Chairman Victor Greco called the meeting to order at 9:33 a.m. In addition to Mr. Greco, other voting members present were Tommy Bailey, Dr. Robert Conte, Nat DeBruin, Darlene Hassler, Dr. Charles Ledbetter, Nathan Randolph, and Dr. David Trowbridge. Voting members absent were Dr. Melissa Bingmann, Rebecca Frye, Audy Perry, and Dr. Joan Walker. Ex officio voting members present were Dr. William Arnett and Fredrick Armstrong. Ex officio non-voting members present were Joe Geiger, director, Archives and History Section; Hanna Law, representing the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey; Charles Morris, director, Museums Section; Susan Pierce, director, Historic Preservation Section; and Randall Reid-Smith, commissioner of Culture and History. Ex officio non-voting member absent was J. Logan Smith, president of Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. Also present were Historic Preservation staff members Jennifer Brennan, Pam Brooks, and Jeff Smith.
Chairman Greco asked for a motion on the meeting minutes of February 22, 2018. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr. Randolph with a second by Dr. Ledbetter. The minutes were approved.
Chairman Greco then called for a motion to approve the agenda distributed to members (copy attached to official minutes). Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith requested that his report be moved to the end of the reports and the chairman concurred. Mr. Bailey made a motion to approve the agenda with a second by Mr. DeBruin. The motion was approved.
Chairman Greco called upon Mr. Geiger for the Archives and History report. Mr. Geiger referred members to information provided in the monthly reports for January through April 2018 (copies attached to official minutes) and reviewed recent activities. He informed members that an opening for the Senator Jennings Randolph Collection will be held at 1:00 p.m. on June 20 in the Archives and History Library. He noted that on-line, photograph, and physical exhibits will be completed in time for the event. Geiger also mentioned work on the Pleasants County chancery files and stated that McDowell County circuit clerk records would be picked up the first week of June.
Chairman Greco then called upon Susan Pierce for the Historic Preservation report. Ms. Pierce provided a written report to members (copy attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities. She introduced her summer interns and noted that staff had travelled extensively throughout the state for site visits and to promote historic preservation work. Ms. Pierce noted work on development grants and informed members that three had been cancelled. The Historic West Virginia publication has been completed and copies were distributed to commission members. County-wide architectural surveys in Mineral and Morgan are underway, and tax credit meetings were held in several locations. Ms. Pierce and Ms. Brennan spoke to the Joint Finance Committee of the Legislature during May interims, and staff was busy reviewing projects in the capitol building.
Chairman Greco then called upon Charles Morris for the Museums report. Mr. Morris provided a written report to members (copy attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities. He informed commission members that a Thorney Lieberman exhibit would be opening in the Culture Center on June 20 and mentioned an emerging artist exhibit. Morris noted that a gift shop had opened at West Virginia Independence Hall. He also spoke about the success of Fossil Day at Grave Creek and noted that staff at Camp Washington-Carver was preparing for the summer season. He informed members that he had inquired about the Cass Gilbert desk and was informed that it had been moved back into the Supreme Court area and is being used by a law clerk.
Chairman Greco asked for comparative numbers for museum attendance, and Mr. Morris responded that he would provide them. He also shared that the notice had been published in the Federal Register regarding the Buffalo site human remains. Ms. Pierce added that the inventory of human remains as part of the NAGPRA repatriation project had been completed and that three tribes claimed the remains.
Due to J. Logan Smith’s absence, no report for the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia was given.
Chairman Greco then called upon Hanna Law for the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey report. She noted an ongoing project for broadband enhancement and spoke about renovations and structural improvements at Mont Chateau. Ms. Law also mentioned work to increase awareness of the mini-museum of natural history through outreach efforts.
Chairman Greco then called upon Dr. Arnett for the West Virginia Historical Association report. He related that he is the sole member of the organization, which had been inactive for some time, and that he continued to attend commission meetings to aid its work.
Chairman Greco then called upon Mr. Armstrong for the West Virginia Historical Society report. He noted there had been minimal activity since History Day and that the organization was attempting to maintain current membership.
Chairman Greco then called upon Commissioner Reid-Smith for a report on the Division of Culture and History. He announced that on June 8, the Department of Arts, Culture, and History will be officially created. The commissioner will also become curator of the new department and will report directly to the governor. The new agency will include Culture and History, the Library Commission, Public Broadcasting, and Volunteer West Virginia. The commissioner informed members that he had spoken to the National Endowment for the Humanities and that the National Council on Arts would be holding its annual meeting June 28-29 in Charleston. He noted that Cameron High School won the 2018 West Virginia State History Bowl and that Ambassadors Camp was scheduled for June.
Turning to Old Business, Chairman Greco called for an update on previous National Register nominations. Jeff Smith informed commission members that the Wild Goose Farm in Jefferson County was listed on April 20, 2018.
Turning to New Business, Chairman Greco called for the presentation of the National Register nominations.
