KINGWOOD – Since the early 1990s the Society for Preservation of McGrew House’s board has worked to preserve the historical 1840s building and grounds.
Over time the eight-member board has become a six-member board, with an average of 60 society members who support and help with fundraisers when needed.
The society was founded when the City of Kingwood Tourism Committee discovered the historical significance of the “Gibson Property.” In the early 1990s the society entered into an agreement with the Preston County Commission, which owns the property, to restore and maintain the property and to offer educational and cultural programs within its walls.
James and Persis Hagans McGrew set up housekeeping in the house following their marriage in 1841. The original 1840s structure consisted of the northern section of the present house. Following the Civil War, the McGrews added the large southern section.
When the society took it over, members discovered the house had sustained tremendous damage. Its floors were rotted and the windows broken. The roof had gaping holes and the structure was overall unsound.
Through the years, the society has renovated the house by the use of grant monies, local sponsorships, donations, fundraising and volunteers.
The house was accorded status on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
“The board keeps going,” Susan Hardesty, board secretary, said. “We have always had positive support, and any time we need volunteers we have had them.”
Board members are currently working to put in a small courtyard to stop water seepage which could damage the baseboards of one of the walls but have hit a snag.
“We’re trying to find someone who can excavate the ground and someone to lay the brickwork,” board President Rosemary Bernatowicz said.
She said board members contacted a landscape designer who estimated putting in the courtyard would cost $7,000 to $10,000.
Bernatowicz said an estimate they received was in excess of $27,000.
“This is beyond what we can afford even with a matching grant,” she said.
Funds for the project will come from the McGrew Society.
“We put in a dehumidifier to keep the dampness down,” Teresa Livengood said.
The dampness comes from the boggy ground near the front porch where the courtyard will be constructed.
She said the house also has a covered well in the basement. The floor above the well and in the downstairs bathroom has become “spongy” over time and has to be replaced.
Livengood said board members are also spending time learning more about the trees and shrubs located on the grounds, many of which are unusual and rare.
“Since we can’t hold events in the house, we can still invite people to the grounds to tour the trees,” She said. “We have five state champion trees.”
Bernatowicz said many of the trees and shrubs were imported by McGrew. One lilac is so old it has outgrown its status as a shrub.
Livengood said the board has also located some of McGrew’s descendants.
“There’s Dr. John and Wendy McGrew who donated artifacts to us,” she said. “Marguret Tiddle who visited 16 times during the restoration phase, Bill Williams, a historian who donated materials, and Jeanne McGrew.”
Livengood said the house also contains the Dr. Leo Kotchek museum. The museum contains artifacts and six hours of stories, the Persis Bible Study Room and furnishings from the original McGrew homestead.
She said among the many people who helped over the years are board member Marion Mace, who saw to the repair and maintenance of the house; Bill Prince, who set up the gift shop; and Brian Dumire, who does a lot of the maintenance work.
For information about McGrew House activities or to join the society, call 304-329-0884 or 304-329-0221. Or go www.mcgrewhouse.org or https://www.facebook.com/mcgrew.house.kingwood.
TWEET@DominionPostWV
