At the end of January 2025, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) announced it had added the Middleway Historic District to its West Virginia Endangered Properties List as a result of the potential construction and operation of the proposed Mountain Pure water bottling facility. This announcement followed a report issued by the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission (JCHLC) to the Planning Commission. The report noted that the construction and operation of the proposed project poses a significant threat to the village, which is defined as a Category I Historical Site under the Jefferson County Zoning Ordinance. The JCHLC report requested that the Planning Commission deny the project under Division 4.4 of the Zoning Ordinance.
According to a press release issued by PAWV:
“With this listing, our chief goal is to ensure that public officials and citizens of West Virginia recognize Middleway as a rare historic treasure, not only for the state but also nationally, and to understand the threats posed by this proposed development,” remarked Executive Director Danielle Parker.
“Middleway is an intact example of a historic rural village, featuring homes and buildings from the 1700s and 1800s. The proposed water bottling facility risks the historic, cultural and environmental significance of a community that has existed for nearly three centuries. There is simply no other place like Middleway in West Virginia. It deserves to be protected, cherished, celebrated and supported.”
More information at PAWV.org.
