Tams, Raleigh County
Construction Date: 1921
Threat: Maintenance; Funding; Reversion Clause

2021 Update: PAWV is in the process of nominating the building to the National Register of Historic Places.

2017 Update: No updates have been made available to PAWV in 2017.
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As of the last update provided to PAWV in 2016, no further preservation action has been taken by the church congregation. Despite the lack of preservation progress, the church continues to receive routine maintenance, and the congregation is in the process of setting up a social-media based fundraiser.

2016: The New Salem Baptist Church is the only building that remains in the coal camp in Tams.  A racially segregated community, Tams was divided into Colored Town, American Town, and Immigrant Town. This congregation consisted of black miners and their families, who resided in the northern section of Tams. The Gothic Revival church was built in 1921 after the board of trustees of the congregation approached W. P. Tams, Jr., who owned the company town, requesting that a church be built for them. Tams obliged and provided the funding for the construction of the church. The congregation was able to repay Tams in 1928 and received a clear title to the property.  However, a reversion clause in the deed apparently states that the parcel will revert to ownership by the present Western Pocahontas Land Company should it cease to be used as a house of worship. 

The church reached its peak during the 1930s, serving 350 members. Once Tams sold his mine in 1955, the community emptied with the eventual closure of the mine, and the town began to decay. Outside coal companies bought many of the buildings and removed them from the community. The last residents of the community of Tams left in the 1980s, and every structure in the black camp of Tams has now disappeared, with the exception of the New Salem Baptist Church.

For over 90 years, there has been an active congregation at the church, and its goal is to continue holding services in the community that many of the congregation once called home.  With a congregation of about 10 members, maintenance is the chief issue for the church, as is maintaining the property as a church for the long-term.  The congregation and all other engaged parties agree the church should be preserved perpetually as a monument to the communities that once populated the Winding Gulf and as a memorial to the former black community of which the church is the sole remnant.  The congregation continues to accept donations to maintain the church, which has become a popular tourist attraction to those riding the ATV trails throughout the Winding Gulf.

Mt. Nebo, Nicholas County
Date of Construction: c. 1845
Threat: Deferred Maintenance + Security

2017 Update: No updates have been made available to PAWV in 2017.

As of the last update provided to PAWV in 2016, there has been very little progress made at the site in the last six months.  Collections management of the home’s artifacts continues to be conducted. In early 2016, roof repairs had been completed, a non-historic porch on the back of the building had been removed, and trees that might have been a threat to the site had been cleared.

2015: The Old White House, which sits on the McClung/McMillion Farm, houses a large collection of artifacts and historical records significant to Nicholas County. A two-story log structure covered in square-cut clapboard siding, the house was built circa 1845 by Matthew McClung on land given to him by his grandfather William McClung (William was one of the first settlers of the area, taking nearly 100,000 acres of land on the Gauley River and its tributaries). From the mid to late 1800s, the home served as the U.S. Post Office for Fowler’s Knob.

​The farm has been in the McClung/McMillion family since its construction. For the past 30 years, the Old White House has sat vacant with little maintenance, leading to water damage from a leaking roof and the theft of various artifacts. The current owners are in the process of passing ownership to their grandson, who is very passionate about restoring the property and implementing a collections care and management policy so that the Old White House may serve as a resource for the community. In order to restore the property, the tin roof will be repaired to prevent further water damage, a later addition will be removed, and a structural engineer will inspect the outbuildings, some of which are in danger of collapse.

Beckley, Raleigh County
Construction Date: 1900—1945
Threat: Loss of Historic Integrity

2017 Update: No updates have been made available to PAWV in 2017.

As of the site’s last update in 2016, three historic buildings on Neville Street were deemed by an engineer to be in imminent danger of collapse.  As a result, in June 2016, the buildings were demolished at the authorization of the City of Beckley - despite the hopes of the Beckley Historic Landmark Commission that the buildings could be saved.  This is most unfortunate, as the loss of these buildings increases concerns that the district could lose its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. If the district were de-listed, property owners there would no longer qualify for state development grants and tax credits for continued historic preservation efforts.
 
Unfortunately, two other notable buildings, the former Beckley Newspaper Buildings on Prince Street, were also deemed hazardous; as of May 2016, the City of Beckley is planning demolition. The 1950s structures, which were too young to qualify for listing when the Beckley Courthouse Square National Historic District was originally created, were determined non-contributing at the time.   However, they now exceed the 50-year age threshold, and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) believes the buildings may be architecturally significant and that they would be eligible to be listed on the NRHP as part of the historic district.  Thus far, the City of Beckley has not followed through on the process of determining whether these buildings are National Register-eligible.

