Due to the absence of the chair and the delayed arrival of the vice chair, Secretary Joe Geiger asked for and received consent from commission members for Tommy Bailey to chair the meeting, which he called to order at 9:35 a.m. In addition to Chairman Bailey, other voting members present were Dr. Melissa Bingmann, Thomas Bloch, Tracy Burch, Laura Carroll, Nat DeBruin, Dan Gatts, Darlene Hassler, and Audy Perry. Ex officio non-voting members present were Joe Geiger, director, Archives and History Section; Charles Morris, director, Museums Section; Susan Pierce, director, Historic Preservation Section; and Randall Reid-Smith, curator of the Department of Arts, Culture and History. Also present was Historic Preservation staff member Emily Vance.
Chairman Bailey asked for a motion on the Spring meeting minutes of June 4, 2021. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr. Gatts with a second by Ms. Burch. Motion carried.
Chairman Bailey then asked for approval of the revised agenda. Mr. Perry made a motion to approve the agenda, and Ms. Carroll provided a second. Motion carried.
Turning to New Business, Chairman Bailey called for the presentation of the National Register nominations.
Dry Pond School, Monroe County, nominated under Criterion A: Education, with a period of significance of 1923-1961, was presented by James Marshall. Following the presentation, Mr. Perry moved for approval of the nomination, and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Motion carried.
Five Corners Historic District, Kanawha County, nominated under Criterion A: Commerce and Criterion A: Community Planning and Development, with a period of significance of circa 1918-1967, was presented by Dana Cress. Chairman Bailey praised the staff and the presenter for the excellent nomination. Mr. Perry moved for approval of the nomination, and Mr. DeBruin provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairman Bailey called upon Mr. Geiger for the Archives and History report. Mr. Geiger provided Archives and History monthly reports for April through August 2021 and the annual report for 2020-2021 (copies attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities, including educational endeavors, the publication of the marker book, and the processing of new collections.
Chairman Bailey 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. She noted the addition of three employees, work on the 2022 calendar (hotels and inns), and work with the Board of Education on the School for the Deaf and the Blind in Romney.
Chairman Bailey 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 the hosting of After School Classrooms in the Museum Education Center, the opening of new exhibits, and work on the sites.
Chairman Bailey then called upon Curator Reid-Smith for the Department of Arts, Culture and History report. The curator reported that the budget remains steady. He also reviewed many activities, including History Bowl, Ambassadors Camp, and marching band competitions. Chairman Bailey expressed the appreciation of the commission for the work of the curator.
J. Logan Smith of Preservation Alliance of West Virginia was unable to attend but submitted a report (copy attached to official minutes).
Chairman Bailey then called on Ms. Vance for a report on National Register nominations previously reviewed by the Archives and History Commission. Ms. Vance noted the Lewis Hall Mansion nomination was updated and amended to included landscape features. The Dunbar Recreation Center was listed, and the Hilltop Cemetery is still pending review. Ms. Carroll asked if there were issues. Ms. Vance stated the nomination had been sent back for revisions and that maps and clarifying information had been added.
Chairman Bailey noted that the Winter meeting will be held in conjunction with History Day at 1:00 p.m. on February 24, 2022, at the Culture Center. The Spring meeting will be held on June 10 at Cacapon Resort State Park.
Mr. Perry made a motion to adjourn, and Chairman Bailey declared the meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph N. Geiger, Jr.
Secretary