The WV State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) awarded a $25,000 Development Grant to the Greenbrier Historical Society (GHS) for further stabilization and restoration of the Blue Sulphur Spring Pavilion. The award was presented by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin on Mar. 18, and accepted on behalf of GHS and the Friends of the Blue Committee by Committee Member Skip Deegans.
The funds will be matched by $25,000 recommended by the Greenbrier County Arts and Recreation Committee and approved by the Greenbrier County Commission in December, 2014.
The combined sum of $50,000 will be applied to Phase II of the work on the Blue which includes soil testing, drainage, installation of a new foundation and some work on the columns. The successful KickStarter Campaign which raised $25,000 from 175 individual donors as well as the results of other grant applications will be applied toward this phase.
The Mills Group has already prepared the specifications needed for bidding this phase and, if all goes well with other grant applications, the work could be bid in July, 2015 with work starting as early as September, 2015.
Alex McLaughlin, chair of the Friends of the Blue, said, “The support we have had from Governor Tomblin’s administration, our legislative delegation, the Greenbrier County Commission and the Greenbrier County Arts & Recreation Committee has been tremendous. Also the incredible number of individual donors and their generous support shows how important this is to so many people. We have had statewide as well as local coverage in magazines, newspapers, and on TV. All this publicity and support is good for West Virginia and for the Greenbrier Valley. We appreciate it very much.”
Although the KickStarter Campaign is over, donations to help with the work on the Blue are always welcome at the Greenbrier Historical Society, 301 W. Washington Street, Lewisburg, WV 24910.