Page 12 - Hillview_book

The Hillview Greenhouse
A Way of Life
for the Jones Family
By Autumn Grooms
“Before my great uncle and great aunt, David and Lois, owned the greenhouse, I remem- ber the entire family making their living by pitching in, filling the beds with dirt and planting seedlings in flats for the vegeta- bles. Grandma Lillie would yell at the boys for watering too much. DEANNA LISOTA
Judy Jones Grooms, daughter of Harold & Lois Jones, with daughter Autumn Grooms and grandson Vincent.
In 1926, David C. and Lillie J. Jones took ownership of the Hillview Greenhouse property and operated it for 36 years,
ending in 1963, when their son, David “Harold” and his wife, Lois, purchased the property.
The greenhouse was a way of life for the Joneses, whose days were spent tending to the flowers, produce and customers—ar- riving early, staying for lunch and working past dinner.
It was common for visitors who walked through the doors at 737 North 24th St. to find Harold Jones at his rolltop desk with Lois looking in the cooler behind him, se- lecting flowers for an arrangement.
While Lois focused her time on floral design, Harold managed the day-to-day business and delivered flowers. As they aged, they brought family in to help, includ- ing daughter Judy (Jones) Grooms and son David R. Jones, but still some jobs were reserved for the elder Joneses.
“I helped at the greenhouse my whole life and did just about everything, but funeral bouquets and wedding flowers were some- thing else,” says Grooms. “Mom always took pride in her funeral flowers and wed- ding bouquets and wanted to ensure they were done to her specifications. She would start early and stay late until the final touches were made.”
THE LA CROSSE AREA’S GROWING EXPERIENCE past | present | future
10
1926–1987
PHOTO: Vicki Miller