ELKINS, W.Va. — Two "irreplaceable" historic buildings in West Virginia are facing the possibility of demolition, which the state's preservation board is working to prevent.
The towering middle school in Mannington and the courthouse annex in Roane County have been added to the West Virginia Endangered Properties List, a registry maintained by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia.
The organization hopes to work with community members and state, local, and federal governments to find solutions that help sustain and build on the integrity of both communities.
Danielle Parker, executive director of the organization, says including the two properties on the list aims to raise awareness and galvanize support for their preservation.
“These sites represent the rich architecture and diverse history of West Virginia’s public buildings, both designed by West Virginia architects," she said.
"Their inclusion on the endangered properties list underscores the urgent need to protect these irreplaceable landmarks for future generations. We are committed to working with local communities and stakeholders to find solutions that ensure their preservation."
Mannington Middle School
Perhaps the town's defining landmark, Mannington Middle School, is an impressive Victorian Romanesque structure. It's the oldest functional public school in West Virginia and is still owned and operated by the Marion County Board of Education.
The firm Franzheim, Giesey & Faris, based in Wheeling, designed the school, most of Mannington’s historic buildings, and Woodburn Hall at West Virginia University.
Parker said the board contacted the alliance for help finding a solution.
"While still functional, the board, stretched thin, hopes its inclusion on this list will help with the preservation efforts for this outstanding building," she said.
Roane County Courthouse Annex
Initially built for the county jail and jailor’s residence, the Roane County Courthouse Annex was designed by Theodore Sansbury, a Parkersburg-based architect who also designed the Calhoun County Courthouse, Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg Masonic Temple, and many residences in the Julia-Ann Square Historic District in Parkersburg.
Now known as "the annex," it has stood for over 100 years and served various purposes for the county, including as a firehouse in the 1950s. Now underutilized, its preservation and reuse would contribute to the revitalization of Spencer's downtown commercial area. Unable to find a use for the building, the county intends to demolish it.
The endangered properties list is a powerful publicity tool the alliance uses to raise awareness about threatened historic sites.
Inclusion on the list provides these properties increased visibility, advocacy support, and access to resources to aid in their preservation.
The alliance added the Middleway National Historic District in Jefferson County earlier this year.
A remarkably intact rural village with structures dating back to the 1700s, the district is threatened by a proposed large-scale water bottling facility.
The Jefferson County Commission rejected the proposal in March, but Parker said advocates are staying vigilant in case further demolition proposals are presented.
Parker said her organization encourages the public to learn more about these endangered sites and participate in local preservation efforts, which have demonstrated positive economic and cultural outcomes.
In 2024, the alliance added proposed demolition sites at historic Thurmond in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and at the Art Deco municipal auditorium in Charleston. Historic cut stone walls across the state have also been added.
For more information about the 2025 and 2024 Endangered Properties List and how to support preservation efforts in West Virginia, visit www.pawv.org.
Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email twice weekly. Sign me up!
