The Matheson History Museum receives two generous grants and donations for the rehabilitation of the Historic Matheson House

Press release from The Matheson History Museum

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Matheson History Museum is thrilled to announce that we have received two generous grants and donations for the rehabilitation of the Historic Matheson House. The House is currently closed as we work to secure the funds needed.

• $40,377 Business Improvement Grant (BIG) from the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA)
• $26,000 donation from Mrs. Barbara Franklin Martin

GCRA BIG Grant

On October 16th, the City of Gainesville Commission voted to approve an allocation of $40,377 to the Matheson for the Matheson House Rehabilitation Project. This is especially meaningful given that the staff recommendation — based on program guidelines — had been to award us $0.

At the Downtown Advisory Board meeting where this grant was discussed, John Fleming made a very generous offer to give up a portion of his award for the Seagle Building project so that the funds could be shared between the Matheson and the Florida Theatre project. We are eternally grateful for Mr. Fleming’s kindness and generosity!

Matheson History Museum Executive Director Salvatore J. Cumella said, “We are deeply grateful to the Gainesville City Commission and to John Fleming for their generous support of the Matheson House Rehabilitation Project. John’s remarkable proposal to share the GCRA BIG grant funds is a shining example of what makes our community special — Gainesville lifts each other up. The Matheson’s work is only possible because of the unwavering support of our community, and we are truly thankful.”

Private Donation

Mrs. Barbara Franklin Martin grew up in Gainesville and knew Sarah Matheson through her membership at the First Presbyterian Church. We’ll be working with her to use this generous gift as a matching challenge to help raise even more funds for the project.

Martin said, “I was born and raised in Gainesville, where I was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and had the privilege of getting to know Sarah Matheson in my youth. At the age of twenty, I relocated to Atlanta but continued to return to Gainesville often. In 1997, my father was interviewed by Thomas Fay for the Oral History Program of the Matheson Historical Center, which was when I first became acquainted with the museum. The longer I have been away, the more I appreciate the significance of a place that preserves the town’s history, which will always be ‘home’ to me. When I learned that time had taken its toll on the Matheson home, I felt called to add my own contribution to my hometown as well as the fellow Presbyterian, who was responsible for all. It gives me joy to give back in some small way to a place and a woman who was meaningful to me.”

Thanks to these two amazing supporters, we have now raised $124,471 towards the Matheson House Rehabilitation Project. We are calling on the community to join our incredible donors and help us reach our $200,000 goal. Every donation will keep the tradition of our local history alive and will be an enduring investment in our shared past and a gift for the future.

Donation Link: https://cfncf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4236

While the Matheson House remains closed for rehabilitation, the Museum and Library & Archives continue to operate during their regular hours. Visitors are encouraged to explore ongoing exhibits, access archival materials, and participate in upcoming programs during this time. We encourage the public to follow along with the project on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Threads) and website.

History of the Matheson House

One of the three oldest residences in Gainesville, the historic Matheson House was completed in the late 1850s by Alexander Matheson, an emigrant from Camden, South Carolina. After the Civil War started, Alexander moved his family back to South Carolina.

In 1867, Alexander’s brother, James Douglas Matheson, married Augusta Florida Steele of Cedar Key, and they acquired the house. The house was then bequeathed to James’s son, Chris, who served as the mayor of Gainesville from 1910 through 1917; was a state legislator; and later became a Presbyterian minister. His wife, Sarah Hamilton Matheson, was the first female elder at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville. Sarah helped form the Alachua County Historical Society and served as its president. She was also a founding Board member of the Matheson Historical Center (now the Matheson History Museum), which opened in 1994. Sarah deeded the Matheson House to the Matheson Historical Center upon her death in 1996.