National Park Service to move ahead with demolition of historical structures within the New River Gorge Park
By Autumn Shelton, RealWV
THURMOND, WV – The National Park Service (NPS) has decided to move forward with the demolition of various historical structures in the New River Gorge Park and Preserve, most within the Thurmond Historic District. However, three structures will remain due to their high potential for reuse.
According to a July 24 NPS press release, this decision follows a “comprehensive evaluation of a proposal to demolish structures that are deteriorated, are a financial burden to maintain in a manner that provides for public safety, and are not considered necessary to achieve the park’s mission.”
In the NPS’ final report “Finding of No Significant Impact,” (FONSI) the following structures are slated for demolition:
- Charles Ashley Outbuilding, Thurmond Historic District
- Charles Ashley Garage, Thurmond Historic District
- May Bagoski House, Thurmond Historic District
- Harold Smith House, Thurmond Historic District
- Sidney Allen Ward House, Thurmond Historic District
- Wedzel Young House, Thurmond Historic District
- Erskine Pugh Rental House, Thurmond Historic District
- James Humphrey Sr. House, Thurmond Historic District
- McGuffin Garage, Thurmond Historic District
- Phillip A. McClung/Meadows House, Thurmond Historic District
- Dun Glen Building/Ranger Station Dun Glen / Thurmond Historic District
- Prince Brothers General Store, Prince
- Pool Chemical Treatment Building, Camp Brookside
- Vallandingham House (addition only), Richmond Bottom/SR26
The following structures will be retained:
- Marilyn Brown House, Thurmond Historic District
- Ice House, Thurmond Historic District
- Dun Glen Ark, Dun Glen (potentially lease if viable proposal received).
“The Marilyn Brown House’s location along the main route through Thurmond, and its visibility in proximity to the Fatty Lipscomb house, provide a clear visual representation comparing houses for railroad workers versus those for the managers,” information in the FONSI states. “The Thurmond Ice House embodies a unique railroad industry structure not otherwise represented in the Thurmond Historic District, and its small size and stable condition offers opportunities for the structure to potentially be relocated and reused under a future planning effort. The Dun Glen Ark, located in the heart of Dun Glen’s day use area, represents the history of the commercial whitewater rafting industry along the New River; its stable condition and large size provide reuse potential.”
The following structures will be demolished unless a viable lease proposal is submitted to the NPS:
- Tom Kelly House in Thurmond
- Mini Ark and Boat Storage Rack in the Dun Glen area.
“Retaining the structures under a successful leasing agreement still meets the purpose of and need for the project because they would no longer be a maintenance burden to the NPS,” according to information provided in the FONSI. “If the NPS does not receive viable proposals to lease these three structures, then their retention is not practicable and the NPS will demolish them.”
The FONSI also states that “demolishing these structures will allow the park to reallocate resources to continue preserving other historic structures in the long term.”
Funding for this project is from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).
The complete FONSI can be read below:
