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Posted by Ronda Jolls on 4:46:58 10/28/2007 from 70.233.131.234:Last week I was in Buffalo and visited Dr. Jolls House in Orchard Park. Wow what an experience! What a guy he was, not only was he a Doctor but he was also a dentist, chemist, photographer, spoke Italian and French, an honorary Seneca Indian Cheif and very community oriented. When I get pictures developed I'll try and post them here for all to see.
The woman who gave me a tour said that he was 1/8th Mohawk and somewhere there was a paper to prove it. I have of course asked for a copy but don't know if I will get it. Also, Dr. Jolls had an extensive "scrapbook" of the Jolls family and several photographs were in there. I've also asked for a copy of that and will glady provide it to Jolls family members. I will try and scan the whole thing so that it will not cost anyone but if not I will have to ask for help with the copy fee as it is quite a large collection. I am of course working on writing down all the stories about him that were told to me before they slip my memory. I recommend if anyone is in the Buffalo area to visit the Jolls House. If you have questions or want to know the stories please feel free to email me at rockymtnhi@swbell.net and would love to share what I was told. Look for photos soon!
Here is a little history on the Jolls House if anyone is interested...
From the Orchard Park Historical Society—Dr. Jolls Home
The Jolls House Story…
Willard Burton Jolls was born December 21, 1870 on a dairy farm in the rural town of Dayton, NY. His mother was a birthright Quaker. His father was a lineal descendant of Captain Thomas Jolls, skipper of the ship Richard, who delivered the Proclamtion of King James II to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1682. Willard was proudly one-eighth Mohawk Indian.
The parents of young Jolls were of less than average means. His father died at an early age and Willard worked his way through school, graduating from the University of Buffalo Medical School on April 30, 1895. Following graduation, he returned to Dayton, married his childhood sweetheart, Ida C. Markham, and practiced medicine with is mentor, Dr. Chester Howard.
Dr. and Mrs. Jolls moved to Orchard park in September 1896 where he practiced from a home in the village on East Quaker Street. In 1900 the jolls rented this lovely brick Victorian home on South Buffalo Street. They purchased the property on April 28, 1902 for the sum of $4,000. It was to be the home for the rest of their lives.
The house was built in 1869-70, is a cubic-shaped bracketed Italianate villa with cupola. At the time of construction, at a reported cost of $7,000, it represented affluence and the ultimate in style. The original owner was a prominent local merchant, Ambrose Johnson. Coincidentally, the house was completed the day Willard Jolls was born.
Today the Jolls home, with a few exceptions, retains its original design. Its most notable feature is the square wood-framed cupola which mirros the basic shape of the main structure and is accessible from a sinding staircase starting in the first floor foyer.
Originally, Dr. Jolls used the front-south room for his office and the front hall as a waiting room. Later, the back section of the house became the waiting room, examining room, and medicine/lab area. The contents of these tree tin-ceilinged rooms remain as he last used them.
Dr. Jolls, a respected and devoted country doctor, was always active int eh interests of the community. Dr. Jolls donated property in the 1940’s, which is now the site of the Orchard Park Municipal Building.
Ida M. Jolls died March 4, 1958. Dr. Jolls died October 11, 1963, at the age of 93. He practiced medicine until two years prior to his death. The couple had no children. However, in 1923, a young woman had been hired to be their maid and over the years she became part of the family.
The Jolls’ longtime faithfull housekeeper, Millie Michelfelder, continued living in the house as the Jolls had sold it to her for the price of fifty cents. The home receivd little maintenance, but all the furnishings and personal belongings were kept intact. After her death in 1978, the contents were sold, excluding those in the Doctor’s office. The Town purchased the property. The rear portion of the lot became public parking. The Orchard Park Historical Society acquired the rear section of the house including all of Dr. Jolls medical collection. The rest became rented office space.
On July 1, 1996 the Town of Orchard Park turned over the use of the interior of the Jolls home to the Orchard Park Historical Society. This historc building is now “The Town of Orchard Park Historical Museum.” The Jolls House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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