Inside this section... Gloucester Housing Partnership builds Home renovation made challenging by A former Texaco station being reimagined New Point Comfort Light renova- a ramp for a resident in need ...page 3C. owner’s pursuit of master’s degree ... 4C. as a vacation rental home ... page 7C. tion nearing completion ... C9. 2021 SUMMER HOME IMPROVEMENTS Section C Thursday, August 5, 2021 GET Inspired! Historic Mathews County house getting some TLC BY TYLER BASS Arthur Miller and their friend of experience in renovation Jim Sease, went in on the and has supplied them with Stephanie Miller, Arthur house together. She said the much of the equipment they Miller and Jim Sease have two of them had experience use. been busy restoring a large and connections to help them When work began, Miller house since purchasing it restore the building. Arthur said the house was covered in January of this year. The Miller has a background in building has stood along stained glass. Sease has a lot SEE MAIN STREET RESTORATION, PAGE 2C Mathews Main Street since it was constructed in 1840. The house has held the titles Edwards Hall and Mathews Academy and has served as a home in the past few decades. However, the house has sat empty and in disrepair for some time. Stephanie Miller said she was looking for a property to buy in Mathews with her real estate agent, Maxine Hudgins. She thought she had settled on a property elsewhere in the county but then saw the “For Sale” sign out front of the former Edwards Hall. The TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL choice may have been easy, TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL but the work has not. A photo of the Southern Century Club was found during renovations. The two brick pillars underneath the porch collasped when the southern wall was made flush with the rest of the home. Miller, along with her father Y M C K 2C GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS GAZETTE-JOURNAL THURSDAY AUGUST 5, 2021 TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Stephanie Miller along with her father Arthur Miller and friend Jim Sease have been gutting the home for months and are almost ready to start add new materials to the house. Bottom left, Miller stands by one of her favorite features of the house, the accordion doors located on the first floor. Top left, she stands in the hallway of the second floor beside the stairs to top floor. Top right, she stands by a massive door that opens in two sections. MAIN STREET RESTORATION (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1C) sive project. in stapled down plastic, the The second-floor features basement was filled with piles two bedrooms and a bath- of junk and the southern wall room that is being completely bowed. She said the roof also remodeled. The damage in had a grapefruit-sized hole in the bathroom is substantial it that had caused damage to and like the rest of the house the floors below it for perhaps is getting new plumbing. The three decades. top floor Miller said was likely Though the work seemed a child’s room judging from insurmountable, the three the colorful, cowboy-printed happily began. Miller said the wallpaper that was used to southern wall was lifted and adorn the walls. pushed flush with the house, Miller said the newer sec- which in turned caused two tion of the house was rented brick pillars underneath the out and lived in within the porch to collapse. last decade. However, major Miller said the basement repairs are still needed for was cleaned out and the this side of the house. She Mathews Historical Society said they already removed a was allowed to rummage shower that was placed near through the mess to see if any the front door. artifacts could be salvaged. In the back of this section Affordable Maintenance Free Jacks have been placed in the is what used to be a massive English basement and a new door that is now a solid wall. Urbanna, Va. (804) 758-2037 wall is being made to divide She said they might make it the basement and provide ad- a door again but that hasn’t www.rivahrooms.com ditional support. Call for a FREE Estimate! “It’s like opening Pandora’s SEE MAIN STREET RESTORATION, PAGE 3C Serving Tidewater for over years Box,” she said, when describ- ing how each repair leads to another set of issues. Throughout the rest of the house plastic, wallpaper and Dream Floors... rot has been removed. What remains are large hallways, for your Dream Home modest rooms and doors re- moved from their doorways. You’ll be floored by our wall-to-wall savings on quality name brand carpeting, area rugs, Miller’s father has taken out tile and hardwood flooring. You can’t beat our selection and prices! all of the surviving windows, Great rates on expert installation, satisfaction guaranteed! taking them to his shop to re- store. Miller said one of her favor- ite things that remains is a pair of accordion-style doors that divide the first floor’s main room. She’s also been wowed by the architecture that remains. The pillars in- side the house are all made from single-tree logs. Area Rugs On the first and second Hardwood Flooring Ceramic Tile Carpets floors of the home are old fire- places that have a lot of detail Mon.