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Preservation Alliance unveils Endangered Properties List for 2024

3/15/2024

 
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​The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia announces three additions to the West Virginia Endangered Properties List for 2024: West Virginia’s Historic Cut Stone Walls, Charleston’s Municipal Auditorium, and the proposed demolition sites at the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
 
Since 1999, the West Virginia Endangered Properties List has become one of the organization's most useful tools, garnering interest in the preservation of threatened landmarks and landscapes across the state.
 
According to executive director Danielle Parker, “The Endangered Properties List is a public statement that these places matter, not only to the communities where they are located but to us all because of our shared heritage. The List is an opportunity for communities to come to us and request assistance to preserve places that are important to them.”

​Properties added to this year’s list are:
Example of a historic cut stone wall outside of McDowell County Courthouse.
Example of a historic cut stone wall outside of McDowell County Courthouse. Photo credit: Christy Bailey
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), among other New Deal Initiatives, created a large stock of hand cut, stone walls across the state. This added to West Virginia’s already rich collection of stone walls built by railroad companies and skilled immigrant masons. These walls are now threatened due to age, poor documentation, and lack of awareness. State-wide, hand cut stone walls aged 50 years or older are part of this endangered properties listing.
Historic Municipal Auditorium in Charleston, WV
Municipal Auditorium. Photo courtesy of David Sibray
In early February of 2024, the city of Charleston made the decision to immediately close its Municipal Auditorium citing life safety hazards related to structural and electrical issues. This caused great concern from the surrounding community, who immediately mobilized to advocate for the building’s preservation. Originally built in 1939 by the Public Works Administration (PWA), the art deco building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
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The Prince Brothers General Store is one building proposed for demolition. Photo credit: National Park Service
At the end of 2023, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve announced that they were pursuing demolition of 35 structures in the park. Thirteen are already listed as contributing to one of several historic districts contained within the park, and one, the Prince Brothers General Store, is individually listed on the National Register. Additionally, eight other buildings are said to be eligible or potentially eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 
Though the National Park Service is considering alternative options to demolition, many have voiced their concerns about demolishing these historic structures in and around Thurmond.

​When a property is nominated by the public, it is evaluated for the Endangered Properties List through a competitive application process based on imminent danger, local support for its reuse, and its listing on (or official eligibility for) the National Register of Historic Places.

 
The Preservation Alliance aims to help preserve listed properties through targeted advocacy, statewide publicity, and technical assistance. Properties added to the list are eligible to apply for the Alliance’s grants and to collaborate with the Alliance for fundraising assistance. These sites also receive preference for hands-on workshops.
 
More information about the West Virginia Endangered Properties List may be found on the Preservation Alliance's website at http://www.pawv.org/endanger.htm. Those interested in assisting with preservation projects may contact the Alliance at [email protected] or 304-345-6005.

Avis Overhead Bridge

2/1/2016

 
​Hinton, Summers County
Construction Date: 1928
Threat: Deterioration; Funding

May 2019 Update: Progress on the bridge is at a standstill.  The West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) is willing to have a non-profit organization take over ownership of the bridge if they can demonstrate financial ability to restore and maintain the bridge.  Additionally, they must agree to dismantle the bridge if they can no longer maintain it.  However, as of the site’s last update, they have been unable to find a non-profit organization capable of taking on the expense of the bridge’s restoration.  The bridge continues to need concrete repairs, conduit replacement for decorative lighting, and grooming of the surrounding area. Until a financially capable custodial organization is found, the bridge will continue to deteriorate.  The local community would like to see the for former automobile bridge restored and repurposed as a pedestrian bridge.

https://www.facebook.com/AvisOverheadBridge/

2016: The Avis Overhead Bridge connects Hinton and the neighboring community of Avis, above the railroad tracks, along WV 107 and, later, WV Route 21. It is recognized in the 1984 West Virginia Bridge Survey as being historically significant.  The Luten Bridge Company of York, Pennsylvania, constructed the bridge in 1928. Its designer, Daniel B. Luten, claimed to have designed over 17,000 bridges, and the concrete Avis Overhead Bridge features his patented Rainbow Arch. Rainbow arch bridges are famous for having been built with curved, simply ornamented, solid parapets.  This style of concrete arch was widely built as a proprietary bridge type in the first quarter of the twentieth century.  

