A Generous Wheelwright

Wheelwright at work/Emmet Jones – proud of his product
Photo by Bill Mansfield

The Albemarle Learning Center connects students with community elders like Chowan County craftsman Emmett Parker Jones, who loves to share his trade secrets.

Emmett Jones is a fourth-generation wheelwright who traces his craft back to his great-great-grandfather who built wheels and farm equipment in antebellum eastern North Carolina.

Jones was so young when he began his apprenticeship with his father in the 1920s that he had to stand on a bucket while he turned the forge. From there he went on to become a master of his trade. Of course transformations in agricultural technology made carts and wagon wheels obsolete and the farm community no longer needed the skills of a wheelwright. But museums and historic sites did, so Jones found a new audience, and in doing so passes the folk traditions to new generations.

His restored and reconstructed wagons, carts, and wagon wheels are featured at parks and historic sites from Florida to New York. Proud of his skill and aware of its significance, Jones is generous with his time and knowledge, assuring that another crop of young people will better understand the culture of their land.