Featured Interview: History Before Us
June 1, 2025
Bob Aycock was recently honored to be interviewed by Frederick Murphy for his powerful documentary series, History Before Us. In the interview, he shared a meaningful conversation about the local history of Matthews, the importance of preservation, and the vital role community plays in keeping the town’s heritage alive.
Episode Description:
In this episode, I visit the Matthews Heritage Museum in Matthews, North Carolina, a town rich with history and facing rapid development. I talk with Bob Aycock, Director of the Matthews Heritage Museum, for a meaningful conversation about the town’s deep roots, how it grew from a small railroad stop into a thriving suburb, and what it takes to preserve local history as the landscape continues to change.
We discuss the importance of honoring the stories of longtime residents, the legacy of early businesses, and how the museum serves as a guardian of Matthews’ identity. As construction and expansion reshape the town, Bob shares how the museum is keeping history alive for future generations.
Passport program promotes area museums
The Matthews Heritage Museum is one of several museums participating in the Miles for Museums Summer Passport Program.
Created by the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society in 2023, the program was expanded with a redesigned passport, interactive map and website created by the Matthews Heritage Museum.
The program encourages community members and visitors to explore local museums and communities throughout the summer, collecting passport stamps along the way for a chance to win prizes.
The Miles for Museums program offers free or low-cost adventures with an educational twist, giving participants the opportunity to learn about regional history while discovering new places across the area.
Visitors can begin their journey by picking up a passport at the Matthews Heritage Museum, then collecting stamps from each of the participating museums.
The program is free and runs through Labor Day. To collect a stamp, present your passport at each museum. Once you’ve visited all 13 locations, take a photo of your fully stamped passport, making sure the section with your name, phone number and email is visible. Email it to info@milesformuseums.org to be entered into a drawing for the grand prize.
Participating museums:
- Badin Historic Museum in Badin
- Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum in Mt. Pleasant
- Historic Rosedale in Charlotte
- Hugh Torance House & Store in Huntersville
- Kings Mountain Historical Museum in Kings Mountain
- Matthews Heritage Museum in Matthews
- Mint Hill Historical Society / Carl J. McEwen Historic Village in Mint Hill
- Mount Holly Historical Society in Mount Holly
- Oakboro Museum of History & Oakboro Railroad Museum in Oakboro
- President James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville
- Price of Freedom Museum in China Grove
- Stanly County History Center in Albemarle
On the web: www.milesformuseums.org
Rail history exhibit opens at Matthews Heritage Museum
The Matthews Heritage Museum has introduced a rotating exhibit, “All Aboard: Matthews’ Rail History,” that celebrates the arrival of the railroad in 1874 and its impact on the town’s growth and development.
This exhibit showcases historic photographs of the Matthews Depot, a 1926 timetable and memorabilia from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad spanning the 1930s to 1950s.
Visitors can also view artifacts, including a trainman’s hat and a collection of Lionel train cars, offering a nostalgic journey through the golden age of rail travel.
“The arrival of the railroad marked a turning point for Matthews, transforming it from a small farming community into a thriving town,” said Bob Aycock, museum director. “This exhibit brings that history to life and highlights how the iron rails connected our town to other areas of North Carolina and the United States.”
The exhibit will be on display through May. Whether you’re a lifelong train enthusiast or a history buff, “All Aboard: Matthews’ Rail History” offers an exciting look at the tracks that shaped the town.
The museum operates from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday within the 1879 Massey-Clark House, 232 N. Trade St. Admission is free.
Call 704-708-4996 or visit matthewsheritagemuseum.org for details.
WBTV’s 3-Degree Guarantee
July 11, 2024
Matthews Historical Foundation is honored to have been selected as the June beneficiary of WBTV’s 3-Degree Guarantee. Every month, WBTV News picks a local nonprofit to receive $50 for every weekday their forecast is within 3° of the recorded high temperature, courtesy of McClintock Heating and Cooling. Meteorologist Al Conklin and Kim McClintock visited the Matthews Heritage Museum to present the $950 check to Museum Director Bob Aycock.
