January 2026 Updates on two WV Endangered Properties

If you've been following us for a while, you may know that as WV's historic preservation nonprofit, one of our goals is to save more historic places. To help meet that end, PAWV administers the WV Endangered Properties List as an advocacy and awareness tool.
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In 2025, the Middleway National Historic District in Jefferson County and the Roane County Courthouse Annex in Spencer made the list. At the end of last year, two things happened that affected these places, and we wanted to provide an update to our followers.

#1. A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge upheld the Planning Commission’s decision to deny the Mountain Pure water bottling plant proposal in Middleway. After a three-hour hearing on November 10, Judge Bridget Cohee ruled in favor of the Planning Commission and rejected Sidewinder LLC’s challenge. The court agreed that the zoning ordinance does not allow groundwater extraction in the rural zone and affirmed the Commission’s authority to review and deny the project. The Jefferson County Foundation and 11 Middleway residents participated as intervenors, offering research and legal arguments supporting the Commission’s position. Judge Cohee also dismissed additional claims brought by Sidewinder, including an allegation of Open Meetings Act violations. Sidewinder had 30 days to file an appeal, and it does not appear they did although they may be operating under a different name now - Valor Reserve - and lobbying directly with federal leaders.

​#2 - The Roane County Commission moved forward with demolishing the historic Roane County Courthouse Annex last November, only a few short weeks after it was listed as a pivotal structure in the brand new Spencer National Historic District. This happened after a year-long legal battle led by a local resident and preservation expert who advocated to save the building after being denied access to assess its structural stability. PAWV provided technical assistance and support throughout the legal battle, but unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in stopping the demolition. Although, the commission has no reuse plans for this site, it moved forward with demolishing the building.