Sept. 12, 2010
West Virginia Historic Preservation Office Finds Adverse Historic Impacts
Asks If Middle School Planning Considered Second Story
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer has filed an objection to the Cabell County Board of Education’s plans to demolish the W.Va. Colored Orphan’s Home. Susan M. Pierce has asked that the Board hire a “ historic preservation professional to work on mitigation of both the Home and the cemetery.
Pierce stated that “the public” has requested the retention of such a professional and the Historic Preservation office considers it a “reasonable request.” A Memorandum of Agreement will be necessary prior to demolition, but Ms. Pierce has requested that the Board answers questions about whether the inclusion of a “small upper level” was considered.
“We appreciate the Board’s desire to provide an equal building and learning experience for all of Cabell County’s middle school students. In this vein, a review of the plans for the two completed schools indicate that both have a small upper level as part of their design. The plans for the proposed consolidated school [at the former University Heights] do not include an upper level. Please clarify if a second floor was considered,” Ms. Pierce wrote.
“We request that you address if a second floor could be constructed that would provide the same needed area space that is presently indicated as occupying the West Virginia Colored Orphan’s Home footprint. If this option were endorsed, the National Register historic resource could remain while still allowing the Board of Education to construct a new school.”
The Cabell Board is requested to provide documentation of the consideration of a second floor, or, if it was not considered “we request that you do so at this time.”
The letter indicates that the Board were to not demolish the building, they could apply for “matching grants that could be used toward preserving the building.”
In addition, “the potential loss of the cemetery [associated with the Colored Orphan’s Home property] is also a concern of this office. Although there are no documented archeological sites located within the proposed project area, we are concerned that unknown sites may be present. And that these sites may be destroyed by demolition and construction activities.”
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West Virginia Historic Preservation Office Finds Adverse Historic Impacts
Asks If Middle School Planning Considered Second Story
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer has filed an objection to the Cabell County Board of Education’s plans to demolish the W.Va. Colored Orphan’s Home. Susan M. Pierce has asked that the Board hire a “ historic preservation professional to work on mitigation of both the Home and the cemetery.
Pierce stated that “the public” has requested the retention of such a professional and the Historic Preservation office considers it a “reasonable request.” A Memorandum of Agreement will be necessary prior to demolition, but Ms. Pierce has requested that the Board answers questions about whether the inclusion of a “small upper level” was considered.
“We appreciate the Board’s desire to provide an equal building and learning experience for all of Cabell County’s middle school students. In this vein, a review of the plans for the two completed schools indicate that both have a small upper level as part of their design. The plans for the proposed consolidated school [at the former University Heights] do not include an upper level. Please clarify if a second floor was considered,” Ms. Pierce wrote.
“We request that you address if a second floor could be constructed that would provide the same needed area space that is presently indicated as occupying the West Virginia Colored Orphan’s Home footprint. If this option were endorsed, the National Register historic resource could remain while still allowing the Board of Education to construct a new school.”
The Cabell Board is requested to provide documentation of the consideration of a second floor, or, if it was not considered “we request that you do so at this time.”
The letter indicates that the Board were to not demolish the building, they could apply for “matching grants that could be used toward preserving the building.”
In addition, “the potential loss of the cemetery [associated with the Colored Orphan’s Home property] is also a concern of this office. Although there are no documented archeological sites located within the proposed project area, we are concerned that unknown sites may be present. And that these sites may be destroyed by demolition and construction activities.”
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