The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was drafted as a response to the destructive results of the highway building and urban renewal programs initiated by the federal government in the 1950s and 1960s. Signed into law in 1966, the NHPA significantly expanded the federal government’s role in safeguarding historic properties. It also established the National Register of Historic Places, a federal database of historic buildings, structures, objects, and sites recognized by the National Park Service for their significance in local, state, or national history.
In West Virginia, state legislation authorizes local landmarks commissions, which work with the State Historic Preservation Office, to evaluate and designate individual buildings, structures or extended sites as historic landmarks based on criteria maintained by the National Park Service. Locally, the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission (JCHLC) is a branch of the Jefferson County government and consists of a board of 5 volunteer commissioners appointed by the County Commission. The JCHLC focuses on heritage education, historic resource development, and research, in addition to preserving the county’s invaluable historic resources.
The JCHLC first met on March 18, 1974. In its first year of operation, the Commission designated Traveler’s Rest, Prato Rio, Lower Farm, Springdale, Piedmont, and White House Farm as Jefferson County historic landmarks. The most recent additions have been the Woodbyrne house in 2024 and the James Osbourn house (on the site of the Shepherdtown battlefield) in 2023.
According to the JCHLC website (JeffersonCountyHLC.org), there are currently 73 National Register landmarks in the county and the Historic Landmark Commission has recognized 135 county landmarks. In addition to individual landmarks, the county has several historic districts recognized on the National Register.
By Staff Contributor