Hours

Open by appointment only

FREE Admission

Accessibility

The Tison Tool Barn, which is housed in a historic barn, is not ADA accessible.

History of the Barn and Tool Collection

The late John Mason Tison, Jr. willed the building and his extensive historic tool collection to the Matheson before his death in 1995. In 1997 and 1998 the building was dismantled, moved to the museum property, and re-erected next to the Matheson House.

Tison loved collecting old woodworking tools and over a 40-year period he collected so many that he decided to build a structure to store them. He ordered the pine beams and logs from a timber peg company in North Carolina and built the shed in a year from 1989-1990. The building had two stories and displayed over 500 woodworking tools.

Today the Tison Tool Barn collection has expanded to over 1,000 tools from the 1850s to the early 20th century. Along with the tool collection you can also view a US Post Office teller window from the Alachua County town of Wade, local bricks used in Gainesville buildings, early Alachua County milk bottles, Baird Hardware memorabilia, vintage Alachua County license plates, and more.

Photos courtesy of Cool Blue Photography

John Mason Tison, Jr. (1914-1995)

“Born in Ocala, Mr. Tison moved to Gainesville in 1920. He attended the University of Florida for 2 1/2 years and was an electrician for Shorty Bean Electric Co., retiring after 45 years. Mr. Tison served in the US Army Air Corps, serving both in the US and in the Pacific.

He was a life member of the World Clown Association, the Southeastern Clown Association, and the local Sunshine Alley. After retirement, Mr. Tison showed his love for children performing as a clown at various hospitals for children, benefits such as the March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon, and the American Cancer Society.

He was a member of the Matheson Historical Association and the Gainesville Historical Association. He was a member and founder of Parkview Baptist Church, serving as a church officer for 40 years.” Gainesville Sun obituary, December 12, 1995