The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History will conduct a series of public meetings across the state to discuss future historic preservation activities in West Virginia. The meetings are free and open to the public.
In 2002, the SHPO published a five-year statewide comprehensive historic preservation plan. It included goals and objectives for the office and for use by local government agencies, property owners, non-profit organizations and other interested individuals. The plan will be revised in 2007 based partly upon public input through this series of public meetings. The SHPO is interested in obtaining input regarding the current plan as it relates to future historic preservation efforts and revised goals for inclusion in the plan. A questionnaire also will be available on the Division’s website by the end of February.
The first meeting will be held at the Bruce McDaniel Complex, Morris Park, Fairmont, on Feb. 8, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by the Fairmont Historic Landmark Commission and moderated by Patricia Pitrolo, president and chief executive officer of Bradley Strategies LLC. To obtain directions, contact Vera Sansalone at (304) 366-0468 or at verasansalone@wvdsl.net.
Additional meetings will be held in Keyser on March 5, Berkeley Springs on March 6, Elkins on March 15, Wheeling on March 27, and Summersville on April 19. In addition, a meeting will be held in Charleston to focus primarily on cooperative efforts with state agencies.
The current statewide comprehensive historic preservation plan is available from our website at http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/fiveyearplan/index.html. For more information, contact Susan M. Pierce, deputy state historic preservation officer, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 158, or by e-mail at susan.pierce@wvculture.org.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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