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Celebrate the rededication of the historic Jefferson County Jail

Come to Charles Town September 20th and help us celebrate the rededication of the historic Jefferson County Jail and recognize the coal miners, citizens, and their families who sacrificed so much for those of us who followed.

10:30
Music by Chance McCoy, West Virginia Fiddle Champion. Also appearing are Nick Blanton and Terry Tucker.

11:00
Rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony including;

• A message from the office of Governor Joe Manchin
• A message from the office of Senator Robert C. Byrd
• A few words from former WV Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw
• A few words from Susan Pierce, Deputy Director (WV) Historic Preservation Office
• A few words from David Corbin , author of Life Work and Rebellion in the Coalfields.
• A few words from Jefferson County Commissioners Rusty Morgan and Greg Corliss.
• A few words from representatives of the United Mine Workers Union

1:00
Free tours of the restored historic Jefferson County jail.

2:00
Free showing of the movie Matewan. Directed by John Sayles and starring James Earl Jones, Chris Cooper, and David Straithan. Old Opera House.

4:00
Free showing of coal miner documentary Out of Darkness. OOH

7:00
Free showing of Matewan. OOH

Other invited guests attending include;

• William C. Blizzard, aged 90, son of treason defendant Bill Blizzard and author of When Miners March.
• Rob Nieweg, Director of the Southern Field Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Mathew Grove, architect Grove Dall 'Olio, lead architect jail resoration
• Gayleen Boyd, acting Superintendent of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
• Evelyn Taylor of the Charles Town Historic Landmarks Commission
• Walter Washington of the Jefferson County Landmarks Commission
• Dennis Lynch, Director of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival
• Gordon Simmons, West Virginia Labor Heritage Association and formerly of Goldenseal Magazine,
• Daisy Mullett, grandaughter of A.B. Mullett, designer of the Jefferson Jail and former Supervising Architect of the US Treasury. Ms. Mullett is also author
of A. B. Mullett His Relevance to American Architecture
• Kip Stowell, former mayor of Harpers Ferry

Other invited guests include;

• Senator Robert C. Byrd, WV
• Dr. Janet Matthews, Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places
• Davitt McAteer, author Monongah: The Tragic Story of the 1907 Monongah
• Mine Disaster
• Dr. Antionette Lee, National Park Service

For comments or information, please email us...

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Almost eight years after a previous county commission voted to raze the historic Jefferson County jail, a $2.3 million dollar restoration of the old facility is complete. The jail reopened in early July as the circuit clerk's office, family court, and as a repository for county records. JCPASH, which conducted a six year legal fight and public education campaign prevailed when the current commission voted two years ago to go forward with the restoration and conversion of the historic building. Architect Matt Grove of Grove Dall 'Olio Architects showed restraint and sympathy to the original design by noted Architect Alfred B Mullett resulting in only slight alterations in transforming the jail into a modern functional facility.

Our guest list stands at 200 and grows each day. We will be inviting noted architects, historians, authors, coal miners and preservationists. We expect folks from the National Park Service, the National Trust, the United Mine Workers, the Jefferson County Commission, and many other organizations. Also to be invited are the children and grandchildren of participants in the 1922 trials including jurors, defendants, and government officials. A special invitation will go out to William Blizzard and Margarite Nekanorac, the children of Bill Blizzard who was acquitted of treason in 1922. Both were present at their father's trial. Also included will be supporters and participants who helped save the jail from the wrecker's ball and of course, the public and anyone interested in our rich and beautiful history will be welcome.

After a tough five-year struggle to save the historic Jefferson County Jail, it seems that the only news about the jail these days is good news. In late March and again in early April, the County Commission held two public hearings to gather input and suggestions on how to proceed with the planned restoration of the building. Turnout was good and many citizens chose to make formal statements to the commission in addition to engaging in debate and discussions. Architect Matt Grove (http://www.gdaaia.com/) presented two preliminary designs which were well received.

Both plans work well because Matt recognized a fact that we have argued for the past several years. That is the jail is really an office building connected to a jail. There are only five cells in one small cell-block in the main building while the remainder of cells are located in the cell block wing located to the rear of the building. Accordingly, Matt stuck to the original plans which require only a few modifications to make the jail functional for modern purposes. The biggest modification is the addition of an elevator and its placement is the biggest difference between the two plans. After further discussions with the commission, Matt drew up a third set of plans in May. The only real difference between the three versions is how the usable space is utilized. All three plans call for substantial office space as well as the conversion of one large 1300 square foot room into a new courtroom / public meeting room. Additionally, the plans also call for exhibit and interpretation space. To see the original two plans go to http://jimsurkamp.net/JC/pages/OldJail2.htm.

Following the public hearings the county commission also appointed a Citizens Advisory Committee to aid and advise the commission in the restoration project. We commend the commission for this move, one we have advocated for some time. It has long been our position that we have many talented and interested citizens in Jefferson County whose expertise and enthusiasm are a valuable resource. Again we applaud the commissions decision to work together with the community and to utilize this talent base. On June third the advisory committee held its first meeting in one of the first-floor offices at the jail. The meeting lasted more than two hours and several issues and concerns were discussed. A few preliminary recommendations will be relayed to Matt and the commissioners to be followed later by more specific suggestions. The members of the Citizens Advisory Committee are; William Drennen, President of the Jefferson County Historical Society, Walter Washington, Chairman of the Jefferson County Landmarks Commission, Randy Hilton, former Mayor of Charles Town, Evelyn Taylor, Chair of the Historic Landmarks Commission of the City of Charles Town, Pam Parziale of the Arts and Humanities Alliance, Clissy Funkhouser of the Charles Town Opera House, Richard Raymond from the National Park Service and Carol Gallant, Jim Whipple, and Doug Estepp of JCPASH.

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