James, Thomas, Store, Old
Also known as: The Old Store; James Store; 057-5027
Why it's listed
Behind the former Sibley Store on Main Street in Mathews Court House stands a small frame store measuring fifteen by twenty-five feet. Built between about 1810 and 1820, it is associated with Thomas James, who held a retail license from 1815 to 1820 and served as postmaster and justice of the peace. Its hewn and pit-sawn frame, pegged joints, double-sheathed doors and shutters, and plan of one large sales room with a small counting room and no chimney mark it as a rare survivor among antebellum commercial buildings in the South. The store was moved at least once, and again in 1899 to make way for the Sibley Store, after which it served for storage. Later shed additions and a porch enclosure were added. The building is considered significant locally for its place in early commerce in Mathews County and as an excellent example of its type. It is now vacant, and restoration is planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare surviving early nineteenth-century country store, a basic one-room plan with a small counting room and no chimney, and an example of antebellum commerce in Virginia. It qualifies under Criterion A for its role in antebellum economic patterns and Criterion C as an excellent example of its building type. It was moved in 1899, which required a criteria consideration.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000244, listed March 28, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main & Maple Sts., Mathews Court House |
|---|---|
| County | Mathews County |
| Listed | March 28, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000244 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1810-1899 |
| Architectural style | Other - 19th century Antebellum Store/Storehouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant; maintained by the Mathews County Historical Society, which plans to remove later additions and restore the building to its earlier appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.43597, -76.32027 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000244.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085209
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.