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SCHEDULE of Events
(More session information to be added soon)

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

Financing Historic Preservation Projects through New Market & Historic Tax Credits - lunch included

• William Fiederlein with the National Trust Community Investment Corporation will give a 90 minute introduction to New Market & Historic Tax credits. Attendees will learn how these two programs can deliver valuable monetary benefits for adaptive reuse projects and get a better understanding of transaction qualifications, structures, and financial benefits. Lunch will be provided after the talk.

​Historic Cemetery Restoration Workshop at Oak Hill Cemetery in Bramwell - lunch included

• This full day workshop with Rebekah Karelis and Sarel Venter of Adventures in Elegance will cover the basic skills, tools, and techniques used in cemetery preservation. After lunch, the group will view a hands-on demonstration and have the chance to do field work at the Oak Hill Cemetery. Topics to be discussed include cleaning & resetting small monuments, common stone types & styles, special considerations for deteriorated gravestones; how to read gravestones without having to do rubbings; safety considerations in cemeteries; and, maintenance practices.

Walking Tour of Historic Bramwell

• Enjoy a two-hour walking tour of downtown Bramwell focusing on the architecture of Alex B. Mahood led by Bramwell's Mayor Lou Stoker.

Evening Reception at the Coal Heritage Interpretive Center in Bramwell (refreshments will be provided)

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FRIDAY, MAY 1
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Lunch will be provided at the Chuck Mathena Center followed by a plenary session about The Clay Indian Massacre and the land's recreation as Lake Shawnee.

Historic Wooden Windows Workshop - lunch included on-site 

• The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area's Hands-on Team will lead this full-day workshop in which participants will learn the basic components & operation of historic double hung wood windows; lead-based paint safety practices; and glazing replacement. Participants will be able to practice their newly learn skills during the workshop.

Photography Workshop with Roger May

• This morning workshop will be three hours and will involve a discussion about some basic approaches to photographing historical structures, and participants will join Mr. May on a photo walk using mobile phones as cameras to practice documenting different structures from different perspectives, followed by a Q&A period with discussion.

Plenary: The Clay Indian Massacre and the Land's Recreation as Lake Shawnee

• Lake Shawnee, from the pre-historic Native American settlements to the first colonial settlement in what is now Mercer County to one of the scariest haunted places in America. Hear the stories and decide for yourself.​

Create Your State Workshop

• This afternoon, 90-minute workshop with the RiffRaff Arts Collective  is a multimedia educational presentation and workshop that inspires and empowers creative community revitalization and development. It provides a full program of immersive experiential learning for leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, students and other involved citizens.

Tour of Local Princeton Museums

• Participants will be led by Pat Smith, Mercer County historian, through the Princeton Railroad Museum and Princeton's Agricultural Museum in the afternoon.

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First Friday & Limestone Bonfire

• Enjoy dinner on your own during Princeton's First Friday event followed by a limestone bonfire demonstrating how mortar was historically created with Jon Smith, professor emeritus at Belmont Technical College.

EDUCATIONAL CONCURRENT SESSIONS WILL INCLUDE (check back for more sessions to be added):

• Documenting Appalachia’s Diverse Communities through Historic Preservation:  In this panel, the next generation of preservationists and public historians from West Virginia University will present on their experiences researching, documenting, preserving, and interpreting the diverse “hidden histories” of the Mountain State.
• Rats Nest: A Hoard of Information: Betsy Sweeny, Wheeling Heritage, will introduce the scholarship and methodology surrounding the collection, investigation, and interpretation of material culture excavated from rat’s nest middens. Two case studies from Virginia will demonstrate the benefits of this rodent archaeology, and  the artifacts uncovered.
• Virtual Tour: Historic Resources of McDowell County: Aurora Research Associates will take the audience into the far reaches of the unique and challenging landscape of McDowell County, providing historic context for the county and covering the development of many of its coal company towns. 
• Panel Presentation - Dr. Emory Kemp & West Virginia's Industrial Heritage: Barb Howe, BJ Peyton, and Lori Hostutler are coming together to discuss Dr. Emory Kemp’s career as a pioneer in preserving West Virginia’s industrial heritage, as well as the scope of his collection at West Virginia University's West Virginia and Regional History Center. 
• Removing the Rust - Preservation Opportunities & Challenges in Post-Industrial South Wheeling: Heritage Architectural Associates will present a case study on South Wheeling and the goal for the preservation of an historic industrial neighborhood that is grappling with the deleterious effects of de-industrialization. 

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SATURDAY, MAY 2

2020 West Virginia Historic Preservation Awards Banquet

• Celebrate with us as we honor our Mountain State colleagues and projects during this luncheon banquet at the Bluefield Arts Center. Renee Kuhlman of the National Trust for Historic Preservation will be the afternoon's keynote speaker.

Bluefield Walking Tour of Structures Designed by Alex B. Mahood

• Patrick Corcoran and Sarah Elswick will lead this three-hour historical tour of the South Bluefield Historic District with special focus on prominent architect, Alex B. Mahood. Trolley will be provided, and the tour will occur in the morning.

Ask the Expert!

• Do you have a historical building problem or question? Bring photos with you to get answers from historic preservation experts and consultants. This opportunity will be available all morning prior to the awards banquet. Participants will have the opportunity to gain exposure to historic preservation trades such as window restoration, historic masonry, stained glass, tax credits, architecture, and more!

EDUCATIONAL CONCURRENT SESSIONS WILL INCLUDE (check back for more sessions to be added):

• Laser Scanning for Historic Preservation​: Mills Group will present a session on the utilization of laser scanners in documenting historic properties with focus on best practices and lessons learned during specific case studies.​
• ​Fire Prevention, Protection & Suppression for Historic and Cultural Facilities: The Fireline Corporation will discuss fire prevention and protection, and discuss fire detection, suppression systems, and whether suppression systems will cause  unwanted collateral damage in the event of a discharge.
• The Continuum of Public Support for Historic Preservation in Southern West Virginia: It’s been widely argued that the decades-long West Virginia Mine Wars have been an overlooked chapter in American Labor History. Over the past two decades we have seen a growing and continued effort to preserve this important regional history. Christy Bailey (National Coal Heritage Area) and Kenzie New (West Virginia Mine Wars Museum)  will trace how transformation came about, and who and what groups are the driving forces behind it. This presentation will also detail what these groups are doing to commemorate this history in the present day.  

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