Town of Bath Historic District

Town of Bath Historic District is a national historic district located at Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, West Virginia. The district originally encompassed 218 contributing buildings, 3 contributing sites, 6 contributing structures, and 1 contributing object. It consists of the community's central business district, along with the previously listed Berkeley Springs State Park, a small industrial area east of the downtown, and residential areas surrounding the downtown which also contain several churches and two cemeteries. The buildings are generally two stories in height and are primarily built of brick, wood, and concrete block, and set on foundations of native limestone and brick. Located within the district boundaries are the previously listed Berkeley Springs Train Depot, T. H. B. Dawson House, the Clarence Hovermale House also known as the Mendenhall 1884 Inn, the Sloat-Horn-Rossell House, and the Judge John W. Wright Cottage.^[2]

Town of Bath Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Downtown Berkeley Springs, 2004
Town of Bath Historic District Show map of Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia Town of Bath Historic District Show map of West Virginia Town of Bath Historic District Show map of the United States
Location	Roughly Washington and Fairfax Sts. and adjacent blocks, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Coordinates	39°37′36″N 78°13′40″W / 39.62667°N 78.22778°W / 39.62667; -78.22778
Area	115 acres (47 ha)
Built	1776-1959
Architect	Hunter, H.H. (builder)
NRHP reference No.	09000245^[1]
Added to NRHP	April 23, 2009

2021 resurvey

In 2021 a contract was let to undertake a periodic resurvey of the historic district to assess the condition, and look at possible expansion. The report noted the historic fabric was in poor condition, and very few buildings since 1950 had not undergone character-altering modifications. Most of the historic buildings have been re-sided with vinyl or aluminum and/or have vinyl replacement windows and replacement porch parts, with original millwork either truncated or missing entirely. The report also recommended two buildings be removed due to a lack of historic integrity, and noted seven contributing buildings/structures had been demolished since the original survey of the district in 2008.^[3]

2024 update

The Town of Bath Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) met on January, 25, 2024 and voted to remove three properties from the list of contributing buildings to the Town of Bath Historic District list. Two properties were removed because of recent exterior modifications done by the property owners, and the third was removed due to it inadvertently being listed based on an incorrect construction date.^[4] In addition to voting to remove three properties the meeting agenda also called for discussion on removing two other properties from the list of contributing buildings due to safety concerns over their structural condition. No action was taken on their removal at the meeting.^[5]

The Town of Bath Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.^[6]

References

1. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/20/09 through 4/24/09. National Park Service. May 1, 2009.
2. David L. Taylor (December 2008). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Town of Bath Historic District". National Archives NextGen Catalog. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
3. Grove & Dall’Olio Architects PLLC. "Town of Bath Historic District 2021 Resurvey & Expansion" (PDF). WV SHPO. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
4. Rudder, Trish (February 7, 2024). "Bath Landmarks group removes properties from historic district" (PDF). Morgan Messenger. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
5. "Town of Bath Historic Landmarks Commission webpage". Historic Landmarks Commission. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
6. "National Register Database and Research". Retrieved February 10, 2024. Reg. no. 09000245