The students worked to document the process of cleaning and mothballing the historic apartment building in Helen, West Virginia. They donated their time and efforts to put together a documentary that has a future as a teaching tool as well as a way to spread awareness of historic preservation efforts in the state of West Virginia.  Three high definition video cameras were deployed during the project, including the creative use of time lapsed photography to help illustrate the pulse and dynamics of the project.  They eagerly incorporated drone photographs and video taken of the project area to add a cutting edge technology feature to the filming, as well as archival footage of the Helen community.  Various leaders in the project and volunteers were interviewed to add perspective and depth to the film production.​

The 2015 Landscape Restoration Award went to the City of Beckley for the Alfred Beckley Mill Project. Beckley City Council member and Raleigh County Historic Society President, Tom Sopher and Gary Morefield, President of the Raleigh County Cycle Club and active volunteer in building the trail system around the mill site and Piney Creek watershed accepted the award.

In 2013, National Park Service cultural resource agent, David Fuerst, produced an archaeological study of a mill site along Piney Creek in Raleigh County.  His report found a connection between the mill site and Alfred Beckley the founder of Beckley, WV, his homestead, Wildwood House, as well as Greenwood Cemetery.  Fuerst explained that there is an entire network of cultural resources and a history of Beckley that hasn’t been told yet. It is also a history of how people lived and how all of these sites are connected. Although, Fuerst published the report, he gives ownership of the idea to the late Beckley Historian, Jim Wood.

Adopting a true historic preservation ethos, The City of Beckley and the Beckley Historic Landmarks  Commission jumped on the chance to learn more about the site and preserve it.  They have adopted plans to place the mill in the National register of Historic Places and turn the mill area surrounding the Piney Creek Watershed into a public park.  A road is being paved to the park and volunteers have been building trails around the grounds.

​The Preservation Alliance of WV, the statewide non-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation honored preservationists from across the state during the 7th Annual Historic Preservation Awards Banquet in downtown Grafton on September 19.  “Each year, the statewide banquet is held in a different historic venue in West Virginia, and Grafton was selected after a tremendous show of support for the location during a social media contest in 2014,” explained Danielle LaPresta Parker, executive director for the Alliance. This year’s banquet and dinner were held at the International Mother’s Day Shrine followed by a banquet dinner catered by Gibson Gourmet with keynote speaker, Nikki Bowman, of New South Media, Inc.

During the event, the Preservation Alliance Board of Directors President, Sandra Scaffidi, presented fourteen historic preservation awards along with three grant awards to preservation projects across the state.

See photos from the event at the online album HERE.

The 2015 Historic Preservation Award Winners are:

Archaeology Award – Jamie Vosvick for his commitment in volunteering to the preservation of the Cockayne Farmstead in Glen Dale.

Most Significant Save of an Endangered Site – Friends of Happy Retreat for the acquisition of Happy Retreat in Charles Town. It was listed as an Endangered Site in 2010.

Heritage Tourism Award – Dr. David Trowbride, professor at Marshall University, for the Clio, a smart phone application that connects people to historic places while traveling.

Best Use of Historic Tax Credits – GJR Enterprises for the advantageous use of Historic Tax Credits in the adaptive re-use of the Riley Law Building and the development of the Kaley Center in Wheeling.

Media Award – Liberty School Fine Arts program for the Helen Apartment Building Restoration video.

Landscape Preservation Award – City of Beckley for the Alfred Beckley Mill Project and preserving the landscape for future projects including a National Register Nomination and the development of a city park.

Downtown Preservation Award – International Mother’s Day Shrine for multiple preservation and adaptive re-use projects in downtown Grafton, including the Manos Theater and International Mother’s Day Shrine.

Community Preservation Award – Wheeling Young Preservationists for their role in preserving downtown Wheeling preservation projects including the annual lovescaping awareness campaign held in February, their efforts in preserving the Blue Church and Mt. Wood Cemetery, and preservation trades educational workshops presented to students of all ages.

Preservation Achievement (Person) – Susan Adkins, Executive Director of Carnegie Hall, for her commitment to developing cultural heritage tourism and preserving the historic theater in downtown Lewisburg.

Preservation Achievement (Building) – Adaland Mansion restoration project under the directorship of Dr. Ann Serafin.

Dr. Emory Kemp Lifetime Achievement Award – JoAnn Lough of Fairmont for her dedication to preserving Marion County history and presenting it through different educational forms to the public.

This year, the Alliance added two new award categories which also included cash awards to be used toward preservation projects. The cash awards were made possible because of an anonymous donor with strong beliefs in the value of historic preservation.

Preservation Persistence Award – Ella Belling, Elkins Coal and Coke Building in Masontown (2010 Endangered Properties List)

Preservation Persistence Award – Holt Barnitz, White House in Nicholas County (2015 Endangered Properties List)

Stewardship Award – Cockayne Farmstead in Glen Dale

Congratulations to this year’s historic preservation award winners.  Stay tuned for inside looks at each of these projects and learn more about why they received their awards.

During the awards banquet, successful preservation projects from all over the state will be recognized and will receive awards, including Grafton’s own International Mother’s Day Shrine for its efforts in preserving Grafton’s Downtown.  “We are very excited to have the banquet at the beautiful International Mother’s Day Shrine and for historic preservationists in Grafton to to show their stuff to a statewide audience,” explained Parker.

