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GETTING THINGS DONE WITH JOY

10/9/2014

 
By Joy, Preserve WV AmeriCorps serving at WNHAC

My name is Joy Williams and I am an AmeriCorps member serving with the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation (WNHAC) in Wheeling, WV. In my second year of service with WNHAC, I am completing a Historic Property Inventory of the South Wheeling neighborhood in preparation for writing a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the new historic district. The month of September was busy, filled with travel and lots of training for the upcoming service year. I had the opportunity to discover areas of West Virginia outside of the Northern Panhandle and experience the beautiful landscape as it changed colors from late summer to early fall. My favorite training session was part of the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia Conference in Huntington, WV.
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Joy having fun at the PAWV conference.
On the first day of the conference, I attended the Historic Gravestone Conservation Workshop at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington. Jonathan Appell, a historic stone conservator, led a group through several different hands-on techniques for cleaning gravestones and monuments; resetting and leveling leaning gravestones; and conservation, or repair, of broken gravestones. This in-depth session allowed for more than just a speaker presenting his ideas and techniques – we were able to participate and get our hands dirty. Our group cleaned four gravestones during the morning session, removing moss and lichens from the bases and focusing on making the inscriptions more visible and readable. In the afternoon, our group worked on four other gravestones. Each one presented a different challenge toward conservation and repair. We reattached a top portion of a grave marker that had been laying on the ground; we leveled a leaning gravestone; we adhered a large head stone with its base to eliminate the possibility of it falling over; and we used a tripod and hoist to lift and reset large and heavy segments of the final grave marker.
​I really enjoyed this workshop because I gained new knowledge on how to work with gravestone conservation and will be able to share this knowledge with others. In Wheeling, I regularly attend monthly cemetery workdays at Mt. Wood Cemetery where a group of local volunteers works to repair and conserve gravestones in a neglected cemetery. I can now pass along these techniques and knowledge to our local volunteer group in our upcoming work at Mt. Wood.
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Gravestone conservation workshop at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington.

CHARETTING THE JENKINS HOUSE WITH ROBERT

10/5/2014

 
By Robert

My name is Robert Wolfe and I am currently finishing my MA in public history from West Virginia University. Starting in December I will begin serving at Main Street Fairmont in Fairmont, West Virginia. Given my educational background in historic preservation and public interpretation, along with my interest in adaptive land reuse, a Main Street program is an ideal place for me to undertake a service position. Throughout my education I have had the privilege of working for a number of institutions including; George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Pendleton Historic Foundation, and the Heritage Trail Conservancy of Madison Indiana. I know my time at Main Street Fairmont will be equally as rewarding.

Since finishing my Undergraduate Degree I have been fascinated with discovering new ways to utilize our heritage. Like many people in the field of public history, I believe there is an excess of historic house museums. Too many stories competing for a limited audience is creating a strain on budgets. While it would be nice if house museums could sustain themselves on admissions alone, it simply is not feasible in the 21st century. Historic houses need to gather new audiences so that we all may retain our cultural heritage. Just because a building is old, doesn’t mean it must be a museum!
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The Jenkins House in its current restored condition. Photo credit Robert Wolfe
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The view from the field adjacent to the Jenkins House. Perfect for large gatherings and special events. Photo credit Robert Wolfe.
The workshop “Charetting the Jenkins House” at the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia 2014 Conference, was a natural workshop to attend. The Jenkins House (Green Bottom) is an 1825 plantation house on the Ohio River. The home, currently owned and mothballed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been meticulously restored to its appearance in 1825. The Jenkins House operated as a house museum for a time. During this period the house would host Civil War encampments and special holiday events. The Jenkins House currently awaits a new use.

