Several dozen people gathered at Fort Nonsense in Mathews last Thursday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the county’s newest park at the Civil War-era site. Early showers had cleared by 10 a.m., and the ceremony went forward under clearing skies in sweater weather.

Neena Putt, vice chairman of the board of supervisors, welcomed guests, including Del. Keith Hodges; Bill Spivey and Carol Rizzio of Land Studio, which designed the project; Tom Teaman of Henry S. Branscome, LLC, contractor for the project; members of the Mathews County Historical Society; various county officials, and others.

Putt recognized Carlton Brooks of Cumberland, a former Mathews resident and historical society member who "started leading the charge of the Fort Nonsense Irregulars."

"The historical society and other interested people picked up the ball and ran with it," said Putt. "The board of supervisors sees this as an important addition to the county."

Historical society president Reed Lawso...