Mathews County Marker Event 13 April 2019
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Mathews County Marker Event 13 April, 2019 Time: Honoree: Location: 9:30 Keeper Frank Raymond Lewis H.C. Smither Cemetery 10:15 Keeper Nelson Stanley Atherton H.C. Smither Cemetery 11:15 Keeper Levi D. Marchant Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery Lunch 1:30 Keeper Isaac Foster Pear Tree Cemetery 2:15 Keeper William James Diggs Pear Tree Cemetery 3:45 Keeper Wesley Foster Ripley Ripley Family Cemetery APRIL 13TH USLHS GRAVE MARKER EVENT – MATHEWS, VA SUPPORTED BY THE CHESAPEAKE CHAPTER, UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY Keeper Frank Raymond Lewis – Ceremony at 9:30 am at H.C. Smither Cemetery Keeper Nelson Stanley Atherton – Ceremony at 10:15 am at H.C. Smither Cemetery H.C. Smither Cemetery Route 627 (Smithers Lane) Hudgins, VA 23076 Directions to H.C. Smither Cemetery from Route 14 Take Route 14 east from Gloucester, VA to Mathews, VA. Then turn left on to Route 198 west (Buckley Hall Road) and drive about 2 miles turning right on to Route 627 (Smithers Lane) which is across the road from the Piankatank Ruritan Club. Smithers Lane marks the entrance to the cemetery and the gravesites for Keepers Lewis and Atherton will be to the left. Keeper Levi D. Marchant – Ceremony at 11:15 am at Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery 8284 Route 198 (Buckley Hall Road) Hudgins, VA 23076 Directions from H.C. Smither Cemetery to Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery (The distance from H.C. Smither Cemetery to Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery is about 1.1 miles.) Turn left on to Route 198 (Buckley Hall Road) and drive about 1.1 miles to Mathews Baptist Church which will be on the right. We have permission to park in the church parking lot. The gravesite for Keeper Marchant is behind the church. Keeper Isaac Foster - Ceremony at 1:30 pm at Pear Tree Cemetery Keeper William James Diggs – Ceremony at 2:15 pm at Pear Tree Cemetery Pear Tree Cemetery Bethel Beach Road Onemo, VA 23130 Directions from Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery to Pear Tree Cemetery (The distance from Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery to Pear Tree Cemetery is about 9.5 miles.) Turn right on to Route 198 (Buckley Hall Road) and follow Route 198 east (Buckley Hall Road) for about 2.6 miles and then turn right on to Route 14 east (Main Street). Follow Route 14 east for about 3.8 miles and turn left on to Route 608 (Hamburg Road) at Port Haywood. Follow Hamburg Road which briefly becomes Potato Neck Road for about 1.6 miles and then turn left at a gray house on to Route 609 (Bethel Beach Road) which is also marked Route 608. Travel about 1.5 miles on Bethel Beach Road and Pear Tree Cemetery will be on the left. Keeper Wesley Foster Ripley - Ceremony at 3:45 at the Ripley Family Cemetery Ripley Family Cemetery 1275 Lighthouse Road Bavon, VA 23138 Directions from Pear Tree Cemetery to the Ripley Family Cemetery (The distance from Pear Tree Cemetery to the Ripley Family Cemetery is about 7.6 miles.) Turn right on to Route 609 (Bethel Beach Road) and travel about 1.5 miles and then turn right on to Route 608 (Potato Neck Road/Hamburg Road) and travel about 1.6 miles turning left on to Route 14 east. Follow Route 14 (New Point Comfort Highway) for about 4.5 miles to the intersection of Route 14 (which becomes Lighthouse Road) and Route 600 (Circle Drive). The Ripley Family Cemetery is behind (and to the left of) the house at 1275 Lighthouse Road. This house actually faces Route 14 (New Point Comfort Highway) and we have permission to park in the driveway. Attractions in Mathews County, Virginia Mathews County Visitor Center – Located in Sibley’s General Store, 239 Main Street, Mathews, VA. Has local art, educational displays and complete area information. Sells books and some souvenirs on the Mathews County lighthouses. Hours: Mon – Sat – 10 am to 4 pm; Sun – Noon to 3 pm (804) 725 – 4229.See: www.visitmathews.com for more information. Gwynn’s Island Museum – From Route 14 turn left on to Route 198 which will take you to Hudgins. At Hudgins, turn right on Route 223 and cross the Gwynn’s Island Bridge. The museum is on the main road (on the left) as you pass a cemetery. The museum is open seasonally and by appointment. April to October Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm. (804) 725-5022. See www.gwynnsislandmuseum.org for more information. Milford Haven Coast Guard Station – From Route 14 turn left on to Route 198 which will take you to Hudgins. At Hudgins, turn right on Route 223. The Coast Guard Station is on the right before crossing the Gwynn’s Island Bridge. There is a U.S. Light House Establishment (U.S.L.H.E.) bell on display and a bell from the Coast Guard Cutter Wistaria. Wolf Trap Lighthouse – Best viewed from the water, but can be seen in the distance from Bethel Beach in Mathews County. Take Route 14 through the town of Mathews and turn left on to Route 608. Follow Route 608 (Hamburg Road) which briefly becomes Potato Neck Road. Then turn left at a gray house on to Route 609 (Bethel Beach Road) which is also marked Route 608. Proceed to the end of Route 609 (Bethel Beach Road) to find the Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve. New Point Comfort Lighthouse – Best viewed from the water, but can be viewed in the distance from the New Point Comfort Preserve Observatory walkway. Take Route 14 through the town of Mathews. At the end of Route 14, turn left on to Route 600 at Bavon. Turn Right on to Lighthouse Road and proceed to end. Mathews County Factoids: Located on the eastern tip of the Middle Peninsula, on the western shore of the southern Chesapeake Bay. Founded in 1791 by Revolutionary War veteran and Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Major Thomas Mathews. 84 square miles – second smallest county in Virginia. (Smallest is Arlington County – 26 square miles). 214 miles of shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay – more than any other county on the Bay. No traffic lights except the light at the Gwynn’s Island Bridge. Two lighthouses including the 3rd oldest on the Bay. Population – 8,978 (2010 census) .