Quarry Threatens Historic District in West Virginia
By Tricia McCarter-Joseph | Online Only | Oct. 13, 2009
This Methodist church in Gerrardstown, W.Va., was recently restored by resident Kevin Sarring.
Credit: Kevin Sarring, Citizens Alliance for a Responsible Environment
Residents of Gerrardstown, W.Va., have been fighting for more than a year to save their historic town, located on the state's eastern panhandle, from a mining company seeking a permit to dig near 92 historic properties in the 1,020-acre National Register district.
"When you look at the destruction of the mountain, possible serious water problems and the destruction of a beautiful historic district, this is really a no-brainer. This quarry won't do anything for the community but cause a lot of dust," Gerrardstown resident Roger Palmer told the Martinsburg Journal last month.
North Mountain Shale, LLC, applied for the permit in May 2008. The state's department of environmental protection, which will make the final decision, says that the required 30-day period for public comments will begin next month. "We expect the permit to be deemed technically complete within the next few weeks," department spokeswoman Kathy Cosco said in an e-mail.
In July the state historic preservation office determined that the proposed shale quarry "will have no conditional adverse effect" on nearby historic properties, according to Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Susan Pierce in a letter to the state permit officer dated July 30, 2009. Her office's determination was based on at least three separate on-site visits, land-ownership research, and map and aerial photograph assessments of the area.
Karen Carper, executive director of the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, was disappointed by the assessment, but says the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has done its job.
"This review is limited by the regulations which govern the SHPO, and the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is satisfied that the SHPO has applied the regulations appropriately," she says. "The determination, however, does not mean a quarry in Gerrardstown will not negatively impact historic resources there. [Our group] is concerned about impacts to these resources."
Last year more than 2,800 locals signed a petition prior to the office's ruling, calling on the department to deny the permit application. In addition, various organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Berkeley County Commission, have written letters to the department.
The National Register-listed Gerrardstown Historic District includes the 1795 estate known as Prospect Hill as well as Oban Hall, built c. 1825, and the Gerrardstown Presbyterian Church.
The West Virginia Center for African American Art & Culture is concerned about the impact the proposed quarry will have on the area's slave heritage.
"There is significant archaeology and many memories of the African Americans, including historic cabin ruins and cemetery and the Mount Olive Methodist Church," Executive Director Anthony Kinzer wrote in a letter to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
Carper hopes that whatever the outcome, the situation in Gerrardstown will spur lawmakers to strengthen state and local preservation laws.
"I hope this heartbreaking situation is a wake-up call to other West Virginia communities. It is important that people recognize the need for state legislation and local ordinances to protect historic resources like those in Gerrardstown."
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Comments
Submitted by Hill Lamon at: September 22, 2010
we are waitin for the shoe to drop. http://www.northmountain.org/historic
Submitted by ward "hill" Lamon at: July 16, 2010
the battle to save this historic town continues as the community waits to learn about State's permit to allow this destruction of our historic and natural resources. over 600 citizens attended the State's two hearings ...but are they listening ?
Submitted by Dr. Gerrard at: March 22, 2010
I hope to see you all April 14 in Gerrardstown at the WVDEP Hearing .
Submitted by Dr. Gerrard at: March 2, 2010
Many are talking about seeing good common sense leadership having left the WV SHPO's office and PAWV. Why do they not support their mandate and public trust to support preservation ? The determination by PAWV recently to delete placing this well preserved historic community on its Watch List has many wondering about the PAWV's obvious money source trail.
Submitted by Jonathan at: October 15, 2009
What does the comment by SHPO mean? 'No adverse effects'!? This sort of thinking is why WV is in the sad shape it is! Wish the story would have told who the mining company involved is. This really is a sad day in West VA history.
Submitted by Donald at: October 15, 2009
West Virginian's need to get up out of the ground. They have to look to the future and realize selling off their mountains is not the way to advance and prosper. Once all their land is polluted and ruined it will be too late. WV is a corrupt state. The people will have to fight this themsleves as the politicans are in the pockets of the mining industry.
Submitted by Kelly at: October 15, 2009
Wow. We are heartbroken to read this story. Very disappointed at West VA SHPO for taking the low road and siding with the mining company as usual in WV. We have visited this special village. It is so quaint and historic. It offers a compact glimpse of 'wild and wonderful' West VA. Hope the National Trust and others will fight to preserve this special place. Kelly