then connected with the Rough and Ready dam and milling operations in Watertown.

 

In 1867 the home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. William Livsey.  Livsey Place in that area was named for them.

 

The Livsey daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Jones were owners and occupants from 1876 to 1926; their son, William J. Jones, and his wife owned the home from 1926 to 1961.  Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kreitzman and an uncle, Charles Jones, have been owners since 1961.  Mrs. Kreitzman is a great- granddaughter of the Livseys.

 

Scrollwork which appeared around the gables of the original home has been left intact, but open fretwork over the narrow original porch across the front of the house has been removed and a larger porch extended to the front.

 

Chandeliers have hobnail blue glass globes in one room, some have beaded shades, and the original chandeliers in the living room have antique vaseline glass globes. There is a wall painting, shutters remain on the house, many original door latches and porcelain knobs remain.  Mrs. Kreitzman has a collection of old Watertown pictures of considerable interest, undoubtedly collected since the family continued to occupy the original home.

 

2004

07 12       A retired teacher hopes his needlepoint hobby will earn him a seat at a state dinner at the White House.  The invitation won’t come any time soon because the needlepoint wall hanging is a work in progress, along with several others for Gerald Kreitzman of Watertown, who has several of his works displayed in public places.  Kreitzman began doing needlepoint many years ago to decorate upholstery in his home which dates back to 1856.  He is the fifth generation of his family to live in the home which was built by his great-great-greatgrand father for his daughter.  The home has never been out of the family, giving Kreitzman the opportunity to give new life to the antique furniture and other memorabilia left there over the years.  Kreitzman is in the process of refurbishing his home and surrounding property, located on a hill on Western Avenue.  The home redecorating includes special touches such strips of marble from the former Watertown High School that was torn down a few years ago.

 

 

 

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