The Jones Tavern on Main Street in South Acton is an amalgamation of wings and ells added at various stages of the building’s evolution. However, the original home was built in 1732 for the family of Samuel Jones Jr. Jones was a jack of all trades: he operated a series of sawmills nearby on Fort Pond Brook, as well as a cooperage and a cider mill on Main Street. In 1750, he opened his home as a store — believed to be the first in Acton — and added a tavern to the west ell of the house.

Jones’ son Aaron, a Revolutionary War veteran, took over the tavern in 1782, then passed it to his own son Elnathan. Elnathan operated the tavern until 1845, when it was taken over by his son-in-law James Tuttle. Tuttle closed the tavern amid the temperance movement of the nineteenth century and the building returned to residential use.

In the 1960s, the home was very nearly demolished, but it was rescued by a group of local residents dedicated to preserving the area of town known as Iron Work Farm. The Jones Tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and is now preserved by Iron Work Farm as a museum and event space.

Today, Iron Work Farm stewards the property, offering a variety of programming and events including open-houses, hands-on history demos, school field trips, and many other activities.

Photo courtesy of Iron Work Farm