We have a wonderful blog commemorating 20 years of the Mathews Maritime Foundation.

Check it out here...

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The Peggy Story

Original story by George Pongonis. Edited for the 2012 Gwynn’s Island Festival Program. Can you remember life before microwave ovens? As we live day-to-day, new technologies emerge which replace what we have grown to admire. Do you ever wonder about living in an earlier time? How different day-to-day life must have been for those who never knew the benefits of our modern conveniences. Just think about travel in the time prior to the introduction of engine-powered vehicles. No planes, trains or automobiles, and only sailboats for voyages over water. Those were different times in Mathews County. Back at what we used to call the “turn of the century,” Mathews was known as a prominent center for boat building. Boats were important around the Chesapeake before highways took over the “shipping” business. (Where do you think our common term for transportation came from?) Not just small boats either. Sea-going ships were built here in Mathews. Indeed, many sons of Mathews went to sea as w...
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Mathew’s Deck Boat Peggy Marks Her First 100 Years with a Painting by John Barber

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Mathews-built deck boat, Peggy, will mark her first 100-years in 2025. As part of the commemoration, Mathews Maritime Foundation has commissioned renowned artist John Barber to depict Peggy at work, off New Point Comfort light. Built by Harry Hudgins in the William West yard, Peggy was named after the daughter of the owner, Walter Burroughs of New Point. Walter and his brother-in-law Raymond Hudgins employed Peggy in the pound net fishery until Raymond’s death in the 1930s. Captain Walter was soon joined by his son Richard and in the 1950s had the boat decked over and shifted into the crab fisheries. In 1946 the bottom was replaced by noted local builder Alton Smith. In 1961 Peggy was sold to Ed Grinnell of New Point and she was re-configured for pound fishing again. Captain Ed would eventually return to crab dredging when that fishery became more profitable and he continued to work Peggy for 40 more years until finally and reluctantly selling her in 2001. Kim and Gretchen Granberry ha...
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