 Karl Braun and Stan Allen, project leaders. Photo by Sherry Hamilton, Gloucester-Mathews Gazette Journal 11/20/24 After four years of planning and collaboration, the Mathews Rotary Club is thrilled to share that the long-awaited reconstruction of the observation deck has been completed. The 200-foot walkway at the New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve was reopened this Spring for the public and visitors to use for sightseeing the 3rd oldest lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay, New Point Comfort Lighthouse.
Originally built in 1997 and severely deteriorated over time, the structure—beloved as the closest land-based view of the New Point Comfort Lighthouse—was deemed beyond simple repair. Rotary members Stan Allen and Karl Braun initiated the effort in 2020, which soon evolved into a large-scale restoration project involving extensive fundraising, community collaboration, and coordination with The Nature Conservancy. With over $35,000 raised locally through donations and Rotary’s Party with a Purpose event, the project gained momentum when those funds were matched by NOAA and Virginia Coastal Zone Management through a grant administered by the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission. With $160,000 secured, local contractor Docks of the Bay was selected to rebuild the walkway and deck using salt-treated lumber, with construction scheduled for completion by February. The Rotary Club has worked closely with 17 different organizations and agencies to bring the project to life, staying true to the original design out of respect for the community volunteers who first built the structure. Though the site remains owned by The Nature Conservancy, Rotary has “adopted” the area, committing to ongoing upkeep. The Mathews Historical Society has since added several new signs to the structure that talks about the local history and ecology of the preserve. Read the full Gazette Journal Article Here.
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