Chairperson Laura Carroll called the meeting to order at 9:34 A.M. In addition to Chairperson Carroll, other voting members present were Gavin Hale, Tracy Burch, Sandra Scaffidi, Dan Gatts, Dr. Melissa Bingmann, Dr. Rodney Montague, Nathan Randolph, and Tom Bloch II. Ex officio non-voting members present were Aaron Parsons, director, Archives and History Section; Charles Morris, director, Museums Section; Meredith Dreistadt, acting director, Historic Preservation Section; Chelsea Ruby, Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Tourism; 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 and Randall Hill; Ennis Smith, Deputy Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Tourism; as well as presenters and guests (full list of attendees enclosed in official minutes).
Chairperson Carroll asked for a motion to approve the summer meeting minutes of July 15, 2025. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr. Bloch with a second by Ms. Burch. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll then asked for approval of the agenda. Ms. Burch made a motion to approve the agenda, and Ms. Scaffidi provided a second. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll called upon Mr. Parsons for the Archives and History report. Mr. Parsons reviewed section activities, including continued work on the NHPRC grant project, continued work reorganizing collection areas to bring them into compliance, and upcoming events for Tourism and History Day at the Legislature. Mr. Parsons also noted that one new exhibit had gone on display in the Archives Library between May and October, and that the Hoot Owl event in May was very successful.
Chairperson Carroll then called upon Ms. Dreistadt for the Historic Preservation report. Ms. Dreistadt reviewed section activities, including the addition of new resources to the GIS database, review of annual reports from CLGs, submission of an updated Statewide Comprehensive plan for 2026-2031 to the NPS for final approval, and continued America 250 celebration efforts. Ms. Dreistadt also noted that a Marshall University intern was wrapping up work on their internship project.
Chairperson Carroll then called upon Mr. Morris for the Museums report. Mr. Morris reviewed section activities, including the String Band event, the summer garden at Grave Creek Mound, Archaeology Day, and maintenance projects and programming at Grave Creek, Camp Washington-Carver, and Independence Hall. Mr. Morris also noted updates to the Museum Education website, as well as new exhibitions and recent tour groups.
Chairperson Carroll then called on Cabinet Secretary Ruby for the Department of Tourism's report. Cabinet Secretary Ruby noted continued updates to the Culture Center facilities and ongoing America250 projects, including the recent announcement of the America250 Mural Project. Secretary Ruby also noted the recent filling of positions at both the Culture Center and Grave Creek.
Chairperson Carroll called upon Mr. Vogelsong for the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) report. Mr. Vogelsong reviewed the organization's activities, including updates on Paul Bruhn grants, AmeriCorps programs, Historic Tax Credit advocacy, and the PAWV Annual Conference at Cacapon Resort, May 12-14, 2026.
Chairperson Carroll then called upon Ms. Wimer for the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES) report. Ms. Wimer noted updates to the WVGES website, hosting a Central Appalachian Partnership for Carbon Storage Development (CAP) sponsored event at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center and J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, making alterations to the Activities Building to revert it back to a meeting space, and participation in the 74th Highway Geology Symposium in Morgantown in August. Ms. Wimer also noted that in late September, the Weed family officially donated the Megalonyx Jeffersonii skull that had been on long-term loan to the museum.
Turning to New Business, Chairperson Carroll called for the presentation of the National Register nominations.
Citizens National Bank of Belington, Barbour County, nominated under Criterion A: Commerce, and Criterion C: Architecture, with a period of significance of 1901-1938, was presented by Kelsey Hartmann. Following the presentation, Mr. Bloch made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Motion carried.
George McComas House, Cabell County, nominated under Criterion C: Architecture, with a period of significance of 1902, was presented by Ben Taylor. Following the presentation, Ms. Burch made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Motion carried.
Lewisburg Historic District Additional Documentation, Greenbrier County, nominated under Criterion A: Commerce, and Criterion C: Architecture, with a period of significance of 1784-1974, was presented by Sarah Elswick. Following the presentation, Mr. Gatts made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Mr. Vogelsong provided the second. Motion carried.
