By Sandra Scaffidi, PAWV Board President

This next award recipient is a legend in Marion County.

Joann Lough accepting her award from Dr. Emory Kemp and Logan Smith.

Born and raised in the area, Joann Lough was a natural storyteller.  I’d wager that she gained her love of history from her father, Glenn Lough, author of Marion County’s premier history book, Now and Long Ago.  She attended Fairmont State College where she majored in English, however, her love was to be found in the dramatics.  I think she was a part of every play, musical or drama presented at Fairmont State during her tenure as a student and continued on as a Speech and Communications professor at FSU for 55 years.  She taught thousands of students how to perform in front of a live audience, to express emotion with a subtle glance and to convey the story without breaking character.  It was through her love of theatre that Joann became a preservationist of the Masquers, Fairmont State’s Dramatic Honor Society which was established at Fairmont State Normal School in 1925.  JoAnn brought attention to the distinction and ensured that the documents were properly archived.

The Significant Save of an Endangered Site Award – sponsored by the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation – was presented to Happy Retreat in Charles Town, West Virginia.  The award was accepted by Walter Washington on behalf of Friends of Happy Retreat. Walter is a direct descendant of President George Washington.

​In 2010, Happy Retreat was added to the Endangered List.  Happy Retreat is located in Charles Town and was the home of Charles Washington, youngest brother of George Washington and founder of the City of Charles Town.  It is a 6500 square foot mansion situated on a 12.2 acre lot along with several historic outbuildings.  Because of Charles Town’s proximity to Washington DC, the press for residential development had greatly increased and Happy Retreat was put on the market. The threat was that it might be sold to developers and the 12.2 acres would be developed into single or multifamily homes.

In 2015, Preservation Alliance of WV presented the first-ever historic preservation grant awards to individual projects.  These grant awards were provided through a generous donation courtesy of an anonymous donor.  The following award recipients were all selected because of their deep dedication to preserving historic resources in the state.  We believe there are many preservation projects state-wide that with some added attention and money, can succeed.  The three recognized projects each received a cash grant award and a watering can. The watering can symbolizes watering the seed of preservation thus nurturing the plant from which their projects are growing.

The Preservation Persistence Award involves the preservation of the Old White House in Nicholas County a 2015 WV Endangered Property.  Mr. Holt Barnitz and his parents are committed to preserving the family homestead.  The Barnitzs accepted this award for their dedication in preserving rural farm life in Nicholas County.

In October 2012, a group of young, energetic, preservation-minded individuals came together to form what was originally called the Ohio Valley Young Preservationists. As of January 2015, the name has been changed to Wheeling Young Preservationists to better reflect the group’s focus and composition.

The 2015 Community Preservation Award was presented to the Wheeling Young Preservationists Steering Committee Members: Bekah Karelis, Liz Paulhus, Stephanie Wright and Brian Wilson

Members share a deep love of Wheeling and the common goal of preserving the history, culture, and buildings of this city. Events include regular happy hours, which provide members with a space to meet other like-minded young people and brainstorm new side projects, and preservation workdays at the “Blue Church” – a 2010 WV Endangered Property that is located in East Wheeling. WYP is perhaps best known for its lovescaping efforts each year during Valentine’s Day. Significant buildings in downtown Wheeling are decorated with hearts to draw attention to them and to encourage people to appreciate the incredible built environment in which we live.

The 2015 Downtown Preservation Award recipient is the International Mother’s Day Shrine for their work to preserve multiple buildings re-use projects in Grafton.
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Marvin Gelhausen accepted the Downtown Preservation Award as President of the International Mother’s Day Shrine. Presenting the award were Lynn Stasick, Dr. Emory Kemp, Nikki Bowman (New South Media), Logan Smith.

The group owns the International Mother’s Day Shrine, the Manos Theater, the Joliffe Building and M&M Building. It is becoming more and more in common in WV for heritage-based nonprofit groups to inherit and purchase historic properties in their communities and turn them into community landmarks once again.

In Grafton, there is a tremendous show of local support demonstrating that this place matters.  Volunteers comprise the International Mother’s Day board.  They are truly committed to preserving their heritage.

Thank you for your work and for preserving historic Grafton!
Congratulations!

The recipient of the 2015 Archaeology Award was Jamie Vosvick.

Jamie Vosvick is the lead archaeologist for the Wheeling office of Archaeological Consultants of the Midwest, which is headquartered in Indianapolis.  He is counted among the earliest supporters of the Cockayne Farmstead Preservation Project, and his support continues to this day.

Early on, Jamie recognized that the Farmstead’s resources were modest and its needs substantial.  He donated his knowledge and time to assist volunteers in cataloging more than 2,000 artifacts that comprise the Farmstead’s collection.   Since then, Jamie and his staff have also provided archaeological and technical services to the Cockayne Farmstead on a pro-bono basis, including authentication of the Cockayne Mound (2005), and archaeological digs on the sites of the Cockayne midden and privies on West Virginia Day each year since 2009.  His support enabled Ohio-based paleoethnobotanist Karen Leone to conduct an analysis of soil samples taken in 2010 from the ca. 1880-1940 privy.  Ms. Leone’s scholarly research provided invaluable insight into the nutrition of the Cockayne family.  Most recently, Jamie was also central in the design, creation and installation of interpretive signage at the sites of the Cockayne Privy and the Cockayne Mound.

Thank you, Jamie and Congratulations!

The 2015 Preservation Achievement Award for a Building Project goes to Adaland Mansion under the directorship of Dr. Ann Serafin.

Each year the Preservation Alliance recognizes a building project completing a preservation achievement and person known for spear-heading a preservation project.  This year’s building project is located on Route 250 in Phillipi.  This stately brick home is set against the rolling hills of Barbour County and was built circa 1870.  The mansion has been restored with great attention to authenticity and features homemade brick and walnut woodwork throughout.  The barn was built circa 1850 and has been restored.  The site’s most recent project was the restoration of historic masonry completed by Keystone Waterproofing Inc.  The mansion is used for educational purposes and is a popular stop for bus tours.  It is so lovely that weddings and parties are often held there.
Congratulations to Dr. Ann Serafin!