The Virginia Department of Historic Resources will hold a public hearing tonight on the designation of Gwynn’s Island as a historic district. The meeting will be held at 7 o’clock on Thursday, May 4 at the Gwynn’s Island Civic League building on Old Ferry Road.

The entire island has been determined to be eligible for listing in the Virginia Landmark Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination for the listing will be presented to the State Review Board and Virginia Board of Historic Resources on June 15 at its quarterly meeting at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News.

Lori Jackson Black of Preservation Mathews said her organization began working on this project in March 2020. Data Investigations of Gloucester was contracted to do the research on the historic structures. A meeting was held in June 2021 with island residents, and the board of supervisors gave its approval of the project that month.

Gwynn’s Island residents were contacted via mail and have generally expressed support for the project, said Black. She said this is the last step before the meeting of the State Review Board.

“Preservation Mathews is looking to expand and do some more historic districts,” said Black, “including Mobjack and several others.”

The public is invited to attend tonight’s meeting and provide comment on the proposal. Those who can’t attend may submit comment to Julie Langan, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, at julie.langan@dhr.virginia.gov or 804-482-6087.

For more information, contact Joanna McKnight at joanna.mcknight@dhr.virginia.gov.