Chairperson Laura Carroll called the meeting to order at 1:09 PM. In addition to Chairperson Carroll, other voting members present were Daniel Gatts, Matthew McGrew, Rob Petry, Nathan Randolph, Dr. Rodney Montague, John Gavin Hale, Sandra Scaffidi, Thomas Bloch II, Dr. Melissa Bingmann, Tracy Burch, and Thomas Bailey. Ex officio non-voting members present were Aaron Parsons, director, Archives and History Section; Charles Morris, director, Museums Section; Susan Pierce, director, Historic Preservation Section; Ennis Smith, Acting Cabinet Secretary and Curator of the Department of Arts, Culture and History; Crystal Wimer, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey; and Cade Vogelsong, President of Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. Also present were Historic Preservation staff members Cody Straley, Jessica Eichlin and Randy Hill, as well as presenters and guests (full list of attendees enclosed with official minutes).
Chairperson Carroll asked for a motion on the Fall meeting minutes of September 27, 2024. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr. Randolph with a second by Mr. Bailey. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll then asked for approval of the agenda. Mr. Randolph made a motion to approve the agenda, and Mr. Petry provided a second. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll called upon Mr. Parsons for the Archives and History report. Mr. Parsons provided Archives and History monthly reports for August through December 2024 (copies attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities, including the transfer of online "Quick Quizzes" to new formats, the development of several guides for new staff, and work toward a Congressionally Directed Spending grant project through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Mr. Parsons also noted that two new exhibits went on display in the Archives Library between September 2024 and March 2025, that staff organized an event to celebrate West Virginia veterans on November 8th, 2024, and that two new library assistants had been hired.
Chairperson Carroll then called upon Ms. Pierce for the Historic Preservation report. Ms. Pierce provided a written report to members (copy attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities, including the completion of the end of year reports to be submitted to the National Park Service, one staff resignation, staff participation in workshops and CLG trainings, and publication of the 2025 SHPO calendar. Ms. Pierce also noted work on special publications for the Semiquincentennial celebration, addition of information in the GIS database, consulting with federal agencies on demolitions in New River Gorge Park, 9/11 Day of Service grants, development of a statewide five-year comprehensive preservation plan, and the discovery of human remains by Hopewell Gas in Kanawha County.
Chairperson Carroll then called upon Mr. Morris for the Museums report. Mr. Morris provided a written report to members (copy attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities, including Fossil Day and Archaeology Day at Grave Creek Archaeological Complex, the Congressional Art Competition and the Emerging Artist Exhibition, preparation for the Appalachian String Band Festival at Camp Washington-Carver, and outreach through social media. Mr. Morris noted that Juried Quilts would go on display soon, and that staff would begin accepting submissions for the "Historic Figures" exhibit of the INSPIRED Series in May.
Chairperson Carroll called on Mrs. Smith for the Department of Arts, Culture and History"s report. Mrs. Smith noted work toward grants, preparation of the department budget, and work toward caring for building needs.
Chairperson Carroll then called upon Mr. Vogelsong for the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia report. Mr. Vogelsong reviewed the organization"s activities, including a trip to Washington D.C. to continue support of the Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act, the upcoming West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference in May, and continuing to monitor endangered properties across the state.
Chairperson Carroll then called upon Ms. Wimer for the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey report. Ms. Wimer noted the annual STATEMAP Advisory Committee Meeting in November 2024, hiring three new staff, and the temporary pausing of federal funds. Ms. Wimer also noted various outreach programs, including the third Draw Jeff Contest, a meeting with the National Technology Research Lab in December, and geology programs held at the Village at Heritage Point assisted living facility in Morgantown and the Tri- State Open House in Marshall County in January and February, as well as attendance at the American Association of State Geologists meeting in Washington, D.C. in early March, the museum"s participation in Fossil Day, attending the Science and Engineering Fair, work on processing the Robert Peck Collection, and assisting with an exhibit called “Core Selection” with the Royce J. & Caroline Watts Museum in Morgantown. The Geologic Survey Museum saw 71 visitors (66% in-state and 34% out-of-state) between October 2024 and February 2025.
Turning to New Business, Chairperson Carroll called for the presentation of the National Register nominations.
Forest Hill School, Martinsburg vicinity, Berkeley County, nominated under Criterion A, Education, with a period of significance of 1890 to 1945, was presented by Zachary J. Salman. Following the presentation, Mr. Gatts made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Montague provided the second. Motion carried.
