The Thomas James Store, circa 1820, will open to the public on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. It is one of the best-preserved early 19th-century mercantile buildings in the American southeast. The structure is located at 44 Maple Avenue, behind Mathews County Visitor and Information Center.
The Thomas James Store, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register, has been lifted and repositioned on a sturdy foundation, above the reach of stormwater runoff. This work was made possible thanks to a grant from U.S. Department of the Interior that was administered by the National Park Service and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The store’s new interpretive signage not only describes the Thomas James Store’s rich history but also the important role that merchants played in Mathews County’s economy.
The building is owned by Mathews County Historical Society which is sponsoring the re-opening. The event is free and refreshmen...