2015: Beckley Courthouse Square Historic District, encompasses approximately eight city blocks surrounding the county courthouse, including the main streets of Neville, Main, Prince and Heber. The district’s private commercial buildings were constructed using local sandstone and brick with simple architectural detail, and the public buildings (e.g. banks, churches, government buildings) were constructed using local sandstone, brick and limestone, with heavy architectural details and more classical designs.

Since receiving its National Register designation in 1994, more than 20 of the 100 contributing properties have been demolished and another 20 have been remodeled without concern for the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Additional contributing properties are currently threatened by demolition. Because of the loss of historic integrity, the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office has warned that the Beckley Courthouse Square Historic District is in danger of being removed from the National Register of Historic Places.
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In an effort to maintain the district’s status on the National Register of Historic Places, the nominator, a member of the Raleigh County Historic Landmark Commission hopes to educate stakeholders regarding the value of the district, provide training to the Beckley Historic Landmark Commission to assist in their efforts to manage the district, and provide technical assistance to historic property owners within the Beckley Courthouse Square Historic District.

Fayetteville, Fayette County
Construction Date: 1945
Threat: Neglect

2019 Update: The owners of the Falls Exxon have restored and updated most of the building and consider it to be saved! 

2016 Update: The Old Esso Service Station’s owners submitted a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination for the building.  The status of the nomination is currently pending.  If an NHRP listing is awarded, the owners will apply for a Historic Preservation Development Grant through the WV Division of Culture and History. If they receive the grant, they plan to utilize the funds to replace the roof; they have already obtained estimates for its replacement 

Previously in 2016, a temporary roof patch was applied to protect the building until funding could be obtained to replace it.  Additionally, the owners removed and replaced the large, broken front window, secured the remaining windows, and removed large trees, brush, and debris from around the building.

2015: The former Esso Service Station is located adjacent to numerous successful businesses and the Fayetteville Historic District. With its block construction walls clad in enameled steel and a wrap-around, curved glass window, the service station is a classic example of the Art Deco style.

The building was used as an auto service and filling station from the time of its construction circa 1945 until the late 1990s. After the Esso Station’s closure, the owners neglected the building, which led to a failing roof. In order to save the structure, the roof needs to be replaced as soon as possible. The leaking roof has caused severe water damage and the immediate danger of a possible roof collapse.
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In August of 2014, veteran business owners from Fayetteville, purchased the Esso Station with the intent to completely renovate it and pursue a tenant to operate a shop, restaurant, or other commercial venture inside the building. The new owners are very passionate about rehabilitating this property. Their first order of business will be to stabilize the roof system and mothball the building. Since the owners have very little experience with historic preservation, PAWV is proud to provide them with guidance to save the Esso Station before it deteriorates beyond a point of salvage.

Bullskin Run, Jefferson County
Date of Construction: before 1800
Threat: Deterioration; Pests

2017 Update: No updates have been made available to PAWV in 2017.

As of the last update provided to PAWV in 2016, Feagans’ Mill applied for a National Register of Historic Places designation in September/October 2016.  The status of the nomination is currently pending.  The owner of the mill, Daniel Lutz, is in the process of preparing for a timber felling project to clear the close-growing timber, which could threaten the mill in the event of a storm.  His 2017 fundraising plans include sales of Feagans’ Mill flours, meals, etc, at local events; offering mill memorabilia (bolo ties, feed sacks, etc.); and creating a “Friends of the Feagans’ Mill at Wheatland Village” organization.

2014: The original mill at the site was built by the Haines family between 1757 and 1760 and was the first of eight mills built on the South Fork of Bullskin Run prior to 1800. That mill was burnt to the ground by Union forces during the Civil War. It was rebuilt between 1868 and 1870 by Isaac Feagans and operated by the Feagans family until 1937, when it burned again, only to be rebuilt and operated until 1943, when it ceased operation. From 1943-2010, little upkeep had been done of the mill and it fell into a state of disrepair with pests infiltrating much of the building. Acquired by the present owner in 2010, it is the last complete, intact, and operable grist mill in Jefferson County and can be found in a largely agricultural area surrounded by historical houses and farms, all of which predate 1880. The current owner is making strides to rehabilitate the property by removing most of the accumulated refuse from the inside and the overgrowth of brush from the exterior. The owner’s goal is a full restoration of the site with functioning historical mill, creamery, and ancillary businesses for a heritage tourism destination. There has been some difficulty in moving forward with the project, however, primarily related to zoning and engineering regulation concerns. 