Capon Bridge, Hampshire County, nominated under Criterion C: Engineering, with a period of significance of 1933-1934, was presented by Mike Gioulis. Following the presentation, Mr. Bloch made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Motion carried.
Romney Historic District, Hampshire County, nominated under Criterion A: Settlement/Exploration and Commerce; and Criterion C: Commerce, with a period of significance of 1770-1967, was presented by Courtney Zimmerman. Following the presentation, Dr. Bingmann made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Montague provided the second. Motion carried.
Arnold-Old Hill Cemetery, Lewis County, nominated under Criterion A: Social History; and Criterion D: Cemeteries, with a period of significance of 1820-1968, was presented by Cody Straley. Following the presentation, Ms. Scaffidi made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Ms. Carroll provided the second. Motion carried.
Henrietta Dismukes Hospital Nurses Home, McDowell County, nominated under Criterion A: Health and Medicine, and Ethnic: Black, with a period of significance of 1929-1932, was presented by Cody Straley. Following the presentation, Mr. Gatts made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Motion carried.
Dimmeydale Historic District, Ohio County, nominated under Criterion A: Community Planning and Development; and Criterion C: Architecture, with a period of significance of 1893-1973, was presented by Debbie Griffin. Following the presentation, Ms. Carroll made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Ms. Burch provided the second. Motion carried.
Mail Pouch Tobacco Barns of West Virginia Multiple Property Documentation, nominated under Criterion A: Commerce; and Criterion C: Art, was presented by Cody Straley. Following the presentation, Ms. Scaffidi made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Motion carried.
Hutchinson-Parsons-Fulk Mail Pouch Barn, Jackson County, nominated under Criterion A: Commerce; and Criterion C: Art, with a period of significance of 1949-1969, was presented by Cody Straley. Following the presentation, Dr. Bingmann made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Mr. Vogelsong provided the second. Motion carried.
Wilson Mail Pouch Barn, Mason County, nominated under Criterion A: Commerce; and Criterion C: Art, with a period of significance of 1968-1969, was presented by Cody Straley. Following the presentation, Ms. Scaffidi made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Motion carried.
See Mail Pouch Barn, Randolph County, nominated under Criterion A: Commerce; and Criterion C: Art, with a period of significance of 1943-1969, was presented by Cody Straley. Following the presentation, Dr. Bingmann made a motion for approval of the nomination, and Ms. Burch provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll then called on Ms. Dreistadt for an update on the 2026 State Development Grants. Ms. Dreistadt called on Randall Hill to provide the update. Mr. Hill noted that federal funding had been delayed, but has now been released, and that 52 applications for State Development Grants were submitted, and that ten projects were recommended for funding.
Ms. Carroll made a motion to approve the grant recommendations for the FY2026 State Development Grants as presented with the provision authorizing staff to move funds from cancelled 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. Bloch provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll then called on Mr. Parsons to review the new proposed Archives Collection Policy for the Archives & History section. Mr. Parsons noted that this was an update to the section's existing policy and that the new version provided a more defined process of receiving new collections, as well as a more defined reappraisal and deaccessioning process. Dr. Bingmann suggested a provision to the policy that would allow Archives & History to present collections being considered for reappraisal and/or deaccession to the commission for advisory input. After review and discussion, Ms. Burch made a motion for approval of the policy, and Mr. Gatts provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairperson Carroll then called on Ms. Dreistadt for a report on National Register nominations previously reviewed by the Archives and History Commission. Ms. Dreistadt called on Mr. Straley, who noted that the Jacob Folk House (Jefferson County), Carter G. Woodson School/American Legion St. Albans Post 73 (Kanawha County), West Virginia/Pennsylvania Sinclair Cornerstone (Marshall/Wetzel County border), Largent Bridge (Morgan County), Great Cacapon Bridge (Morgan County), and Spencer Commercial District (Roane County) were listed on the National Register in September. Mr. Straley also noted several upcoming nominations.
The winter 2026 meeting will tentatively be held virtually at 9:30am on February 20, 2026. The date for the Spring 2026 meeting will also be determined at a later date. Dr. Bingmann made a motion to adjourn, and Chairperson Carroll declared the meeting adjourned at 12:07 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Aaron Parsons
Secretary