Work continues on preserving the Thomas James Store (circa 1820), located behind Sibley’s General Store in downtown Mathews. Elevated in July, the store has undergone repairs to its floor beams and joists and was lowered onto its new foundation on Friday. The store, which is owned by the Mathews County Historical Society, has been recognized as one of the oldest general stores in the South, with “a lot of historical fabric still intact,” said Randy Jones of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in a 2010 interview. The structure still needs work on its flooring and exterior, all paid for with a $100,000 National Park Service grant. Additionally, new signage will be installed, partially paid for with a grant from the Mathews Community Foundation. Shown here working on lowering the structure down to the foundation are, from right, Miguel Angel, carpenter; Gabor Trajan, owner of Ace House Movers; Michael Swiderski, founder and owner of Storybound Construction; John Hoffman, buildi...