Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal

03/02/2025

A small church that vanished long ago nevertheless had a lasting impact upon education in Mathews County.

Providence Baptist Church was organized in 1901 by 76 persons dismissed in good standing from First Baptist Church, Mathews, established in 1865.

The new church was built on one acre purchased in 1903 from William and Lessie Thompson. Trustees of Providence represented in the sale were Thomas H. White, Thomas B. Ruff, Robert E. Emmett, Thomas H. Gwyn and Lewis E. Brooks, trustees of Providence Church.

Read more by visiting https://www.gazettejournal.net/small-church-had-lasting-impact-on-education-in-mathews/.

03/01/2025

Siblings Lyman Hayes and Carter Hayes, from left, helped their grandmother with delivery of Meals on Wheels in Mathews last Wednesday before the snowstorm. Meals on Wheels sent two meals to each recipient, thinking the weather might not permit volunteers to deliver on Thursday. “I thought it was so special they helped their grandmother on their ‘snow day’ from school,” said Nelda Gibbs, who heads the Mathews Meals on Wheels program. “We have the best team working hard every day, and that includes every day, and that includes our amazing volunteers.”

02/28/2025

The West Mathews Community League held its annual Chili When It’s Chilly fundraiser last Saturday at the league building in Bohannon. People had their pick of a number of different styles of chili in 14 crock pots, with most sold that night. Funds raised from this year’s event will benefit the window replacement project at the 1913 former Peninsula Schoolhouse building. Helping out that day for the chili fundraiser were, from left, Al DeWitt, Lisa Machen, Mary Warren, Page Herbert, Maurine Frank, Diana Swenson and Page Herbert Sr. Among those picking up their meals was David Muffelman.

02/28/2025

“People enjoy daffodils and we want to enhance their enjoyment,” said Peggy Bowditch, founder of the Gloucester Daffodil Club, when asked why this club was organized. Enhancing they certainly have done by planting thousands of daffodil bulbs throughout the county. Members are also big supporters of the Gloucester Daffodil Festival and Gloucester Daffodil Show.

Needing money to keep up their programs, the club members decided to put together a cookbook. “Daffodils and Delicacies” will make its debut on April 1. Its 220 pages contain recipes from five countries, 20 states and many, many locals. The club is offering a pre-release price of $20 until March 1. Thereafter, “Daffodils and Delicacies” will be retailing for $25.

Learn more about the club and its cookbook, as well as get recipes for chocolate banana cake, filet of beef and more at the link below 📖🌼

“People enjoy daffodils and we want to enhance their enjoyment,” said Peggy Bowditch, founder of the Gloucester Daffodil Club, when asked why this club was…

02/27/2025

To cheer everyone up, we found this beautiful photo in an envelope from our files dated 1942. Daffodils are cheery in any form. With the end of winter finally approaching, it seemed a good time to show what’s coming. We would love to know the story behind the costumes. Pt. 2 🌼

02/27/2025

The Gloucester County School Board has announced its process for selecting an interim candidate to fill one of the board's at-large seats, following the resignation of Deborah McDonough on Feb. 9.

The board is currently accepting letters of interests and resumes for the position. To be considered, all applicants must be registered voters in Gloucester County.

All materials are due by March 7 at 4:30 p.m. to school board clerk Jennifer Brazil. Submissions received after this date and time will not be considered. Candidates can submit their letters of interests and resumes by mail to 6099 T.C. Walker Road, Gloucester, VA 23061 or via email to [email protected].

Names of all candidates will be announced on March 11 during the school's board monthly meeting. Candidate information will be available at the superintendent's office and online. The school board is scheduled to announce its selection on March 18 during the joint Board of Supervisors/School Board meeting.

02/27/2025

The 97th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday. Which film nominated for Best Picture is your favorite? Let us know below 🎥

02/27/2025

Interesting recap of 2024 and looking into the future in Gloucester in Carol Steele's State of the County video.

