Photo courtesy of Amanda DePerro
Dublin Life’s storyteller series focuses on the people who make Dublin great – people who have made improving the community a part of their life, people who have been able to call Dublin home for a long time and people who have watched Dublin evolve over the years. The Storyteller Series tells the history of Dublin through his or her eyes, and sheds light on what living in Dublin was like decades ago. With the help of these special people, Dublin has undoubtedly become a better place.
Leona Jones was born on Feb. 15, 1935 in Kileville, Ohio. Her family’s roots run deep in Dublin, beginning with John and Ann Simpson Davis, Leona’s sixth-generation grandparents on her mother’s side and fifth- generation grandparents on her father’s side. Ann and John served with George Washington during the Revolutionary War, and as payment for their service, received a land grant in Perry Township. Leona married her late husband, Herb, a lifetime Dublin resident, in 1959. Herb and Leona had a passion for working and living in Dublin. Herb was president of the Dublin Historical Society for more than 20 years and a volunteer firefighter. Leona was instrumental in forming the Ladies’ Auxiliary and an ambassador for the Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau, and is still a part of the Dublin Historical Society. Herb and Leona were honored as Grand Marshals of the Independence Day parade, Grand Leprechauns of the St. Patrick’s Day parade and Dublin Foundation Emerald Celebration Honorees.
When we were first married, Herb was already a member of the Dublin Fire Department. Some of the wives got together because the men had wanted us to start an auxiliary, which we did. That was back when there were several fires at night around here; barns would catch on fire and the men would be out all night long. We would bring them hot coffee, soup, doughnuts and we had parties. We had fun. It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun.
Photo courtesy of Leona Jones
Dublin has changed so much, all for the good. Everything they’ve done here has been so well planned and well designed, and that’s what’s really kept us here; we just love it. When the first Kroger was built on Sawmill Road, it was the first big grocery store we had. The first time I went, I spent two hours in that store and came out of there lost and thinking, “Where am I?” I’ll never forget that feeling. If my father were back today, he would wonder where he was.
I live in Historic Dublin and I wish I were 30 years younger. Once the construction is finished, it’s going to be gorgeous. I like that I can look out the door and kind of keep track of what’s going on at the roundabout. Historic Dublin has so many different restaurants and things to do, I used to tell my husband, “OK, we can go out to breakfast, then we can go to the tavern and have lunch, then we can go to dinner.”
Herb and I had a travel bucket list that we didn’t finish. My husband didn’t like to fly, even though he was in the Navy Air Reserves for eight years when we were first married. He flew out of Port Columbus in rickety old planes that I never thought would get off the ground, but he just never wanted to fly on a commercial plane, so we drove everywhere.
Photo courtesy of Leona Jones
We’d been to 46 states, but didn’t make it to Texas, Louisiana, Hawaii or Alaska. We’d been to Prince Edward Island in Canada and stayed in a lighthouse, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Waterton-Glacier National Park. One time, we drove from Dublin all the way up to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. Altogether, we drove about 7,000 miles, and did something at every place we stopped. We just took our time and we did so much. Traveling was always wonderful, but when we came back home, driving through Riverside Drive in the spring, it was so gorgeous. Even way back then, we thought it was so pretty right here in Dublin. We never, ever thought of moving anyplace else.
I’ve been in this house 42 years. Herb’s parents rented it after they moved here from Chicago – Herb loved the big, old staircase to the upstairs and because it was on the Scioto River. He and his friends played on that river; they grew up on that river. I know I have to sell my house some time; my life’s going to change, but I will stay in Dublin. I won’t move until I find something in Dublin. I love it here, I love Dublin. It’s home.
Amanda DePerro is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
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