The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) visited the HistoriCorps project at the Blue Bend Recreation Area on Monday, Oct. 28, to present an award for the Most Significant Save of a Historic Site for the 2024 West Virginia Historic Preservation Awards.
In 2023, the Mon Forest partnered with HistoriCorps, the Appalachian Conservation Corps and 20 volunteers to make critical repairs to the deteriorated pavilion, including roof repairs, flagstone repairs and repointing. Other projects included critical floor replacement of the Administrative building. In September 2024, HistoriCorps returned to the Blue Bend Recreation Area to complete the roof on the pavilion and perform minor carpentry and log repairs. This award recognizes their most recent efforts to save the deteriorating historic picnic pavilion and celebrate their dedication to rehabilitating historic recreational structures in West Virginia.
The Blue Bend Recreation Area of the Monongahela National Forest, located near Frankford in Greenbrier County, includes a picnic pavilion, over 20 camping sites, an elaborate system of retaining walls, two-stoned paved beaches, and a reservoir for recreational swimming. The Blue Bend Recreation Area was built by the CCC in the 1930s and was added to the National Register of Historic Places 30 years ago. The park is part of the legacy of noted forest recreation planner Herbert T. Stoddard. In 2023, the Mon Forest partnered with HistoriCorps, the Appalachian Conservation Corps and 20 volunteers to make critical repairs to the deteriorated pavilion, including roof repairs, flagstone repairs and repointing. Other projects included critical floor replacement of the Administrative building.
In September 2024, HistoriCorps will return to the Blue Bend Recreation Area to complete the roof on the pavilion and perform minor carpentry and log repairs. This award recognizes their most recent efforts to save the deteriorating historic picnic pavilion and celebrate their dedication to rehabilitating historic recreational structures in West Virginia.
For more information, visit PAWV’s 2024 Award website at: https://www.pawv.org/awards.html.
