The Voice of Classical Music ~ Frances Pelton Jones

On 16 December 1900, under the heading “Pluck and Ability Win”, the Oregonian newspaper commented on the musical career of Frances Jones.  “In the last six months by dent of her own ability and energy, she has won for herself a well-established foothold in Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition to her position as organist at Grace Presbyterian Church, and her musical studies which she is pursuing with much earnestness and zeal under the direction of leading New York masters, she has a class of about 20 pupils and is in demand for both private and public recitals.”

In June of the following year, the Oregonian had more details of Miss Jones’ position at that church. “A rather unjust discrimination exists there in favor of men organists, so that more then an average amount of talent, perseverance and pluck are required to win such a post.” However, Miss Jones prevailed.  A month later, the same newspaper reported that Miss Jones had been given a two-month leave of absence (at full pay) and a substitute hired by the church to temporarily fill her position.  The newspaper then announced  “Miss Frances Pelton Jones, formerly of Portland, now a resident of Brooklyn, NY, is a guest at the Norton House and will be in the city today. Miss Jones will spend the summer with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Jones at Salem.”

Frances, more informally known as Frankie, was born in Salem (year variously reported as 1863 or 1876) and lived here until leaving for Portland, and thus to Brooklyn for her career as a church organist. Then, taking to the concert stage, she became a costumed performer on the harpsichord.  Described by contemporaries as “charming and a lot of fun”, she dressed “like an impressionistic art poster” with abundant auburn hair “fluffed out against her hat”. She chose the harpsichord, used by the classic masters, as she explained, as it expressed the voice of the music as the composers heard it themselves. Into the 1940s, Frances Jones continued to be a hugely popular attraction, especially for the ladies, of the most esteemed cultural society of New York and Boston. When she died in 1968, it is possible that she was least known in the city of her birth and childhood.

Her father has suffered a similar fate: where is George H Jones, a pioneer in the business community, memorialized in Salem? In 2006, the city demolished the only structure recently connected to his name, the modest house at the southeast corner of Liberty and Mission streets, because of neglect by the owner. It is reputed to have been the first residence constructed in the 1857 Jones Addition, a property purchased from pioneer Oregon missionary David Leslie, that eventually included the area we call Nob Hill in SCAN neighborhood.  Mr. Jones second wife was Mary Leslie who died in 1857. A third wife, Annie Pelton, was the mother of Frances. Mr. Jones survived four of his five wives and died in 1904. His widow, another Mary, lived at the corner of Commercial and Rural Streets.