Morgantown, W.Va. - The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) is proud to announce that its nomination of historic New Deal era stone walls in Morgantown has officially been accepted by the National Park Service for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This significant achievement recognizes the enduring legacy and historical importance of these remarkable structures, many of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), the Works Progress Administration (WPA), as well as other programs during the Great Depression.  Read the Nomination here! 

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Listing in the National Register provides formal recognition of a property's historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance.

In addition to this successful nomination, the Alliance created a free resource, A Field Guide to West Virginia New Deal Masonry, that the public can download for free and use to research and document New Deal era stone walls in their communities.
 
The Morgantown Historic Landmarks Commission initiated this project with support from the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office. West Virginia University's public history program also provided support, but unfortunately, the project was not completed due to the onset of COVID.
 
In 2024, PAWV listed historic stone walls across the state to their Most Endangered Historic Properties List and offered free assistance to finish the nomination. PAWV has championed the preservation of these walls, recognizing their vulnerability to neglect, demolition, and unsympathetic alterations. The National Register listing offers a layer of protection and opens doors for potential preservation grants and tax incentives, encouraging their continued stewardship.

PAWV extends its gratitude to the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, Gioulis Preservation Consultants, the Morgantown Historic Landmarks Commission, and the City of Morgantown for their invaluable contributions to this successful nomination. ​

West Virginians are invited to celebrate their historic preservation success stories through the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia’s new West Virginia Preservation Spotlight series. ​

AJ Hammond and Dylan Sheldon, DBA Historic Morgantown, recently completed the historic renovation of the home of former WVU President Daniel Boardman Purinton. The home at 76 Grandview Ave. in South Park, had fallen into a state of disrepair and sat vacant for over a year. However, recognizing the historic significance of the property, Sheldon and Hammond spent the last 18 months renovating the stately home to its original grandeur.

“The completion of this project has been incredibly rewarding,” said AJ Hammond, who is a Relationship Banker at Citizens Bank of Morgantown, and the current President of Main Street Morgantown. “The beautiful architecture, the stories behind these properties in South Park and Downtown are what sets this neighborhood apart! Our mission is to preserve these buildings, and share this important history in order to build a more vibrant community and improve the quality of life in Morgantown!”

President D.B. Purinton was not the only famed resident of this property. John Alden Purinton, named after his direct descendant John Alden a crew member of the Mayflower, was a son of the President and served as the first Basketball Coach at West Virginia University in 1904. Additionally, Edward Earle Purinton, who was an internationally renowned author and health expert, called this property home. The author’s most popular book selling over 700,000 copies, “Triumph of a Man who Acts,” was distributed to more than 50,000 Officers of the English Army in 1919.

“This property was the crown jewel of the neighborhood,” said Dylan Sheldon, a Project Manager at Inneraction Media. “Being a part of the team who brought it back to life, has been an honor.” This project was not Sheldon’s first historic renovation, he also restored an abandoned property on Park Street built in 1926 by carpenter, D.B. Biser. “South Park is a special neighborhood, with important properties,” said Sheldon, “in order to be good stewards of what we’ve been given, it’s important to restore these homes for future generations.”

Built in 1907, the Victorian home on Grandview Ave. served as a retirement property for the Purintons. Prior to moving to South Park, the family lived on the campus of WVU in the President’s Mansion. “The Purinton House,” as it is named today, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses the offices of International Students and Scholar Services.

The historic renovation features approximately 3,000 square feet of living space, all new electrical, plumbing, roof and windows. This home has been upgraded with modern amenities while preserving the original trim, pocket doors and built-in cabinets. The four bedroom, three bath house will hit the market next week through Nancy Hillegas of Landmark Realty Services.