1917 Map of Mathews

About this map

Mobjack Bay and the intricately carved peninsulas of Mathews and Gloucester counties define this coastal landscape as it stood in the early twentieth century. The map reveals an economy and way of life deeply tied to the water, where steamboat routes connected numerous landings such as Hicks Wharf, Williams Wharf, and Roanes Wharf to larger markets. Inland, the distribution of rural schools like Lee Jackson School and Beaverdam School, alongside landmarks such as Fort Nonsense (Ruins), provides a detailed look at the social and defensive history of the Middle Peninsula.