The charette was a refreshing change in house museum narratives. Local historical societies typically receive the unfair stereotype of being inflexible in their beliefs. The stakeholders of the Jenkins House were interested in restoring the old museum events but also interested in expanding the scope of activities at the site. The site has an excellent view of natural wetlands and ample space for people. The natural beauty lends itself to its use as an event space. Other options discussed include a community garden, a historic gardening site, or community space for local events. As a government property, the Corps of Engineers is responsible for upkeep and bills for the Jenkins House. The Jenkins House is in an advantageous position to experiment with new uses. This gives the property an advantage, allowing the stakeholders to put more resources into developing alternative uses for the property.

Charettes are just one example of how historic preservationists can interact with the local community to preserve local heritage. The PAWV Conference allowed me to get hands on experience on the benefits and uses of charettes. Classroom experience can never equal field experience.

PAWV NEW AMERICORPS BUILD LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES FOR WV COMMUNITIES

10/3/2014

 
By Nicole, PAWV Preserve WV AmeriCorps

Hi there! My name is Nicole Marrocco, and I’m the 2014 – 2015 AmeriCorps member for the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. As a newcomer to the field of historic preservation and a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, I’m very excited to dive headfirst into this experience and to call West Virginia home for the next year.
​While I may be a newbie in terms of preserving and reusing historic buildings, I’m no stranger to the study and preservation of material culture. In 2010, I graduated from Boston University with a dual B.A. in Archaeology and Classical Civilizations. In my classes I developed an interest in cultural resource management and the preservation and interpretation of archaeological sites. In addition to my coursework, my love of history and historic buildings runs deep.I have fond childhood memories of visiting Lowell, Massachusetts, in awe of the dilapidated, textile mills that lined the canals of the city—some of you may know Lowell as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and the first planned industrial city in the country. Years later as a college student, I returned to a vibrant and bustling city to serve as an intern at the Lowell National Historical Park. As an intern, I had the opportunity to truly get a sense of how much historic preservation and heritage tourism had revitalized the city of Lowell in the time since my childhood.

Having seen the good that historic preservation can do close to home, I’m so happy for the opportunity to serve with Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. PAWV is the statewide grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting historic preservation in the Mountain State. With a commitment to preserving West Virginia’s unique cultural heritage, PAWV and its members work to save the past and to benefit the present with a vision for the future by supporting and promoting historic preservation through education and outreach advocacy, preservation tools, and heritage tourism.
While the first few weeks of service have been chock-filled with training, we have already had the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. At the combined Preserve WV / Appalachian Forest Heritage Area AmeriCorps training at Jackson’s Mill, a group of AmeriCorps members assembled “Little Free Libraries” as a community service project.  A cross between a dollhouse and a birdhouse on a post, these small shelters for used books operate on the “take a book, leave a book” principle.

Prior to the training at Jackson’s Mill, Lynn Stasick and I prepared all the materials necessary to assemble each of the libraries, including making a pattern model and cutting the wood required (Did I mention I learned how to use a power saw?!). We then instructed four teams of AmeriCorps members how to assemble the libraries at Jackson’s Mill. Each of the four AmeriCorps-constructed Little Free Libraries will be painted by residents of the community in which it will be placed, creating a shared sense of pride and allowing us to generate enthusiasm for the libraries before they’ve even been installed. Once installed, neighbors will have the opportunity to share their favorite books with each other.

Although it seems small, this is a fantastic project because it can have such a large community impact. The Little Free Library movement promotes literacy and a love of reading by providing access to books worldwide. And as our experience demonstrates, the libraries also build a sense of community as we—AmeriCorps members, skilled tradesmen, schoolchildren—share skills and creativity during the construction process.

HARVEST FESTIVAL ~ EXCUSE FOR AN EXCURSION

10/2/2014

 
By Alex, PAWV VISTA

The Harvest Festival is a festival that focuses on 18th century foods including demonstrations and displays about wild game, food production, harvest, preservation, cooking, customs and manners. It will take place. Oct 11 – 12, 2014 at Prickett’s Fort State Park in Fairmont, WV. Festivities will be open Saturday 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday 1 to 4 pm. Admission for Harvest Festival is the following: Adults $8, Seniors (60+) $6, Children ages 6-12 $4, and Members of PFMF and Children 5 & under Free.

