Mathews Museum to Host Presentation on Historic Williams Wharf

As part of May Faire, join the Mathews Museum to hear Pam Muffelman speak about the history of Williams Wharf Landing from the 1600s to present day! This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.

Local historian and longtime Mathews resident Pam Muffelman will lead the presentation, guiding attendees through a rich timeline of Williams Wharf and its surrounding area—from its earliest days in the 1600s to the present. Muffelman, known for her engaging talks and extensive research, has long been involved in efforts to preserve and reimagine the site as a public waterfront park that honors its unique past.

“The Wharf was very active from its inception,” Muffelman explains, “with its founding by the Williams family prior to the Revolutionary War. It was a well-established port of call—particularly for British ships—and played a significant role during the war as both a lookout and a center for continued trade and shipbuilding activities.”

Drawing from the research of respected Virginia historian Martha McCartney, Muffelman will highlight the ongoing maritime economy of the East River during the Revolutionary War, including local shipbuilders who continued crafting vessels, sails, rigging, and equipment to support the war effort. The talk will also touch on the once-thriving tide mill at Poplar Grove—believed to have ground cornmeal for Washington’s troops in nearby Yorktown. As the last tide mill of its kind in Virginia and one of the few remaining in the nation, Muffelman notes its historical significance and urges greater recognition of this rare local landmark.

“With the upcoming 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what life may have been like at the Wharf during the colonial era,” Muffelman says. “The ships, the families, the bills of lading—they all help tell the story of how deeply Mathews was connected to the early maritime history of this country.”