Houser-Mahoney House, Bakerton, Jefferson County, nominated under Criterion A, Social History, and Criterion C, Architecture, with a period of significance of 1899-1957, was presented by Kayla Lamp. Following the presentation, Dr. Montague made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Mr. Petry provided the second. Motion carried.
Mr. Straley asked the chairperson to entertain a motion to move the review of the Chapel of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary up in the agenda, as Senator Mike Woelfel would be presenting the nomination and had limited time to remain at the meeting. Mr. McGrew made a motion for approval to move the review of the Chapel of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary up in the agenda, and Mr. Gatts provided the second. Motion carried.
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, nominated under Criterion A, Religious Properties and Social History, and Criterion C, Architecture, with a period of significance of 1878-1977, was presented by Senator Mike Woelfel. Following the presentation, Mr. Randolph made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Ms. Burch provided the second. Motion carried. Warwood Historic District, Wheeling, Ohio County, nominated under Criterion A, Industry and Commerce, and Criterion C, Architecture, with a period of significance of 1890-1967, was presented by Sarah Elswick. Following the presentation, Dr. Bingmann made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Ms. Scaffidi provided the second. Motion carried.
New Deal Stone Walls in Morgantown, Monongalia County (MPD), nominated under Criterion A, Social History, and Criterion C, Architecture/Engineering, was presented by Jamie Billman. Mr. Straley explained that the commission was to vote on the cover document before voting on the individual nominations. Ms. Burch motioned for approval of the MPD-cover document, and Mr. Bailey provided the second. Motion carried.
Richwood Avenue Wall, Morgantown, Monongalia County, nominated under Criterion A, Social History, and Criterion C, Architecture/Engineering, with a period of significance of 1936-1937, was presented by Jamie Billman. Following the presentation, Dr. Montague made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Ms. Scaffidi provided the second. Motion carried.
Deckers Creek Wall, Morgantown, Monongalia County, nominated under Criterion A, Social History, and Criterion C, Architecture/Engineering, with a period of significance of 1933-1943, was presented by Jamie Billman. Following the presentation, Ms. Burch made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Montague provided the second. Motion carried.
8th Street Stone Retaining Walls, Morgantown, Monongalia County, nominated under Criterion A, Social History, and Criterion C, Architecture/Engineering, with a period of significance from 1934-1937, was presented by Jamie Billman. Following the presentation, Ms. Scaffidi made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Mr. Bloch provided the second. Motion carried.
Bethel Memorial Park Cemetery, Huntington, Cabell County, nominated under Criterion A, Social History and Ethnic Heritage: Black, and Criterion D, Cemeteries, with a period of significance of 1927-1974, was presented by Cody Straley. Following the presentation, Mr. Petry made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Montague provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll then called on Ms. Pierce for the 2025 Survey and Planning Grants. Ms. Pierce called on Mr. Hill to summarize the applications and proposed grant awards.
Ms. Scaffidi and Mr. Vogelsong recused themselves and left the room prior to voting. Mr. Randolph made a motion to approve the grant recommendations for the FY2025 Survey and Planning Grants with the provision authorizing staff to move funds from canceled projects or projects unable to use all available funding to projects which did not receive full funding and can expend additional funds prior to the end of the grant period, or to the most deserving projects which were not funded at the discretion of SHPO staff, with any remaining funds to carry over to the next fiscal year. Mr. Hale provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll then called on Ms. Pierce for a report on National Register nominations previously reviewed by the Archives and History Commission. Ms. Pierce called on Mr. Straley, who noted that there were 20 successful nominations to the National Register in 2024, the highest number in 18 years. Additional documentation for the Z. D. Ramsell House (Wayne County), as well as the Kelly Miller School (Harrison County), Beni Kedem Shrine Temple (Kanawha County), the Kanawha & Michigan Railway Depot Warehouse (Kanawha County), the Morgantown Green Book District (Monongalia County), the Senator P. E. Nixon House (Morgan County), and the Frontier Forts of West Virginia MPD, including Warwick"s Fort (Pocahontas County) and Arbuckle"s Fort (Greenbrier County), were added to the National Register. The nomination for Isaac Clymer Farm was returned by the National Park Service, and revisions for the nomination are currently underway. Mr. Straley also noted several upcoming nominations.
Chairperson Carroll noted that the Spring meeting will tentatively be held in Parkersburg or Charleston on June 6, 2025.
Mr. Bailey made a motion to adjourn, and Chairperson Carroll declared the meeting adjourned at 3:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Aaron Parsons
Secretary