New Deal Resources in Seneca State Forest Historic District, Pocahontas County, nominated under Criteria A and C, with period of significance being 1933-1938;
New Deal Resources in Cacapon State Park Historic District, Morgan County, nominated under Criteria A and C, with period of significance being 1934-1941;
New Deal Resources in Kumbrabow State Forest Historic District, Randolph County, nominated under Criteria A and C, with period of significance being 1935-1941; and
New Deal Resources in Greenbrier State Forest Historic District, Greenbrier County, nominated under Criteria A and C, with period of significance being 1935-1942, were presented by Mary Ruffin Hanbury.
Following the presentation, Dr. Conte stated he was impressed that the materials used by the CCC to construct these resources were locally sourced. Dr. Trowbridge asked if there was a way to make the link to social history in the nominations. Mr. Smith responded that the nomination’s registration form does reference back to the New Deal Resources in West Virginia State Parks and Forests Multiple Property Document (MPD), which is a cover document for all the state parks and forests with CCC-constructed resources. The MPD provides the larger context for all the selected areas of significance, including social history.
Mr. Armstrong asked what made these resources unique, and Ms. Hanbury responded that the aggressive effort to be naturalistic and the quality of construction and design set these resources apart. Mr. Armstrong asked if all included camping grounds and was informed that not all did.
Ms. Pierce introduced State Parks Chief Sam England, who spoke about the efforts of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Following the discussion, Dr. Conte moved for approval of the New Deal Resources in Seneca State Forest Historic District nomination and Dr. Arnett provided the second. Motion carried.
Mr. DeBruin moved for approval of the New Deal Resources in Cacapon State Park Historic District nomination and Mr. Bailey provided the second. Motion carried.
Mr. Armstrong moved for approval of the New Deal Resources in Kumbrabow State Forest Historic District nomination and Dr. Ledbetter provided the second. Motion carried.
Dr. Ledbetter moved for approval of the New Deal Resources in Greenbrier State Forest Historic District nomination and Mr. DeBruin provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairman Greco appointed Dr. Conte as temporary acting chair and recused himself from the meeting. Dr. Ledbetter also recused himself at this time.
Palace of Gold, Marshall County, nominated under Criterion C, Criteria Considerations A and G, with period of significance being 1973-1980, was presented by Jeff Smith. Following the presentation, Mr. Armstrong questioned the work quality and structural integrity of the building. Dr. Conte and Mr. Randolph argued that the nomination needed to be looked at in its entirety. Ms. Pierce admitted there are issues with the construction but stated the Palace of Gold was being nominated for its architectural style, not its structural components. Mr. Smith added that no architects or engineers were involved in the construction, only untrained devotees to Krishna. Mr. Randolph moved for approval of the nomination and Dr. Arnett provided the second. Motion carried, with Mr. Armstrong voting against.
Chairman Greco returned to the meeting and re-assumed the chair. Dr. Ledbetter also returned to the meeting.
Chairman Greco then called on Ms. Pierce to present the FY2019 State Development Grants. She explained the grants panel met twice and prepared recommendations. Dr. Conte asked if the $60,000 was something new, and Ms. Pierce responded that the panel determined this amount through a comprehensive review of the grant applications and the formulation of an appropriate funding limit based upon that review. In response to Dr. Conte’s question if $585,000 was a high figure for the total amount awarded, Ms. Pierce responded that it was a larger amount due to several cancelled projects.
Mr. Armstrong stated he was concerned that, although the commission included wording in their annual approval allowing HP staff to use unexpended funding on other grants in order of priority, remaining grant funds were instead being carried over to the next fiscal year. Ms. Pierce responded that the motion gave SHPO staff the authority to move funds according to their professional judgement.
Mr. Armstrong made a motion to include language in the commission approval 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. Mr. Bailey provided the second. Motion carried.
Mr. Greco and Dr. Ledbetter recused themselves, and Dr. Conte assumed the chair.
Mr. Bailey made a motion to approve the panel’s recommendations for Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, Blue Church, 1841 Jail, and Carnegie Hall (Lewisburg), and Mr. Randolph provided the second. Motion carried.
Mr. Greco and Dr. Ledbetter returned to the meeting, and Mr. Greco assumed the chair.
Dr. Conte made a motion to approve the panel’s recommendations for the FY2019 State Development Grants except for Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, Blue Church, 1841 Jail, and Carnegie Hall (Lewisburg), 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. Mr. DeBruin provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairman Greco called on Dr. Ledbetter for the report of the nominating committee. Dr. Ledbetter reported that the committee recommended the appointment of Mr. Greco as chairperson and Mr. Randolph as vice-chairperson. There being no nominations from the floor, Mr. DeBruin moved for the adoption of the committee’s recommendation and Dr. Arnett provided the second. Motion approved.
Dr. Ledbetter noted that Chairman Forbes had resigned from the commission effective May 31, 2018 and requested that his productive work for the Archives and History Commission be noted.
Chairman Greco noted that the Fall meeting is to be held at Hawks Nest State Park on Friday, September 28, 2018. The Winter meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m. on February 21, 2019, in the Green Room of the Culture Center.
Ms. Pierce distributed a draft of the Annual Work Program to commission members for comment.
Mr. Bailey made a motion to adjourn and Chairman Greco declared the meeting adjourned at 11:36 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph N. Geiger, Jr.
Secretary