At the festival attendees will learn about harvest time on the frontier and the activities necessary to prepare for the approaching winter. There will also be an Antique Fair. Live Music will be performed by Mountain William Strings, Wha-ke-we-nn?, and Almost a Song. Demonstrations will include harvesting beans, corn, pumpkins, pickling, salting pork, and jerky making. There will be demonstrations on making sauerkraut, soap and candles. Kids’ activities will include making Corn Husk Dolls, Duck Decoys and a Tomahawk Throw. Master Gardeners will be at the herb gardens for plant identification.

Pricketts Fort was constructed in 1774 and provided a place of refuge from American Indian attack for early settlers. It was built at the confluence of Pricketts Creek and the Monongahela River within 10 miles of three major American Indian trails. The Fort, which covers a 110 by 110 foot square, was built by the community militia and is named after Captain Jacob Prickett. See web site for more information: www.prickettsfort.org
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Prickett’s Fort in Fall Photo credit http://www.scenicusa.net/051009.html
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Prickett’s Fort Harvest Festival Photo credit http://marioncvb.com/event/harvest-festival-2/

AT RITTER PARK WITH CHELSEA

10/1/2014

 
By Chelsea, Preserve WV AmeriCorps at Morgantown History Museum

My name is Chelsea Elliott and I am an undergraduate student at West Virginia University. I will be graduating in May 2015 with BA in History and two minors in anthropology and English. As an AmeriCorps member, I serve at The Morgantown History Museum located at 715 Kirk Street in Morgantown. The museum serves to, “to preserve and promote local and regional history and to make it accessible to the citizens of Morgantown and visitors to the region.”

My first month of service with the AmeriCorps included various training sessions and activities. However, my favorite event occurred at the PAWV conference in Huntington, WV. One activity that was available at the conference was a walking tour of the historic Ritter Park.
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Cammack-Agee House on 13th Ave. Photo credit: Chelsea Elliott
Ritter Park is located in the historic district of Huntington. Surrounding the park are gorgeous historic homes, each different and unique. This conference activity began in a small building named “A Room with a View,” and it overlooks the rose garden located in the park. Our walking tour began here with a brief introduction to the creation of the park and how it got to be where it is today. Jim St. Clair, a prominent member in the Huntington community, provided an introduction to the park.

From here we were able to walk around the park, absorb its beauty and history, and enjoy a warm fall day. It was a relaxing activity, and as a tourist in the city of Huntington it was easy to appreciate the wonderful park and history. Located throughout the park were plaques commemorating the past, and dedications to future hopes in the park. We were able to see areas where growth was still occurring, and where the past was being preserved.
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As a whole, beginning the PAWV conference with a scenic walking tour was a wonderful beginning to the upcoming days. We were able to appreciate the past while still seeing how the park was functioning in the present day.
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In the Rose Garden. Photo credit: Chelsea Elliott

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​Email: info@pawv.org
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  • AmeriCorps
    • About Preserve WV
    • Current Preserve WV Members
    • Join Preserve WV AmeriCorps
    • Preserve WV Stories
    • Sponsor a Member
  • Programs
    • Advocacy >
      • Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
    • Annual Awards
    • Blair Footsteps Interpretive Trail
    • West Virginia Endangered Properties >
      • West Virginia Endangered Properties List >
        • Endangered Properties Blog
        • Saved Sites
        • Lost or Archived Sites
    • West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference
    • Webinars >
      • Webinar Archive
    • West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail >
      • Movie Theatres of West Virginia
    • WV New Deal Trail
  • Resources
    • Fund Your Preservation Project >
      • Historic Preservation Loan Fund
      • Saving Historic Places Grant
    • Consultants and Contractors
    • 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
    • Become a Member of PAWV
    • Give Online
    • Ways to Give to PAWV
    • #GivingTuesday
    • Volunteer