Editor, Gazette-Journal:

My family and I were very disappointed to learn that the Bay School plans to demolish the L. M. Callis house. Coming on the heels of the Donk’s Theater collapse, 2016 looks to be the beginning of a sad era for historic buildings in our county. 

I am especially disappointed because my grandfather, J. Eddie Callis, built both of those fine Mathews landmarks. A Mathews native, master craftsman and contractor, he and his crews were responsible for many of our most treasured buildings including: the Mathews Library, the former Lee-Jackson School, the former Foster’s Department Store (Halcyon Building), and the Richardson’s Drug Store building, just to name a few.

We’re blessed to still have my grandfather’s ledgers and they list the names of Ira J. Ward, Leonard D. Minter, 

A. C. Hudgins, R. B. Respress, Claudie V. Hunley, A. D. Hudgins, C. L. Morgan, A. J. Miller, Ernest Diggs, and so many more local men who were the back...