ELKINS, W.Va. — The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia in 2022 awarded more than $488,000 in funding to restoration projects in Brooke, Mercer, Preston, Summers, Randolph, Greenbrier, and Hampshire counties through its Saving Historic Places Grants program.
According to Danielle Parker, executive director of the alliance, the program was established to help save certified historic buildings in rural communities from demolition by neglect and provides funding for building emergencies, building stabilization, and pre-development.
To qualify for the annual award, properties must be individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or contribute to a historic district on the national register.
Funding is partly provided by a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant administered by the National Park Service. The alliance received 32 applications this year requesting more than $2.8 million in funding, Parker said.
Arthurdale School Buildings, Arthurdale (Preston County)
Arthurdale Heritage Inc. received $65,175.28 to stabilize the exteriors of the three historic school buildings. The project scope includes roof repair, drainage systems, gutter installation, mothballing windows and doors, sidewalk repair, and brush removal. The funding will secure, stabilize, and mothball the buildings to prepare for their adaptive reuse.
Cold Metal Building, Wellsburg (Brooke County)
The Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle, a nonprofit organization, received $84,790.10 to stabilize the Cold Metal Building. Funding will be used to repoint brick, infill holes, and rebuild certain areas of the building. The corporation is working with the local community on a master plan for the structure that involves reusing it for a commercial space.
New River Grocery Building, Hinton (Summers County)
The City of Hinton received $108,810 to install a rubber roofing system as well as gutters, downspouts, and insulation. The proposed use of the New River Grocery Building will be to immediately incorporate it as an extension of the Freight Depot event center, a space used by nonprofit organizations, and to relocate the Railroad History Museum to this space.
Logan House, Beverly (Randolph County)
The Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation received $30,000 to repair a hole in the roof of the Logan House, replace timbers in the roof and upper floor that has been compromised by a fire, and replace rotting boards. This is the first step in saving the currently vacant building.
Pink Library, Lewisburg (Greenbrier County)
The Greenbrier Historical Society received $34,425 for emergency repairs to the roof drainage, masonry, and windows on the Pink Library, also known as the 1834 Supreme Court Library. The project aims to restore the building into a heritage tourism attraction.
Wheby’s Grocery Store, Princeton (Mercer County)
The Riff-Raff Arts Collective received $102,808.15 for stabilization and interior renovations of the Wheby’s Grocery Store building. Funding will be used for roof replacement, interior repairs, rehabilitation of all windows and doors, restoration of all hardwood floors, and upgrades to the installation system. The future use of this vacant building is the Lonnie Gunter, Jr., Center for Culture and History.
W.Va. School for Deaf and Blind Dairy Barn (Hampshire County)
The Town of Romney received $60,000 for emergency repairs to the roof of the W.Va. School for Deaf and Blind Dairy Barn. The adaptive reuse of this vacant building has not yet been determined, but the goal is for the barn to be reused for recreation or entertainment.
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation in West Virginia. It also administers the West Virginia Saving Historic Places Grant and the Preserve West Virginia AmeriCorps National Service Initiative.
Most 2022 projects have already published requests for quotations from qualified contractors, which can be found at PAWV.org/news.
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