FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The Fort Eustis Cultural Resources Management Program hosted an open house Oct. 22 and events for National Public Lands Day Saturday at the Matthew Jones House on Harrison Road, Fort Eustis.
The purpose of the program is to educate visitors and the Eustis community about the archaeological sites on the post and the importance of identifying, managing and protecting and preserving the sites and artifacts found on them.
A three-person team that includes Christopher L. McDaid, Eustis cultural resource manager; Patrick Berry, field director; and Courtney Birkett, field archaeologist, the Fort Eustis Archaeology Program is responsible for more than 230 sites on the installation.
"There are 231 identified archaeological sites on Fort Eustis. The sites date from about 10,000 B.C. up to 1918, when the Army took over the area," said Mr. McDaid. "Newport News itself has more than 350 archaeological sites, 68 percent of which are located here on Eustis," he said.
There are several structure sites at Eustis including Fort Crafford, a Confederate earthworks, Liberty Farm and the Matthew Jones House, today an archaeological house museum.
Situated on Mulberry Island, the Matthew Jones House is the only structure still standing, making it one of the most significant sites at Eustis.
Also known as the "Bourbon" and "Brick House" farm, the MJH is thought to have been originally constructed in 1727 for Matthew Jones.
The home started out as a one-story structure with an enclosed porch, a one-story lean-to and two brick fireplaces. In 1893, a second story was added to the main part of the home.
The home is on the National Registry of Historic Places which the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission described on the National Register Inventory Nomination Form as "one of the finest of the handful of Medieval-style Virginia house extant. Even in its present altered form, the Matthew Jones House is of high architectural significance and rarity."
The MJH is open daily for exterior viewing and free guided house tours are available by appointment. For more information, contact the Fort Eustis Cultural Resources Management Program at 878-4123. For tours, contact the Fort Eustis Historical and Archaeological Association 872-8283 or e-mail info@fehaa.org.