Matthews Messenger | September 2020

SEPTEMBER — 2020

Volume 2 — Issue 9

Matthews Public Works Department Installs Sidewalks in Partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Learn more information on page 3.

In this issue...

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Town Manager Blodgett provides the latest on COVID-19

Keep These Messages On Your Mind Engage and Connect: Follow the Town of Matthews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, NextDoor and sign up to receive notifications.

Visit www.matthewsnc.gov for more info.

Is your pup Matthews’ Finest Fido? See page 3 for details

MATTHEWSNC.GOV

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

Read all about the mysterious cemetery stones found in Matthews on page 4

@MATTHEWSNC

TOWN OF MATTHEWS

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

www.matthewsnc.gov

Matthews Messenger | September 2020

MANAGER’S MESSAGE With fall just around the corner, many of us are looking forward to cooler temperatures.

Unfortunately, we won’t get to enjoy some of the things that fall usually brings due to COVID-19 – and this year that includes some of our special events. We recently announced that BeachFest, which was rescheduled this year from May to October, along with the remaining Food Truck Friday events are canceled. Although it is difficult to cancel some of these popular events that we know the community loves, we are following guidance from the State and the County and are confident that we are making the right decision.

Although special events and large gatherings are on hold - the terrific team in our Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Department has a

great lineup of classes and activities to offer. Proper health and safety protocols are being followed. Visit www.matthewsnc. gov/matthewsfun for more information.

The good news is we are starting to see some positive trends related to COVID-19 in our region.

A lower rate of positive tests and hospitalizations means we are moving in the right direction.

However, it is important that we stay the course. Continue wearing face coverings, practice social distancing and wash your hands often. It is so important that we do not become complacent regarding these public health guidelines. Mayor Higdon shared a similar message in his recent video address. Hear more about what he has to say in the article below.

VIDEO MESSAGE FROM MAYOR HIGDON Be sure to watch Mayor Higdon’s recent video message on the right!

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Hazen Blodgett HAZEN BLODGETT MATTHEWS TOWN MANAGER HBLODGETT@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

Matthews Messenger | SEPTEMBER 2020

Matthews Launches Finest Fido Contest Submissions for the third annual “Matthews’ Finest Fido” are being accepted through September 30. The winner of this contest will receive a prize package that includes a $50 gift certificate from Pet Paradise Matthews, and a $100 gift certificate from Pet Supermarket.

A caricature of the winning pup will be placed on this year’s limitededition Pawsitively Matthews t-shirt. Plus, the winning dog’s picture will hang in Town Hall and the Matthews Community Center. This year’s “Matthews Finest Fido” will also secure a spot in the 2021 Matthews Alive parade. Click here for more information.

Pictured to the left: Winston, Matthews’ Finest Fido 2019

Matthews Public Works Department Installs Sidewalks in Partnership with Habitat for Humanity

Residents in a neighborhood on Dion Drive have a brand new sidewalk to enjoy thanks to the Matthews Public Works Department. The crew installed the new sidewalks through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The Town of Matthews provides the labor and equipment and Habitat provides the materials.

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Matthews Messenger | September 2020

Mysterious Cemetery Stones Found in Crestdale This article was provided by the Matthews

might be able to discover a name in the

Historical Museum.

census record or possibly an obituary in the newspapers.

In late May Jeff Hauser, President of the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogy Society (OMGS) contacted the Matthews Historical Foundation and the Matthews Heritage Museum (MHM) asking if they knew of an old cemetery in the Crestdale section of Matthews. Barbara Taylor, Director of the MHM, having completed over a year of research on the neighborhood, said she had never heard of a cemetery in the area. The question was posed because a Piedmont Gas worker, Michael Doby, had come across a number of cemetery markers with dates in the mid-19th century in a wooded area in Crestdale Crossing.

The earliest marker dated to 1817!

Taylor decided to share this mystery with Hauser and Taylor felt that they needed to

other historians in the Charlotte History

investigate the tombstones to see if they

Roundtable, to see if they might have a

could find where they belonged. They

better way to identify the people the stones

spent half a day individually recording what

represented. Within a few hours, historian

turned out to be 41 stones with inscriptions

John Blythe answered the call, identifying

on them. The stones were rather unusual as

one stone with two sets of initials as a stone

they were only 6 to 8 inches wide, and 11 to

for two brothers who died on the same

27 inches tall. They only had initials, rather

day and were buried in Sardis Presbyterian

than full names, and only 11 had a date on

Cemetery. The next day, using a database

the marker. They thought some, because

he has created from his years of research

of their size, might be foot stones. After

and FindAGrave, he was able to identify

documenting the stones, they began trying

most of the initials with people who were

to research who these tombstones were

buried at Sardis Presbyterian Church.

for. With initials and dates, we thought we

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Matthews Messenger | SEPTEMBER 2020

Taylor contacted David Blackley who

the preservation of history. Plans are being

oversees the cemetery. He remembered

made to bring the stones home safely to

that in 1970 the church cemetery had

Sardis Presbyterian Church.

suffered vandalism with a number of its stones knocked over. The church decided to place many of them flat on the ground.

But others were given to Neil Huntley, caretaker of the cemetery to keep them safe. He brought them home and stored them in a wooded area behind his house.

Huntley died a few years ago. For almost 50 years they had been there when Doby discovered them. After Blackley reviewed the pictures and information on the stones, he was convinced they were footstones for many graves at the cemetery. Currently the Town of Matthews has them in safe storage.

But this interesting mystery has been solved through the cooperation of a handful of individuals and organizations who believe in

Matthews Helping Matthews The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on the resources of the Matthews Help Center. Consider making a donation to the HELP Center to provide meals for hungry families, help to pay for utilities or housing costs, and more.

Matthews Helping Matthews is a fundraising effort led by a group of local volunteers. Click here to donate.

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Matthews Messenger | September 2020

September 2020 Events Calendar Any questions?

Contact us! veterans advisory committee meeting

Matthews committee on education Meeting

parks, rec, and cultural resources committee meeting

environmental advisory committee meeting

Board of Commissioners Meeting

Transportation advisory committee meeting

Via Zoom

at 7:00 PM

Appearance/tree committee meeting

Economic Development Advisory meeting Cultural diversity committee meeting

Board of Commissioners Meeting

Town Hall at 7:00 PM

For additional details, please visit: www.matthewsnc.gov/calendar.aspx Have any questions about the community? Contact us!

TOWN HALL

232 Matthews Station St. | Matthews, NC 28105 PHONE

(704) 847- 4411 E-MAIL

matthews@matthewsnc.gov WEB

www.matthewsnc.gov

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