For more than a decade, we’ve presented our annual list of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places. The list raises awareness of the Commonwealth’s historic places, including buildings, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes, at risk from neglect, deterioration, insufficient funds, inappropriate development and/or insensitive public policy.
Protecting and preserving endangered places is a complex process that requires the work and passion of community members, preservationists and advocacy groups. Through the years, we’ve witnessed the successes achieved on behalf of endangered places as well as the challenges that are still facing many. Continue on for quick updates on some of our past listings and be sure to submit a nomination for the 2018 Most Endangered Historic Places list by March 9 if there’s a site in your community that needs support.
Winchester
Taylor Hotel, Winchester
When we included the Taylor Hotel on our Most Endangered list in 2010, it had been declared blighted by the Common Council of the City of Winchester that same year. A slow post-civil war economy left the hotel vacant after only having been open for 16 years. In 2007, heavy rain caused the theater’s roof at the rear of the hotel to collapse. The community and preservationists feared that without stabilization, further deterioration and the potential loss of the structure was imminent. A significant piece of history would have been erased from the downtown core of Winchester had the Taylor Hotel been lost. Built in 1848, General “Stonewall” Jackson used the hotel as a temporary base of operations after the outbreak of the Civil War. Thankfully, public support for saving the hotel reached a groundswell, which led to its renovation, with the help of Historic Tax Credits, and eventual reopening in August 2014. The hotel and fly tower now house apartments and commercial spaces, while the former theater space has been transformed into an outdoor pavilion.
Loudoun County
Belmont Slave Cemetery, Loudoun County
Historic African American cemeteries statewide continue to be a relevant listing for our advocacy work, year after year. In 2017, we highlighted Belmont Slave Cemetery, which was originally a part of a Robert E. Lee family plantation in Loudoun County. The site was under threat of encroachment from construction associated with the Route 659 Belmont Ridge Road overpass project, but two difficult years of negotiations paid off recently. The Loudoun Freedom Center was granted ownership of the three-acre burial ground by a northern Virginia developer, ensuring that it will no longer be threatened by the surrounding construction. This milestone was achieved because of the advocacy work of the Loudoun Freedom Center and other local groups to recognize the county’s African American historic and cultural resources, sacred burial grounds and communities.
House, Roanoke
Compton-Bateman House, Roanoke
Constructed in 1835, the Compton-Bateman House in Roanoke is one of the few remaining antebellum houses in Roanoke and was included on our 2013 Most Endangered list. The house and its surroundings were formerly used by the city as a public park and recreation center. Damaged by a fire in 2011 and left open to the elements, the structure has been in need of attention for quite some time. However, progress has been made to preserve the historic house. In August 2017, it was announced that the Roanoke City Council approved the sale of the house to Restoration Housing, a local non-profit. The group plans to renovate the house with the help of fundraising, historic tax credits and grants and lease it to the Boys and Girls Clubs, which will provide after-school programming for underprivileged children.
Stay tuned for more updates on previous Most Endangered Historic Places listings and be sure to submit your nomination for the 2018 Most Endangered list by March 9.