Matthew Jones House — Attraction in Virginia

The Matthew Jones House is one of them places that just feels haunted… but like, in a polite, well-read way. You show up and it’s sittin’ there on Fort Eustis lookin’ like it’s seen some stuff—like maybe it once fought off a raccoon rebellion with a flintlock pistol and a copy of the Constitution.

Built in 1727, which is back when dudes wore wigs to do regular stuff like chop wood or lie to each other about land grants. It’s got them real colonial bricks—some of ‘em glazed purple, which is either early American swagger or a sign the house did witchcraft in the 1700s. Either way, it sparkles like prom night in a zombie apocalypse.

You can’t really go inside, which is a shame ‘cause I feel like the ghosts in there would offer you tea and hit you with unsolicited advice about the Stamp Act. But you can walk around and peek in the windows like a respectful time-traveling burglar. The whole place smells like old wood, forgotten honor, and maybe just a little bit of mildew wisdom.

There’s always mosquitoes, but that’s just nature’s way of reminding you the past wasn’t air-conditioned. I got bit on the ear and I think I started understanding colonial-era economics.

Some folks say it’s fallin’ apart a little—and yeah, maybe it needs a lil’ love. But that’s what makes it beautiful. You don’t walk up to the oldest house on Mulberry Island expectin’ stainless steel countertops. You go there to feel history in your shins.

Five stars. It’s just sitting there, being old as hell, defying gravity, and daring the Army to tear it down. It won’t. Because deep down, I think even the Installation Commander is a little...

Never went in this house while I was stationed at Eustis, but I do remember as a wrecker operator having to clean up a bad accident at Harrison Rd. & Taylor Ave. It was in 1984 and a car load of 4 soldiers sped directly onto Taylor from Harrison into the path of a military bus. There was not a whole lot left of the young men or their car. What was left I had to lift and bring down the road to the impound with the wrecker. For some reason in my time in and around Ft. Eustis I either witnessed or came upon several fatal or near...

What I find unique about the exterior design are the glazed "purple" colored bricks. When seen from a distance, the sparkle of the glazed bricks would look like diamonds decorated the house. A non-verbal, not-so-subtle way of stating how rich the owner was. The first example of this is from Benjamin Harrison's house (signer if Declaration of Independence) at the Berkeley Plantation which is 70 min drive from here (also off the...