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Now that our City is almost 125 years old, it is time to think about how we are taking care of our historic blessings.
In 1889 a committee was formed to seek a West Virginia City charter for Elkins. These people were later called the '89ers, but the city charter was not granted until 1890.
With the Forest Festival as the next big event on our local calendar, we can count the progress being made on restoration projects around Elkins.
The Davis-Elkins family decided to establish their railroad center where the Tygart Valley River makes a huge loop and takes a turn west toward Belington. There the river created the best break where a railroad track could cut through the mountain range stretching from Cumberland, Maryland down to Bluefield, Virginia.
Now the Randolph County Development Authority has restored our 1908 train depot, and tourists can ride to the High Falls. The Darden Mill on the railyard has been restored as the Appalachian Forest Nation Heritage Museum.
Davis & Elkins College cherishes historic Graceland named for Grace Davis, Halliehurst and named for Hallie Davis Elkins, and the old stone ice house. The two mansions built as summer homes for the two Senators are as beautiful as many of the castles in Europe.
Currently the Tygart Hotel is undergoing restoration, and the windows openings look like they did in the 1906 photo of the original Gassaway Hotel on Davis Avenue. This hotel project will help downtown Elkins retrieve some of its historic charm to attract visitors.
Even historic Kump House will be turning 100 years old in 2024-25, and the place is certainly looking better after 15 years of wonderful help from the WV State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and all our local volunteers and donors. SHOP is directly responsible for more than $330,000 that have been generated to rehabilitate Kump House.
Director Susan Pierce has helped us at SHPO so much over the years. She has guided us through the process of submitting grants and finding contractors to do good preservation.
If you have an old building you would like to restore, this is a great time to bring the historic beauty back to our dear town, and I am happy to help others find out how the preservation process works.
Although several historic buildings are gone, we still have many old houses in town. My husband says, "the names in the history books are still in the telephone books."
Look for names like: Earle, Goddin, Harper, Hinkle, Kittle, Mouse, Phares, Taylor, Wees, Woolwine and Yokum. Two of these great old home places that have been restored and updated are the Hinkle house (Youth Health), and the Taylor house (home of Jerry and Martha Metheny). You may find one you could rehabilitate.