-Fri. 9-5 that sadly may be lost. Miller 804-776-6611 said they’ll likely have to take Rt. 33 Sat. 9-12 the practical route of repaint- Hartfield ing them instead taking on www.mill-end.com more work in an already mas- • Over 25 colors Poly Furniture • Variety of styles in Stock! No need to special order. What you are looking for is right in our warehouse! Patio, dining, chairs, tables, and more! BEST QUALITY! BEST SELECTION! BEST PRICES! Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10am-5pm Saturday 10am-3pm • Closed Wednesdays & Sundays 142 Centerville Road, Shacklefords, Va. 23156 804-785-6291 www.facebook.com/cornercupboardfurniture Y M C K THURSDAY AUGUST 5, 2021 GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS GAZETTE-JOURNAL 3C TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Horsley Home Improvement and Repair was contracted to build a temporary ramp on July 24 by Gloucester Housing Partner- Eddie Washington of Gloucester Housing Partnership, Peter Horsley, Dustin Horsley and Caleb Bearsall of Horsley Home Im- ship outside of a home in Hayes. provement and Repair, and GHP chairman Bob Tschirhart, from left, stand in front on the day’s construction in Hayes. Providing a safety ramp for a Gloucester family in need BY TYLER BASS which meets the GHP mission struction is needed. Tschir- roof replacement. However, Tschirhart said GHP is al- about the Gloucester Housing of assisting the low-income hart said some requests may if that’s not what is required, ways looking for volunteers, Partnership or learn how you The Gloucester Housing citizens of Gloucester Coun- be for a leaky roof and the GHP will isolate and repair the partners and more board can apply for their services, Partnership and Horsley ty,” said Tschirhart, “with ba- homeowner may want a total damaged area. members. To find out more visit ghp4u.com. Home Improvement and Re- sic home repair in order to pair spent the morning of Sat- keep them safe, warm, acces- urday, July 24, constructing a sible and dry.” safety ramp onto a home in Hayes. This ramp was made possi- Gloucester Housing Part- ble thanks to donations from CASSENVEY nership, or GHP is a nonprofit Apostles Lutheran Church. organization that focuses on GHP gets jobs through refer- HEATING, A/C & REFRIGERATION LTD. housing repair for Gloucester rals that can come from one residents in need. of several organizations or We Service Most GHP chairman Bob Tsch- services in the area. Some Major Brand Name Model Heat Pumps irhart said ramps are typi- of the organizations GHP fre- cally what his organization quently works with include Free Estimates on New Installations has been building these days. Social Services, the Samaritan DAVID GALLOWAY, OWNER He said GHP has consistently Group, United Way, Bay Aging, 10% l for al had around three projects to Habitat for Humanity, among ount rs Class A Contractor Disc ponde t Res y do each month. others. Firs ilitar and M Mechanical and Electrical Master “The homeowner desper- To make sure it qualifies, ID required ately needs this ramp so he GHP inspects each job to see Bonded and Insured can access his home safely what the issue is and if con- P.O. Box 437 Mathews, VA 23109 804-725-2108 Email: [email protected] Alvin “Jay” McGlohn, AIAO BROWN’S Vice President 6571 Main Street • P.O. Box 1550 • Gloucester, VA 23061 WELL DRILLING 757-320-5099 • 804-693-3502 804-642-4879 Fax 804-694-0300 • Cell 804-815-4475 [email protected] • RESIDENTIAL WELLS • IRRIGATION WELLS • HEAT PUMP WELLS • PUMP: INSTALLATION-SALES & SERVICE • LICENSED & INSURED Family owned Save Some FINANCING AVAILABLE & operated since 1918 Scratch FREE ESTIMATE www.brownswelldrilling.com on Flea & ACHILLES, VA TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Tick Control The two massive chimineys on the For details about our in-home services and rates, backside of the house still remain and please call or visit us online. support four fireplaces in the home. Delivering quality flea and tick control in your pet’s comfort zone. Termite and Moisture Control Have unsightly UGLY STUMPS Noble Pest Control Inc. MAIN STREET on your property? Free Inspections Call Scouten’s Stump Grinding P.O. 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