In Fall of 2021, the Mathews Visitor Center partnered with a few local businesses to host a contest to enter a free getaway to Mathews! This promotion was put together in partnership with Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine featuring a 2 night stay at The Inn at Tabbs Creek, a gift certificate from Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, a class at the Bay School Community Arts Center, a dinner for two at White Dog Bistro, and a gift basket of souvenirs from the The Mathews Visitor Center!
The Winner is Drawn!
Well the lucky winner was drawn at random by Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine in December, and they will be visiting Mathews this March to cash in their weekend getaway. Congratulations to Deacon Maccubin!
This is a special story we wanted to share – as the winner will actually be celebrating a homecoming to his childhood stomping grounds. Deacon remembers visiting Mathews as a child because his grandparents (on both sides of the family) once lived in Mathews. After nearly 30 years away, he will be returning back with his husband, Jim Bennet, to enjoy a peaceful retreat to Mathews County. Read our interview with Deacon!
Congratulations on being the winner of the Blue Ridge Outdoor Giveaway to Mathews! How did you find out about it and what does this getaway mean to you?
I’ve been following the Blue Ridge Outdoor website for several years. I have often visited the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge areas and have made many stops all along the I-81 corridor. It’s such a beautiful countryside! When I saw a promotion for the Mathews County getaway, I was giddy with excitement. Mathews County was my first exposure to woods and rivers when I was a young child.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m originally from Norfolk but have lived in the DC area since 1969. For 35 years, I owned Lambda Rising Bookstores, a small chain (we called it a “bracelet”) of LGBTQ bookstores headquartered in DC but with retail operations in 5 states and online. I retired in 2010. Since then, I’ve spent my time traveling with my husband, Jim Bennett — we just celebrated our 44th anniversary in February — and he’ll be with me in Mathews. So far, we have vacationed in 14 counties and visited 31 states. As soon as the concerns about Covid relax sufficiently, we hope to take our third trip to France and Spain. We are also big fans of live music and theater and we spend far too much time shopping in antique stores and art galleries.
You mentioned visiting as a child, can you tell us a bit more about that?
My grandparents on my father’s side, Mr. & Mrs. George Maccubbin, retired to a home on Put In Creek in Mathews and my grandparents on my mother’s side, Mr. & Mrs. Franklin A. Walker, retired to a home on the shores of the East River and was a lay leader in the local Baptist church. When I was a wee tyke, I spent many Summer days floating on the river, learning how to fish and crab from “Pop” Walker. Some of my happiest days were spent there, watching the vanes on the windmill spin and gathering eggs from the chickens in their barn (and catching the black snakes that were trying to steal them). I remember going into town to Hudgins Drug Store to buy an ice cream and I remember when the first traffic light was installed on the Main Street (we used to joke that they even turned it on on Saturdays — and I’m not sure that was actually a joke).
What are you looking forward to the most when you visit?
It’s been probably 25 or 30 years since I’ve been back to Mathews so I’m very excited to see the many changes that the area has undergone… I believe “Pop” Walker’s house still stands and we hope to visit it. We are looking forward to the Bay School visit — Jim is going to take a class there. And the Inn at Tabbs Creek sounds wonderful, a great place to recharge our batteries! I can already picture us sitting on the dock, watching the sunset over the water.