Best of the Weeklies Readers’ Choice Awards
We are thrilled to announce that the votes are in for the 2024 Best of the Weeklies readers’ choice awards, and the Matthews Heritage Museum has once again been voted Best Museum! The Reid House also won again for Best Historical Site. Thank you to everyone who supported us!
Matthews-Mint Hill 2024 Best of the Weeklies Winners
Readers have picked winners in over 100 categories in Matthews-Mint Hill’s 2024 Best of the Weeklies campaign.
Entertainment
- Art Gallery: McDowell Arts Center
- Community Theater: Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts
- Event or Wedding Venue: Reid House
- Historical Site: Reid House
- Museum: Matthews Heritage Museum
9 Towns in North Carolina With the Best Downtown Areas in 2024 | WorldAtlas
Less than a half-hour drive from Charlotte is the historic downtown of Matthews, where you’ll find historic shops, delightful restaurants, and an active nightlife. Explore Renfrow Hardware, a 120-year-old establishment with a Lodge Cast Iron, local honey, and fresh produce. There’s also a greenhouse, poultry supplies, and baby chicks! Check out old artifacts and historical information at the Matthews Heritage Museum, or taste the fresh wares from local purveyors at the Community Farmers Market. You can also enjoy local clothes and jewelry at Painted Tree Boutique and stay for the evening to catch a show at the Matthews Playhouse. The thriving neighborhood scene makes Matthews the perfect side trip if you’re visiting Charlotte and looking for some small-town flavor.
Matthews Heritage Museum is part of summer passport program
The Matthews Heritage Museum is participating in the Miles for Museums Summer Passport Program, an initiative created by the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society in 2023.
The program is designed to encourage people to explore area museums and communities throughout the summer while collecting stamps for a chance to win prizes.
Miles for Museums offers an opportunity for free or low-cost adventures, providing an educational experience focused on local history and the chance to discover new places.
Visitors can start their journey by picking up a passport at the Matthews Heritage Museum and collecting stamps from participating museums. The program will run through Labor Day.
Participants reaching their fourth and eighth stamps at any site will be rewarded with small incentives. Completed passports will be collected and entered into a grand raffle at the end of the summer.
Participating museums include:
- Badin Historic Museum, Badin.
- Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum, Mt. Pleasant.
- Historic Gold Hill, Gold Hill.
- Hugh Torance House & Store, Huntersville.
- Locust Historical Society and Museum, Locust.
- Matthews Heritage Museum, Matthews.
- Mint Hill Historical Society / Carl J McEwen Historic Village, Mint Hill.
- NC Music Hall of Fame & Museum and CURB Motorsports & Music Museum, Kannapolis.
- Oakboro Museum of History & Oakboro Railroad Museum, Oakboro.
- Price of Freedom Museum, China Grove.
- Stanly County History Center, Albemarle.
Museum hosts Historic Matthews Cemetery Tour
Photo courtesy of the Matthews Heritage Museum
The Matthews Heritage Museum will host the Historic Matthews Cemetery Tour at 2 p.m. April 20.
This new experience will blend history and storytelling through the hallowed grounds of the Historic Matthews Cemetery on Pleasant Hill Drive. A museum guide will regale attendees with tales of notable figures from the town’s past and their contributions to Matthews.
Through engaging narratives and anecdotes, participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the people that shaped the community.
Register in advance by going to https://matthewsheritagemuseum.org/events. Spaces are limited.
The Matthews Heritage Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays within the historic Massey-Clark House, 232 N. Trade St, Matthews. Admission is free.
History is on a roll
Did you see the Matthews Heritage Museum and Matthews Historical Foundation on the front page of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly? History is on a roll in the Town of Matthews and we’re already excited about 2024!
Matthews Heritage Museum honors military in new exhibit
The Matthews Heritage Museum pays tribute to the men and women who have served in the U.S. military through its latest temporary exhibit, “Service and Sacrifice: Honoring our Heroes.”
The exhibit invites visitors to peer into the world of courage, duty and unwavering commitment displayed by America’s military branches.