ROYAL Corporation was founded in 2006 as a mobile action sports ministry providing church services, bible studies and pastoral care for athletes, event attendees, and more. The ROYAL Family has been traveling nationwide since 2005 hosting events and sharing God's love with this generation through culturally relevant platforms.  The organization’s goal is to make sure this young generation understands their value in God's eyes and to empower them to live as ROYALTY.

The group has already begun the clean up process. If you have driven by the school, you will have noticed some building renovations, trimming of trees, and other activities.  According to spokesperson Jindy Davis, “ROYAL is beyond excited to be coming to the area and will be bringing in action sports programs to communicate to this young generation their value in God's eyes.” More to come as progress continues.

Weirton, Hancock County
Construction Date: 1934
Threat: Deferred Maintenance; Demolition

May 2019 Update: Control of the property has been turned back over to the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation. The Marland Heights Community Association is still an active organization assisting the Parks Board, but it was unable to raise the necessary funds to restore the pool.
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2017 Update: In January 2017, the Marland Heights Community Association (MHCA) started obtaining pool filtration equipment.  They hosted a Golf Scramble event on June 25, 2017 at the Woodview Golf Course.  The proceeds of the fund raiser will be used towards purchasing the remainder of the pool filtration equipment.

• http://marlandheightspool.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/marlandheights.pool

​2014: The Margaret Mason Weir Memorial Pool is part of the Marland Heights Park complex. Constructed during the Weirton Steel Company’s boom years, the Art Deco swimming pool is unique to its designer, Wesley Bintz, known for his patented ovoid above-ground pool style. In 1983, the City of Weirton obtained ownership of the pool, and closed it in 2005, although the park remains open. Plans to demolish the pool were halted in 2012 by support from the community. This display of support led the City to allow the support group known as the Marland Heights Community Association, Inc. to take steps in order to save the pool. Currently, a feasibility study is being conducted to determine whether the swimming pool can be successful if reopened. If determined feasible, Weirton will allow the Association to save the pool. The Marland Heights Community Association, Inc. is fundraising to update the pool and reopen it so that it can continue to be enjoyed by community residents.

Fayetteville, Fayette County
Construction Date: 1923
Threat: Deferred Maintenance

April 2019 Update: Mold, asbestos and lead have been remediated from the building, and plans are to work with a developer and construct 13 apartments in the old Historic Fayetteville High School Building. The City of Fayetteville is looking for interested developers to help with this project.

2017 Update: The building remains closed and sealed since it had been treated in July 2016 for mold.  It will remain sealed until the cleaning phase begins.  The School Building Committee is currently working with a local developer for a joint restoration project.

​2014: The old Fayetteville High School building is an impressive sandstone structure. It was constructed of locally quarried sandstone by a prominent local stonemason company, C.G. Janutolo and Company, also a member of the Fraternal Order of Masons. The school closed in 1999, and from 2004-2011, it was used for a storage space. During this period, there was no heating system, and it began to deteriorate rapidly. In December 2011, the Fayette County Board of Education deeded the old school to the Town of Fayetteville. The town government has since been devising an adaptive re-use plan to restore the building and turn it into a multi-tenant civic and arts center. The local government established the Town of Fayetteville Old High School Building Committee which applied for grant funds to preserve and convert the property.

Wheeling, Ohio County
Construction Date: 1916
Threat: Neglect

March 2019 Update: The building has been demolished.

2017 Update: No updates have been made available to PAWV in 2017.

As of the last update provided to PAWV in 2016, the condition of the floors in the Kirk’s Building has worsened.  At the time the owner originally purchased the building, the first floor had fallen into the basement, but the remaining floors seemed relatively stable.  Currently, the floors are failing throughout the building.  Additionally, the roof is failing and the subsequent water damage is immense.  Wheeling National Heritage Area has been working with the owner to find a solution for the building.  Multiple architecture and engineering firms have been consulted.  Each firm has felt the high cost of rehabilitation would be money wasted.  However, one firm believes it might be possible to preserve the building’s façade, thereby maintaining the block’s historic context.  Wheeling National Heritage Area is currently seeking a buyer for the property who is interested in keeping the historic context of the block.

2014: The Kirk’s Building is an early Art Deco building located in the heart of downtown Wheeling. It is located on a gateway into the downtown district on Market Street and sits adjacent to the West Virginia’s Independence Hall. It is one of the few terra cotta buildings in Wheeling. Most recently, the building was home to Kirk’s Art Supply store. It was used in its entirety by this retailer from 1964 to 2008. For the past five years, the Kirk’s Building has been vacant and is suffering from deferred maintenance. Its ownership is in a transitional phase, as it was recently sold in a tax sale. There is a lot of support from Wheeling residents to preserve this property, and community supporters are working with the private owners to devise a plan to rehabilitate the building as a rentable commercial space.