Restoring the Mathews Cabin

This slide show documents the restoration of an 1830s settler home located in Clarke County, Alabama. The house was built by Josiah and Lucy Mathews for their family of 13 after they migrated to Alabama from Edgefield District, South Carolina. The Mathews family was one of many who made this journey to establish a new life in Alabama. Alabama historian J. L. M. Curry wrote in 1851 that the pioneer generation should be remembered for "privations endured, tracks of wilderness explored...families supported...wars conducted...governments established, cities built, and school/meeting houses constructed." The Mathews' house is a prime example of how these yeoman pioneers actually lived. The restoration process began in 2006 and is nearing completion in 2008. It has been a community-wide effort that has benefited from contributions and support from all over the country. The cabin is located on the grounds of the Clarke County Historical Museum in Grove Hill, Alabama. For further information, please visit the museum's website at: http://www.clarkemuseum.com. In addition, a brief history of the house, written by descendent David Mathews, is available on the Mathews Family History website under the "Library" tab. Visit http://mathewsfamilyhistory.net/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Movie
• History
• Restoration
• Cabin
• Settlers
• Clarke
• County
• Alabama
• 1800s
• Pioneers
• Mathews
• social
• science

[chashale1]

What a treasure! A noteworthy project and wonderfully presented.

[ahj71]

Very nice! An amazing restoration of what was basically a pile of old logs.

I had two lines of family that lived & died in Clarke Co. at the same time this family was there. I now have an idea what their house may have looked like.

[joejoemorgan]

Good looking "dogtrot".

[Leafromtx]

A really nice video! My grandmother is related to this Mathews family from Clarke County, Alabama, and love seeing the restoration of our old family home!

[dreeves28]

Thanks so much to Lucy Dortch for helping to keep this house alive!