Jordon and Son Jewelers: One of the county’s oldest family-run businesses

Traveling in a Dodge touring car, Fred S. and Matte Priscilla Jordon left Paducah, Kentucky, in the autumn of 1920 with their three sons, Paul S., Marshall and Charles Dale, arriving in Avon Park in October. Dad-Dad Jordon (as he was fondly known) had chosen this area as he had heard a Christian school was to be established here and he had wanted his boys to have the benefit of such an education. Unfortunately, no such school ever came to be.

The family spent their first night in Avon Park at the home of Cliff Thomas’ parents. Dad-Dad, who had taken a correspondence course in clock and watch-making and repair, was disappointed on arrival to learn a watch repair shop already existed. However, the man who owned it was yearning to go West to live with his son. He gladly exchanged the key to the shop for the key to the Dodge -- and the deal was sealed. For a few days things went smoothly. But soon local citizens began asking about the pocket watches they had left for repair. (Some folks even assured Dad-Dad that their watches were 18K solid gold!) But no such watches were to be found in the store. Dad-Dad was most concerned. But help arrived in the form of the local railroad station master, who had a C.O.D. package from an Atlanta trade shop. Seems that the former owner had not been a watchmaker and so sent the watches north for repairs. What a relief! The amusing part of the story is that there was nary an 18K gold watch in the bunch! James Wesley Jordon joined his older brothers in June, 1921, and became the first generation Jordon born in Avon Park. Paul S. followed in his father’s footsteps, adding the art of hand-engraving to watch and jewelry repair. He married the former Mary Elizabeth Lane and they had one son, Paul Dale Jordon, born in February, 1929, and was the second generation born in Avon Park. Paul and “Libby” operated the jewelry story until 1965. Dale and his wife, Betty, had three children: Julie Beth, Randle Dale and Wendy Gay, They became the third generation of Jordon's born in Avon Park. Their grandchildren are fourth-generation Crackers. Dale operated the store until 1991 when Randy and his wife, Christina (Thompson) took over the business. Randy is the fourth-generation jeweler and is still operating the business, as of this writing, at 16 E. Main St. Jordon and Son Jewelers is one of the oldest family-operated businesses in the county.

The sons of Fred and Matte Jordon pursued a variety of careers: Paul, of course, was a jeweler. Marshall became an optometrist. James W. was an educator, serving as superintendent of secondary education in Hillsborough County and later as president of a Christian school in Jacksonville and as a Gospel preacher. Charles Dale died in 1931 at an early age of tuberculosis.

(Editor’s Note: Betty Jordon, corresponding secretary for the Historical Society of Avon Park, also chairs the gift shop committee.)