Lemuel Photo James (1842-1899) built this fine Queen Anne home. Aubrey Newby, whose parents restored it and are its current guardians, writes: L.P. James was involved in bridge construction for the railroad. He developed the town and later operated a mill, store and peach farm in the area. His son became a state representative and the road from James to Gray is said to have been the first paved road in the county. He was enterprising after the war, reasonably young and turned his attention to railroad and industry as a opposed to agrarian [pursuits]. The high style Queen Anne …represents an unusual period in houses for Jones County, [as] almost no one else was building that house here then. They could not afford too. I have wondered what others must have honestly thought about it. He was literally giving away lots to locals who had been wealthy planters prior to the war to get them to build in the town.  

*-Aubrey and I agreed that the better view of the house is in perspective, at the approach, but unfortunately, I was not here at the right time of the day. I like this view, too. It gives me an excuse to go back for another visit.

This house is a good example of the difficulty in identifying architectural types. On one hand, it has the overall layout of a gabled-ell, or winged gable, Folk Victorian cottage. It’s also closely aligned with the New South cottage. But the Victorian elements are so well applied here, that one might easily consider it a Queen Anne. I’ve learned from architect friends over the years that the flurry of eclecticism that followed the Victorian era makes rigid identifications problematic.

I had a nice visit with Elaine Robinson, the owner of this quaint Queen Anne cottage. Thanks to Aubrey Newby for sharing so much of his community’s history.