Guests will embark on a journey through various eras, immersing themselves in the sacrifices and triumphs of veterans. The exhibit showcases a collection of military uniforms, photographs and military memorabilia. These items were loaned to the museum by the Matthews Veterans Advisory Committee, Hooks-Orr American Legion Post #235 and a few of the museum’s docents.
The Matthews Heritage Museum opens from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays at 232 N. Trade St.
Best of the Weeklies winners recognized
Becky Willard, President of the Matthews Historical Foundation, accepted awards this week for Best Museum (Matthews Heritage Museum) and Best Historic Site (The Reid House) from Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly.
Matthews Heritage Museum makes admission free
The town of Matthews is rich in history, with impressive Victorian architecture and well-preserved artifacts ingrained with stories from the past. From farmlands to a bustling community, Matthews has a legacy to share and a museum aiming to do just that.
The Matthews Heritage Museum has made admissions free to all visitors. And according to Museum Director Bob Aycock, it was a successful change.
“It’s definitely been the best decision,” he said. “We’re going to keep it that way so we can introduce more people to the history of the town and how important it is.”
Another way the museum is planning to share the town’s history is through walking tours. While tour maps are available at the museum, library and town hall for people to navigate on their own, the museum is organizing docent-led tours, which will be given by volunteers who can point out specific locations and offer historical information to visitors throughout the walk.
The museum will soon be offering a more inclusive in-person experience for visitors, too, through a system called 42Kites. Using a QR code, visitors can scan or tap the link on their phones to view additional digital content from the museum, translate exhibits into different languages and access visual impairment controls.
The Matthews Historical Foundation oversees the Matthews Heritage Museum and the Reid House, another prominent historical landmark in town. The foundation is working to open the Reid House for tours.
“You can actually see the Victorian house that people used to live in,” Aycock said.
Museum docent Joe Brandenburg knows the history of that house well. During town events, he reenacts the beloved Dr. Reid, after whose family the house was named.
“We staff the museum to provide tours for people, answer questions,” Brandenburg said. “That’s what we do to tell the story of Matthews to whoever comes and enjoys it.”
Both the museum and the Reid House work in tandem to convey the timeline preserved within the town limits, a story told through numerous artifacts and videos – videos created by senior members of the Matthews community. They shared the experiences of their parents, their grandparents and their grandparents’ grandparents, adding a personal touch to an already unique history.
“We have so many things that have been donated to the museum, whether they’re family photos, letters, or newspapers, things that people have found and discovered,” Aycock said. “It’s nice that we’ve been able to take in so much.”
With expanding attractions and change on the horizon, the Matthews Heritage Museum is taking a step toward the future by bringing the past to present viewers.
Roseland Cemetery Dedication
Nov 9, 2021
On a picture perfect day, a number of citizens gathered to unveil the sign at Roseland Cemetery, an African American burial site just off Monroe Road. In 2017 Taft Development Group purchased the property for development and promised to care for the graveyard. After years of neglect, many wanted this historic site to be refurbished and preserved. This long-forgotten spot where former slaves and African Americans are buried was cleaned up by a group of volunteers led by Hoke Thompson, a former Eagle Scout, in February and March 2021. Taft provided dumpsters and extra topsoil to fill in gravesite depressions and installed a fence around the cemetery perimeter.
The Matthews Heritage Museum did research on the cemetery, tracking who was buried there. After several months, we have a list of 61 names of individuals who are buried there, though most do not have stones (names listed here). The earliest known burial dates to 1916 when Calvin Henry Boyd, first minister and founder of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church was laid to rest. The last known burial dates to 1957 when Reginald Leon McMurray was buried there as an infant. We believe 10 or 11 former slaves are also buried there.
It is a lovely peaceful place to take a stroll and learn a bit of history, located at the rear of the new complex, The Address Galleria apartments.
Tank Town: A Good Place to Live
Feb 16, 2019 – Aug. 17, 2019
A groundbreaking exhibit on Tank Town: A Good Place to Live opens after a year of research. The museum will present its findings on the area once known as Tank Town, an African American neighborhood in Matthews, settled by former slaves and freedmen after the Civil War. The exhibit will explore the people, lifestyles, jobs, schools, and community organizations of this neighborhood.
Matthews Heritage Museum 