January 2026 Updates to the West Virginia Endangered properties List

In 2025, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia announced four addition to the Endangered Properties List:
1.  the Downtown Charles Town National Historic District
2.  Mannington Middle School
3. Middleway National Historic District in Jefferson County
4. Roane County Courthouse Annex

These historic sites face various threats, and their inclusion on the list aims to raise awareness and galvanize support for their preservation. There are several updates to these sites as of January 2026.

Downtown Charles Town National Historic District is known for its beautiful brick buildings often constructed in the Colonial Revival, Victorian, and Georgian architectural styles. The buildings pictured above are ones owned by the Jefferson County Commission, and they are concentrated on E. Washington Street.

Mannington Middle School, Marion County

• Jefferson County Courthouse & Downtown Charles Town National Historic District (Jefferson County):  The Jefferson County Commission first announced plans to purchase the former American Public University buildings and vacate 10 historic buildings it owns in November 2024. Since then, the commission finalized the purchase of the two buildings and began moving in, with the goals of giving staff more space and providing better access to the public. Throughout 2025, the commission discussed refitting the new buildings and made plans on what to do with the old Washington Street government buildings. Though no final decision has been made, discussions included finding a way to sell the buildings and working with the Jefferson County Museum to preserve the Jefferson County Courthouse. The Charles Town National Historic District remains on the endangered properties due to the unknown fate of these buildings. 

• Mannington Middle School (Mannington, Marion County): This impressive structure, built in 1902 features high-style Victorian Romanesque architecture. It is a significant part of Mannington and the state’s history, and it is one of the oldest public schools in the state. Located in the heart of Mannington, it is still owned and operated by the Marion County Board of Education (BOE) and operates as a public middle school. While the school is still functional, unique architectural styles such as this can be create challenging maintenance situations for the BOE. Its bell tower deteriorated to a point that the top of the bell tower has been removed. The BOE, stretched thin, are rallying with local families and teachers in hopes its inclusion on this list will help with the preservation efforts for this outstanding building..

• Roane County Courthouse Annex (Spencer, Roane County):  Built in 1917-1918 originally for the county jail and jailor’s residence, the Roane County Courthouse Annex was designed by Theodore Sansbury, 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, also in Parkersburg.  Now known as the Annex, it has stood for over 100 years and served a variety of purposes for the county, including as a fire house in the 1950s. Now, it is underutilized and faces potential demolition. Its preservation and reuse would contribute to the revitalization of the downtown, commercial area of Spencer as it works toward its first National Historic District nomination.

Middleway National Historic District, Jefferson County

These properties join the Middleway National Historic District as the 2025 West Virginia Endangered Properties. In January, the Alliance added the Middleway National Historic District in Jefferson County to the Endangered Properties List because this remarkably intact rural village, with structures dating back to the 1700s and 1800s, is threatened by a proposed large-scale water bottling facility. The development poses risks to the district's historical, cultural, and environmental integrity.  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.​

The Endangered Properties List is a powerful tool used by PAWV to raise awareness about threatened historic sites across the state. Inclusion on the list provides these properties with increased visibility, advocacy support, and access to resources to aid in their preservation. PAWV encourages the public to learn more about these endangered sites and get involved in local preservation efforts. In 2024, the Alliance added proposed demolition sites in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Charleston’s Municipal Auditorium, and historic cut stone walls statewide to the list and have been advocating for their preservation through public processes. ​

More on the Threat to Middleway

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West Virginia Endangered PropertIes

Endangered lists are used by PAWV and other preservation organizations to bring attention to  significant historic places in our communities that are in danger of being lost and to find solutions to the problems leading to the eventual loss of historic sites.  Selected properties contribute to a community's understanding of its identity and heritage, which will be diminished if they are lost. 

The most well-known endangered list is the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered List after which West Virginia’s program  is modeled. PAWV uses the information collected through its local nomination process to develop nominations to the national list and to prioritize advocacy and technical support to save West Virginia’s most unique historic places. 

Sites added to the West Virginia Endangered Properties List will receive the following benefits:

• Targeted advocacy,
• Statewide publicity,
• Technical assistance from PAWV, 
• Eligibility for Saving Historic Places Grants and PAWV fundraising partnerships,
• Preference for hands-on workshops at your property with direct support to organize,

    
To nominate your building to the West Virginia Endangered Properties List, the property must be listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and meet other criteria such as historic significance, preservation emergency, and local support.

Nominations are due on December 31st annually with a special announcement in February at the State Capitol in Charleston, WV. If you have a preservation emergency, please contact the Alliance as we will consider adding a listing at any time of the year.

Learn more and preview the nomination form questions by downloading the Endangered Properties Nomination Criteria and Preview.

When you are prepared to submit your nomination, use the Google nomination form.

NOMINATION CRITERIA & FORM PREVIEW (Word Doc)

NOMINATE A PROPERTY (GOOGLE FORM)

Endangered Properties Blog

Past Endangered Properties

Saved Sites

Lost Sites

Resources 

• Historic Preservation Funding Opportunities
• ​West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office
• West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Centers

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 West Virginia Endangered Properties List for 2024

​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:

​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. 

Example of historic stone cut wall outside of Wyoming County Courthouse. Photo credit: Christy Bailey

Example of historic stone cut wall outside of McDowell County Courthouse. Photo credit: Christy Bailey

​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. 

Municipal Auditorium, Charleston. Photo courtesy of David Sibray

​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. 

The Prince Brothers General Store is one historic building identified for demolition. Photo credit: National Park Service

​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.

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