The Mathews County Historical Society will hold a Historic House Tour and Garden Party from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, at Providence, a stately Georgian mansion that overlooks the Piankatank River near the Twigg Bridge. Providence, which was built by William Fitchett prior to 1815, was one of Mathews County’s most costly homes. Fitchett, a prosperous merchant and court official, derived income from his agricultural pursuits and from the operation of a ferry across the Piankatank River. Providence, now the home of Jim and Celia McKinnon, has not been open to a public tour since 1984. The Providence manor house, which has an English basement, has original richly-carved paneling and elaborate ornamental woodwork. It is situated on 30 acres and has several dependencies. The gardens adjacent to the main house contain ancient trees, boxwood, magnolia and crape myrtles. Local tradition attributes the garden design to neighbor John Clayton. Later, gardens were developed by Charles Freeman Gil...