Board extends Tompkins Cottage lease to Mathews County Historical Society for 25 years

Mathews County supervisors voted to extend the lease for Tompkins Cottage to the Mathews County Historical Society for a 25-year term, effective Jan. 31, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2051.

Why it matters: the society has operated the Tompkins Cottage museum since 1969 and told the board it is actively pursuing grant funding and raising private match dollars to elevate the 1820-era structure above the flood zone and stabilize the building.

Society presentation and preservation plans

Members of the Mathews County Historical Society described museum operations, docent staffing and visitor counts. The society reported nearly 1,100 visitors in 2024 and said the cottage is open during the farmers market and other special events. The society said it has raised about $25,000 toward a capital campaign and has applied for grants to lift the cottage and mitigate ongoing damp and flood damage; society members asked the board to renew the lease so preservation work can continue.

Board action

A motion to approve the 25-year lease extension passed on roll-call vote after a minor typographical amendment the board agreed the county attorney would correct. The board chair thanked the society and commended its stewardship of the cottage.

Ending

The society will continue fundraising and grant applications to support a planned elevation project. The board asked staff to finalize the corrected lease form for signatures and to coordinate any related preservation agreements with the society.