02/27/2025

Roger Moorman of Gloucester builds a mold and shows the hull design in February 1955 for the 17-foot sailboat “Mobjack,” which began production the next year and remained a popular one-design vessel in local waters for many years. At the time Moorman was associated with the Gloucester Leg Stool Shop Pt. 1 🌊

02/27/2025

Today is the last day to sponsor an animal in our March 6 issue. Help a homeless pet find their forever home. Fill out the form at https://www.gazettejournal.net/sponsor-a-shelter-pet/ or call us today at 804-693-3101 🐾❤

Pictured is Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society Community Coordinator Voula Douglerakis who helps provide humane education to the public and also assists with the volunteer program. She is shown with three-month-old adoptable kitten Lauren Ellie.

Learn more about her story at https://www.gazettejournal.net/gmhs-provides-humane-education-to-the-community/.

02/26/2025

The first phase of renovations to the T.C. Walker House on Main Street in Gloucester has been completed, according to Bob Baer, a project manager for Mark Turner Construction.

“The only thing that we are lacking right now is handrails for two added brick stairs which is probably about three weeks off right now,” said Baer. “Everything else is complete. I think we will be pulling the construction trailer out of there next week.”

One of the things that needed to be done to the home was raising the house.

02/26/2025

Sunrise after the snow; sent by Cheryl Battle of Bavon.

See more photos from last week's winter weather at https://www.gazettejournal.net/a-big-snow/.

02/26/2025

During the Gloucester Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18, board members received an update on public utilities. Director of Public Utilities Katey Legg went over the status of permits, the FY25 budget, the 10-year capital plan, as well as modifications and funding strategy options.

Supervisors decided they would consider a rate increase of 14 percent across the board for water and sewer. The board plans to set a public hearing in April on the proposal.

During the Gloucester Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18, board members received an update on public utilities. Director of Public Utilities Katey Legg…

02/26/2025

The Mathews High School boys’ varsity basketball team, dubbed the “Cardiac Kids” by assistant coach C.K. Ambrose, lived to fight another day as they pulled an amazing comeback victory Monday night against the visiting Westmoreland Eagles in the Region 1A quarterfinal game.

Trailing for much of the game, the MHS boys mounted a second-half rally to win, 57-54. With the win, the Blue Devils advanced to Wednesday’s regional semifinal game at Northumberland, with the winner of that contest playing for the regional title on Friday.

Read more about the team's success at https://www.gazettejournal.net/cardiac-kids-beat-eagles-in-regional-play-57-54/.

02/26/2025

During the Gloucester County School Board’s February meeting Abingdon Elementary School gave a presentation about its fourth-grade field trip to Colonial Williamsburg in November, organized by Gloucester Museum of History Director Robert Kelly. The trip was free of any costs for the students to attend.

Last summer, Kelly approached Abingdon with the idea of taking all of the school’s fourth grade students to Colonial Williamsburg on charter buses.

“It has grown from there,” said Abingdon Community Engagement Coordinator Lauren Ginder. “All of our elementary schools will be participating in this study trip at various times throughout the year.”

During the Gloucester County School Board’s February meeting Abingdon Elementary School gave a presentation about its fourth-grade field trip to Colonial Williamsburg in November, organized…

02/26/2025

February is National Potato Lover Month, so we asked on Facebook how people like their potatoes prepared. French fries took the number one spot with 35 percent of the vote, followed by baked potatoes and mashed potatoes at 15 percent each. Hash browns and prepared any way were also popular options at 10 percent of the vote each. Other answers included potato chips, potato salad and oven-roasted potatoes.

02/25/2025

Last chance to take this week's survey. Closes at noon today.

02/24/2025

The location of Friday morning's Mathews County School Board work session has changed. It will now be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the historic courthouse. The school board will hold its town hall meeting this Tuesday, Feb. 25, beginning at 6 p.m. in the J. Murray Brooks Auditorium at Thomas Hunter Middle School. The following day, Wednesday, Feb. 26, the school board will hold its winter work session from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Community Room of Chesapeake Bank.