This year will be the first time the alliance hosts a live musical performance as part of the annual banquet, and they are bringing old-time musicians include West Virginia native, Jesse Milnes, Nate Druckenmiller, Ben Townsend, and Andy Fitzgibbon to the Manos Theater for a special benefit concert.  “Part of the proceeds from each banquet ticket will go to the International Mother’s Day Shrine, owner of the Manos Theater, and will be used toward preserving historic properties in downtown Grafton.”  Banquet tickets cost $60 per person or a table can be reserved for eight people at $500.  “You also have the option of attending the concert only, as tickets are limited for the banquet dinner,” explained Parker.  “Concert tickets cost $10 and all donations will be given to the Shrine.”  So if you are unable to attend the banquet ceremony, you can head over to the Manos Theater at 9:00 p.m. for the concert and purchase your ticket at the ticket booth.

Tickets can be purchased online, or you can contact Danielle LaPresta Parker at 304-345-6005 for more information on how to reserve a spot.  The Preservation Alliance of WV is the statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation.  To learn more, visit www.pawv.org.

‘Snookie’s efforts haven’t been limited to houses. She also worked tirelessly with (the late) Beverly Fluty and others to have the Wheeling Suspension Bridge restored, and she took part in a long-running newspaper series, ‘Operation Look-Up,” which highlighted the unaltered upper stories of historic facades. In the midst of this work, she found time to serve on numerous historic preservation boards.’ Nutting has been  the West Virginia adviser to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for nine years, a member of the West Virginia Archives and History Commission for many years, the first president of Preservation Action from 1994-95 and a founding member of Friends of Wheeling in 1970. She has been a member of the board of directors of the Vandalia Heritage Foundation since 1990.

She has served as president of the Victorian Landmarks Foundation since 1990 and has been the driving force behind its Victorian Show-Off! tours in Wheeling.

Congratulations, Snookie.

​Preservation Alliance of West Virginia would like to share about our 2014 Historic Preservation Award winners. Next, we recognize Monica Miller for the Preservation Achievement Award.

Monica is the Manager of Local Capacity Development for the West Virginia Development Office where she provides funding and technical assistance to local organizations and units of government to enhance their capacity to serve their constituents and improve West Virginia communities.

In addition to the Main Street West Virginia Program which she has managed since 1994, she secured funding for and led the creation of the West Virginia ON TRAC Program. She also provides management to the following community development programs:  Neighborhood Investment Program, Growing Healthy Communities, Appalachian Regional Commission and Flex E Grant.

She has provided Main Street consulting services to the states of Delaware, Arkansas, Maryland and New Hampshire.  Prior to her work in the Development Office she served as the Administrator of Programming Services and Sales for West Virginia State Parks.

Monica has served in many capacities with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, most recently as Chair of the Board of Advisors, member of the Board of Trustees and vice chair of the Community Revitalization Committee.  She served as the first Chair of the National Main Street Coordinating programs.  She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Advisory Board of the WV SBDC, is a volunteer with the WV Land Trust, and served multiple terms on the Vestry of St Mark’s Episcopal Church.  A graduate of West Virginia University and the Economic Development Institute through the University of Oklahoma, Monica has been certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional.

Congratulations, Monica.

Stephen and Kim McBride have given so much of themselves to the Archaeology of West Virginia. The Fort Project has inspired an entire generation – if you ponder this in the context of all the school children they have reached, it is a true statement of fact.  While much of their work has been grant-funded, but it does not come close to covering all project costs.  They also frequently contribute their services to the cause.  This deserves a statewide public recognition. The dynamic duo husband and wife team from West Virginia, have done so much promote archaeology in West Virginia – through both research and public outreach.  Entire schools have been exposed to archaeology as a result of their efforts.
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​From hands-on history at Fort Warwick to student digs at Fort McCoy to publishing “Frontier Forts in West Virginia,” they are active in their field. They have conducted the only long range research project in WV, have published on their results, and have supported PAWV.

​Preservation Alliance of West Virginia would like to share about our 2014 Historic Preservation Award winners. The winner of the 2014 “West Virginia Media Award” was WBOY Channel 12.

The popularity of historic preservation continues to grow in West Virginia.  Not only do we have dedicated preservationists to thank for this development, but we recognize the positive influence the media has in celebrating historic preservation and in bringing tourists to historical sites.

WBOY Channel 12 made thirteen episodes featuring PAWV’s projects and events across the state and giving PAWV and many historic properties the excellent publicity while educating the viewers. Our field representative, Lynn Stasick was featured in many of them as well as various other staff, board members, and AmeriCorps members.

See one of many clips here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ToGkSOAZI

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia would like to share about our 2014 Historic Preservation Award winners. Next we recognize “Heritage Tourism Award,” The Heritage Farm Museum & Village in Huntington, West Virginia.

Heritage tourism has proven to be a valuable and major industry for West Virginia and is centered on the preservation of historic traditions, sites, music, stories, and more.  Each year, we recognize a project, site, and organization that is making a significant contribution to the heritage tourism industry in West Virginia.