Save the "Blue Church" in Wheeling (home, tenant)

[PreservationPioneer]

An effort is underway to preserve an 1837 Greek Revival church in Wheeling, WV. More information is available at: Blue Church | Wheeling National Heritage Area

Donations are also being accepted.

This is a beautiful building and a valiant preservation effort.

[CTMountaineer]

I certainly agree with you on this. It is a gorgeous building and very worthy of preservation. The problem, of course, is it is located in the worst part of a city that has tried as hard as possible to destroy most anything of historical significance for several blocks around it, most recently the destruction of an entire city block to preen the egos of special interest groups with a publically financed playground complex. In the not all that distant past, East Wheeling was the home of well kept blocks and Italian ethnic pride.

Amazingly, the wife of the current mayor grew up very close to that structure, and is an absolutely lovely person. It makes one wonder why her husband has gone of the "tear it down" rampage he has undertaken.

I am wondering if anybody from your group has contacted the National Trust for Historic Preservation about the possibility of getting help from that organization? Good luck with your efforts, and I hope some donors step to the plate with this.

[mensaguy]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

An effort is underway to preserve an 1837 Greek Revival church in Wheeling, WV. More information is available at: Blue Church | Wheeling National Heritage Area

Donations are also being accepted.

This is a beautiful building and a valiant preservation effort.

Somebody needs to get to work immediately to get this building on the National Register of Historic Places, so it can't be torn down or modified so as to destroy the historic beauty. If the people of Wheeling really want to save the building, this should be a piece of cake.

[Evergrey]

This building is doomed. Wheeling will replace it with a walking track.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

This building is doomed. Wheeling will replace it with a walking track.

I believe it is so unique it actually could be saved. The problem would be to find a viable occupant who would maintain it long term.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by mensaguy

Somebody needs to get to work immediately to get this building on the National Register of Historic Places, so it can't be torn down or modified so as to destroy the historic beauty. If the people of Wheeling really want to save the building, this should be a piece of cake.

The National Register of Historic Places does not protect a building from demolition or modification.

Also, this is not my project. This is a project of the Ohio Valley Young Preservationists and Wheeling Heritage.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

The National Register of Historic Places does not protect a building from demolition or modification.

Also, this is not my project. This is a project of the Ohio Valley Young Preservationists and Wheeling Heritage.

A very worthwhile project! Make finding a viable long term tenant or owner a priority. That will facilitate your efforts, in my opinion. Wheeling was highly developed long before all other West Virginia cities west of the Alleghenies, and has several historic churches. St. Matthews Episcopal, for example, is in excellent condition and was built in 1840. St. Alphonsus is also very historically significant. None have the architectural character of the blue church though with those magnificent Greek columns.