You think you know everything about your home; then you open a drawer or a closet and find an absolute treasure, overlooked and almost forgotten.

You think you know your hometown; then you stop in a small museum or art exhibit, and another dimension unveils its wonders. How much do you really know about the place you live?

The series, "Hometown Treasures," explores public museums, exhibits and archives open to all, and private collections available for viewing by appointment.

This week: Archives, compiled by members of the Gazette-Journal staff.

Mathews Clerk’s Office

E. Eugene Callis III, clerk of the Circuit Court of Mathews, has worked at the office since he began as a deputy in 1967; and even he has not investigated all the ancient records stored there.

The record room, located at the office in Liberty Square, Buckley Hall Road, is best known as the place where people record land transfers, get marriage licenses, and find information on court cases. A...