Chairman Nathan Randolph called the meeting to order at 9:38 a.m. In addition to Chairman Randolph, other voting members present were Tracy Burch, Laura Carroll, Dr. Robert Conte, Dan Gatts, and Darlene Hassler. Ex officio voting member present was Fredrick Armstrong. Ex officio non-voting members present were Joe Geiger, director, Archives and History Section; Hanna Law, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey; Charles Morris, director, Museums Section; Susan Pierce, director, Historic Preservation Section; Randall Reid-Smith, curator of the Department of Arts, Culture and History; and J. Logan Smith, president of Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. Also present were Historic Preservation staff members Christy Moore and Emily Vance.
Chairman Randolph asked for a motion on the Winter meeting minutes of March 1, 2021. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Dr. Conte with a second by Ms. Carroll. Motion carried.
Chairman Randolph then asked for approval of the agenda. Mr. Gatts made a motion to approve the agenda, and Ms. Burch provided a second. Motion carried.
Turning to New Business, Chairman Randolph called for the presentation of the National Register nominations.
Dunbar Recreation Center, Hancock County, nominated under Criterion A, Ethnic Heritage/Black and Social History, with a period of significance of 1944-1970, was presented by Savannah Schroll Guz. Following the presentation, Dr. Conte moved for approval of the nomination, and Mr. Armstrong provided the second. Motion carried.
Hilltop Cemetery, Summers County, nominated under Criterion C, Art, with a period of significance of circa 1875-1971, was presented by Dan Pezzoni. Ms. Hassler commented that she would like to see a summary added to the nomination that defines why this cemetery is eligible under this criteria consideration. Ms. Burch moved for approval of the nomination with the suggested addition, and Dr. Conte provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairman Randolph then called on Ms. Pierce for the FY 2022 State Development Grants. Ms. Pierce noted that a panel meeting was held in May to consider the grant applications and make recommendations. Ms. Hassler asked about replacement of a slate roof with an asphalt roof for the Village Caregiving project. Ms. Pierce responded that the roof is in poor shape, and SHPO will work with them to determine an appropriate material. If the owner is unwilling to comply with SHPO requirements, they won't receive grant funding. Mr. Armstrong asked about culpability if the applicant uses their own funds, and Ms. Pierce replied that the signed covenant obligates them to follow the standards in future projects. Ms. Burch made a motion to approve the recommendations for the FY2022 State Development Grants 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. Ms. Carroll provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairman Randolph then called on Ms. Carroll for a report from the nominating committee. Ms. Carroll reported that the committee recommended the election of Nathan Randolph for chairperson and Darlene Hassler as vice-chairperson. There being no nominations from the floor, Dr. Conte moved for the adoption of the committee's recommendation and Mr. Gatts provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairman Randolph then called on Ms. Vance for a report on National Register nominations previously submitted to the National Park Service. Ms. Vance noted that the St. Albans Railroad Industry Historic District, West Virginia Schools for the Colored Deaf and Blind, Taylor's Meadow, Graham-Davis Historic District, West Virginia State University Faculty House Historic District, Spring Grove, and the Jackson House in the Lewisburg Historic District have all been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lewis Hall Mansion nomination is still pending.
Chairman Randolph called upon Mr. Geiger for the Archives and History report. Mr. Geiger provided Archives and History monthly reports for January through March (copies attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities, including the publication of the new highway historical marker book, Signs of the Times, History Bowl, and other educational endeavors.
Chairman Randolph 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 submission of the FY 2021 Annual Grant application to the National Park Service. Staff has worked with several landmark commissions and continues to monitor Development Grants and Historic Revitalization Grants. Staff also provided comments on multiple project applications associated with several grant programs and consulted with the City of Huntington regarding a Brownfields project at the site of the former American Car Foundry.
Chairman Randolph 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 increased school tours and general visitation. He also noted the opening of the 2021 West Virginia Juried Quilt Exhibition, the Congressional Art Competition, and the Governors Almost Heaven Capitol Art Exhibition.
Chairman Randolph then called upon Curator Reid-Smith for the Department of Arts, Culture and History report. Curator Reid-Smith reviewed activities by the department, including Save the Music Foundation funding, which has now provided instruments to 112 schools. He noted the passage of the Records Management and Preservation Board legislation, the creation of the Semiquincentennial Commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, and Ambassadors Camp.
Chairman Randolph then called upon Mr. Smith for the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia report. He reviewed activities of the organization, including the AmeriCorps program, the initiation of the Saving Historic Places grants program, and efforts to advance historic tax credit legislation.
Chairman Randolph then called upon Ms. Law for the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey report. She noted that the Survey offices are now open, but appointments are being made for tours. New exhibits for the museum are being planned, and a new committee composed of geologists had been formed. Ms. Law then reviewed the history of Mont Chateau.
Chairman Randolph then called upon Mr. Armstrong for the West Virginia Historical Society report. Mr. Armstrong noted that the organization had been unable to meet recently but hoped to do so in the near future.
Chairman Randolph noted that the Fall meeting will be held in Lewisburg at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 8. The Winter meeting will be held in Charleston at the Culture Center on History Day, February 24, 2022.
Dr. Conte made a motion to adjourn, and Chairman Randolph declared the meeting adjourned at 11:28 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph N. Geiger, Jr.
Secretary