Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 12/17/2009
NRHP Listing Date 03/24/2010
NRHP Reference Number 10000093
The Sibley’s and James Store Historic District, in the Mathews Downtown Historic District, features three store buildings—two of which were connected at some point—that have played a role in the development of the county between circa 1810 and 1959. Old Thomas James Store, circa 1810 and later repositioned on the property during the 19th century, is an excellent and rare example of an early 1800s rural commercial building. Sibley’s General Store, established 1899, is the only example from its era of a vernacular Victorian commercial building in downtown Mathews. The other store, which dates to around 1840, is now attached to the rear of the Sibley’s building. The property on which the stores sit has hosted a general store operation for at least 190 years, ending in 2003.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: March 21, 2023