The bridge closed in 2003 when a new bridge was constructed nearby.  The West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) retains ownership of the original bridge and does not have plans to rehabilitate it now that a new bridge has been built.  Local groups would like to see this former automobile bridge reused as a pedestrian bridge reconnecting Hinton and Avis.  Before its potential reopening, however, the bridge is in need of concrete repairs, conduit replacement for decorative lighting, and grooming of the surrounding area. 

The DOH would consider giving up ownership of the bridge to a nonprofit if that particular organization could demonstrate the long term fiscal ability to inspect the bridge in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards and to maintain its safe operations for general public use.  Interested organizations must submit a plan to the DOH outlining how the organization expects to maintain the bridge and for what duration. The organization must also agree to demolish the structure at its own cost at which time it is determined that they do not have the financial capability to maintain the safe operation of the bridge.  The bridge would require an in-depth inspection and load rating for its intended use before it could be open to any type of traffic.
Download 2016 Report

McCreery Hotel

2/1/2009

 
Hinton, Summers County

2017 Update: Mountain Plex Properties, LLC has completed a great deal of work on the hotel since taking over ownership in May 2009.  The restoration and renovation work include the following and is now considered a saved property:
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  • Parapet repair and new Dura-Last Roof in 2010 resolving all interior water leaks.
  • New guttering
  • Realignment and tuckpointing of bricks on the West side of the building.
  • Restoration of over 200 windows from the first floor to the fifth floor.  There are 13 windows left to be restored.
  • The restoration and renovation of first floor has made it possible to house two Mountain Plex offices and created space for a catering kitchen to serve the Conference and Event Center.
  • The upper floors have been cleaned of all wet debris and they are now mothballed.
  • Installation of a new HVAC systems.
2009: McCreery Hotel Construction on the five story “McCreery Hotel” commenced in 1907. When completed in 1908 it was regarded as the premier hotel on the railroad main line extending from Washington DC to Chicago, Illinois. Nominated to the National Register in 1984, it was a resting spot for many of America’s favorite celebrities and politicians. Currently operated by Human Resources Development and Employment, Inc., of Morgantown, the historic Hinton hotel faces considerable restoration challenges. Deteriorating roof and windows have allowed water intrusion to take a toll on the upper floors of the building. 
Download 2009 Report

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    If you are interested in assisting with any of these preservation projects, contact the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia at [email protected].

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  • Programs
    • Advocacy >
      • Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
    • Annual Awards >
      • 2025 Awards
    • Blair Footsteps Interpretive Trail
    • Preserve WV AmeriCorps >
      • Preserve WV Stories
    • Sites of Enslavement
    • West Virginia Endangered Properties
    • West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference >
      • 2025 Conference Sponsorship
      • Lodging for PAWV Conference
    • Webinars >
      • Webinar Archive
    • West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail
    • WV New Deal Trail
  • Resources
    • Fund Your Preservation Project >
      • Historic Preservation Loan Fund
      • Saving Historic Places Grant
    • Preservation Techniques >
      • Historic Building Assessment
      • How to Recycle Asbestos
      • Mothballing Property
      • Window Rehabilitation
    • Frances Benjamin Johnston: A West Virginia Icon >
      • Selected Photos
      • Behind the Lens Activity
    • Historic Preservation Degrees
  • News
    • Preservation Spotlights
    • Monthly E-newsletter
  • Contact
    • About Us >
      • Our Team
      • Our Story
  • Give
    • Year-end Donations
    • Become a Member of PAWV
    • Give Online
    • Ways to Give to PAWV
    • Volunteer