At first glance, 1013 NW Seventh Ave. looks like a house that's no more important than its neighbors.
But for three quarters of a century, the house was home to the man who made it possible for black students to receive diplomas from Gainesville high schools.
On Sept. 10, the City of Gainesville will designate the house of A. Quinn Jones Sr. as a historical site and place a commemorative plaque outside the home.
Jones' son, Oliver, said his father became the principal of old Lincoln High School in 1923, where he began his work toward expanding the high school to include grades 11 and 12.
Jones achieved when the Lincoln High graduating class of 1925 received diplomas for the first time.
Oliver said that when the high school became the second accredited African-American high school in the state of Florida in 1926, his father was overjoyed.
"He would say he was so proud that this didn't happen in Jacksonville, or Miami or anything like that," Oliver Jones said. "It was here in Gainesville."
Jones, who lived in the house at 1013 NW Seventh Ave. from 1925 until 1997, was the man who brought change to the school system, said Erin Friedberg, the visual arts coordinator for the City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
"He was an instrumental educational leader in the African American community," said Friedberg.
Greg Bradley, the finance manager at Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency, said that several people are scheduled to speak at the dedication ceremony, including Jones' son, to pay homage and show their respect for Jones.
"From this ceremony, I would hope that the community would get an opportunity to hear the story of A. Quinn told," he said.
However, the dedication of the historical marker is only the beginning of a much larger project, Bradley said.
After the dedication, a two-step process will begin-bringing the exterior of the house up to code and then renovating the interior.
Bradley also said that between stages one and two, they plan to engage the community by asking for input on what the interior of the building should ultimately be used for.
Oliver said that he hopes it becomes a museum where students of all ages can come to visit the house and learn about Jones' life.
Murray Laurie, a historic preservation consultant, said that she encourages people to learn more about who Jones was and the contributions he made.
"The words that will be on the marker are such a small compressed statement coming from what may have been a 20-page description of his life," Laurie said.
The ultimate goal of the project, Bradley emphasized, is about more than just placing a plaque in front of a house.
"It's less about his homestead and more about his story and what he did," Bradley said, "not only for other African-Americans but for this community as a whole."
The dedication ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the house.
