PHW is accepting nominations for the 2008 Annual Preservation Awards, which are presented at PHW’s Annual Meeting in June. Preservation projects and outstanding preservation leaders in the Winchester and Frederick County area may be nominated for an award. Preservation projects must be completed by May to be considered for a 2008 award. There is no limit on the number of projects you nominate for an award.
Nominations are due at the PHW office by May 15, 2008.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources will hold a public information hearing to discuss a proposed Winchester Historic District Boundary Increase. The meeting is scheduled for May 12 at 7:00 PM in the Rouss City Hall Council Chambers. Public comment may be sent to Director Kathleen Kilpatrick, VA Dept. of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221. For a copy of the proposal and/or a boundary map, contact Jean McRae, VA Dept. of Historic Resources, 804-367-2323 x-102 or jean.mcrae@dhr.virginia.gov.
“You may not have noticed it, given those intermittent bursts of activity, but, lo and behold, a new downtown is beginning to take shape. . .” Read the rest of the article at the Winchester Star here.
Winchester Underground returns on April 19 for a tour of several properties along South Kent Street. Tours will be docent-led inside the properties. The tour is geared toward rarely seen gems that are not open to the public, or are “works in progress” to show historic preservation in action. It is the theme of progress that brings PHW to Kent Street in 2008. A sense of renewal and promise follows you as you travel down South Kent Street and admire the turn of the century vernacular architecture. So come aboard the Winchester Underground—our next stop is South Kent Street!
Continue reading Winchester Underground
The Nancy Shepherd House (c. 1790) is well on its way to becoming a bed and breakfast after twenty years of loving rehabilitation. Click here to read the article in the Winchester Star.
The Winchester Star reported on Tuesday’s Economic Development Authority meeting. A grant program is aimed at returning vacant buildings to economic life.
A public presentation by officials from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and EHT Traceries will be held on February 14 at 7 pm in Council Chambers at Rouss City Hall. The presentation will explain the steps necessary to complete an exterior survey of buildings in Winchester’s Historic District. You are invited to attend and ask questions.
Winchester, Va. – Today Preservation of Historic Winchester (PHW) announced that it has filed an appeal with the Winchester Circuit Court to the decision made by the Winchester City Council allowing the demolition of five structures on the 400 block of South Kent Street. All of these structures are located in the Historic Winchester District as well as the Winchester National Historic District and are designated as contributing to the purposes of the district. In filing the appeal, Franklin Wright, President of the Board of Directors of PHW remarked “Regretfully, PHW is taking this action following considerable soul-searching and thought. However, we believe that the action by City Council on November 13th to overrule the Board of Architectural Review’s denial of the demolition of these structures is flawed and not in the best interest of the city or its residents.”
Continue reading Preservation of Historic Winchester Files an Appeal to the Kent Street Demolition Decision
Franklin Wright, President of PHW, reports on the offer of sale provision of historic properties as they pertain to the Kent Street demolition requests: Continue reading Special Preservation Notice
Preservation of Historic Winchester is pleased to announce the locations of the 31st annual Holiday House Tour. This staple of Winchester’s holiday celebrations will take place on December 1st and 2nd with 6 homes and historic buildings in and adjacent to the Historic District. Click here for a brochure. The Preview Party and Candlelight Tour will be held 6-9 p.m. on December 1. The Party will be held at 119 S. Washington Street, the home of Walter Jackson Helm, Jr. Tickets to the Preview Party are $35 per person and require advance registration. The Daylight Tour on Sunday will be held noon to 5 p.m. Advance tickets may be purchased for $15, or $20 at the door on the day of the tour. Children twelve and under are $6. Advance tickets will be sold at Kimberly’s, The Country Store, The Final Yard, Celebrate!, Winchester Book Gallery, and the PHW office at the Hexagon House. Continue reading Holiday House Tour
