A Private Peninsula off the Chesapeake Bay
Story by Franklin Hardy
Driving South on New Point Comfort Highway from the historic town of Mathews, Virginia, you arrive at a near mile-long driveway, pass through fields of soybeans and enter the Brighton estate.
In 1916, Herman Hollerith, inventor of the punched card tabulating machine whose company later became IBM, purchased property off the East River in Mathews County to create a family retreat. He named it “Brighton.” Hollerith also acquired the adjacent Mobjack Farm to run a Guernsey cow dairy operation. The 61-acre properties have been kept in the family ever since but are now available for purchase for the first time since its conception.
Brighton occupies a private peninsula between Tabb’s Creek and the East River just a short distance to Mobjack Bay off the Chesapeake Bay. It offers roughly a mile of water frontage. The area is ideal for fishing, boating, water skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking and other water sports. The marshland along the outermost tip of the peninsula makes a great habitat for waterfowl. Bald eagles and osprey nest in the surrounding area, and dolphins search the creek and river for their next meals.
Hollerith built a large 6,066 square-foot home to accommodate his family of six children. This main home, referred to as the “Summer House,” was built in the early 1900s after he purchased the property. Around 1940, as his family grew to include grandchildren, he built a second home of 2,508 square-feet and named it “Winter House.” Together, the two dwellings include 12 bedrooms, five full baths and two half-baths. These houses provide spacious living and dining areas for family gatherings, large kitchens with butler’s pantries, a library and a private office. Long screened porches stretch the entire length of both houses. Rows of rocking chairs invite passers-by to rest and enjoy the breathtaking water vistas and soak in the nostalgic feeling of a bygone era.
Between the two homes sits a large, fig-tree lined garden which at one time produced a variety of fruits and vegetables for the family. A short walk from the Summer House leads to a dock with a boat house. A carriage barn with stalls for horses is within a short walk from the Winter House. A screened gazebo, guest house and well-house complete the charm of the compound.
The cropland has long been tended by a tenant farmer who mainly grows soybeans and corn. Accessed via a separate driveway, the farm complex on the northwest corner of the property has two tenant houses, equipment barns and its own piers. Already located in a very rural area, these croplands provide additional privacy and seclusion to the family compound.
Reminiscent of a time past, Brighton is a sportsman’s paradise and a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life. It’s a place where family and friends can gather, and time slows down. Brighton is easily accessible from Washington, D.C., Richmond, Norfolk and Williamsburg. The historic town of Mathews, the county seat since 1791, is less than ten minutes away and still features many of its original buildings. The town hosts festive events throughout the year and is a go-to place for immediate daily needs. Brighton is offered for $2,950,000 through Frank Hardy Sotheby’s International Realty.
Franklin Hardy grew up in Virginia and is a screenwriter based in Los Angeles, California.
