Happy National Preservation Month! We are celebrating all of the amazing individuals and projects recognized during the annual awards banquet earlier this month. This award is named in honor of Dr. Emory Kemp, a founding member of the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. A nationally recognized engineer, Dr. Kemp was instrumental in the preservation of West Virginia landmarks such as the Wheeling Suspension Bridge and Independence Hall. This year’s recipient, Jeanne Finstein of Wheeling, has likewise made an extraordinary impact on historic preservation in the state. As President of Friends of Wheeling, Jeanne has played a vital role in saving more than 20 historic buildings in the Friendly City. Her contributions range from researching and preparing nominations for the National Register of Historic Places to advocating for the protection of threatened buildings and developing programs like the Friends of Wheeling loan guaranty initiative, which helps property owners acquire and rehabilitate historic structures. A recent example of her leadership is the Hughes House project in Wheeling which Jeanne spearheaded for Friends of Wheeling. She successfully applied for and administered a Saving Historic Places Grant to fund the fabrication of historically accurate windows for the house. Jeanne is also active in cemetery preservation and leads architectural heritage tours that celebrate Wheeling’s distinctive built environment. In addition, she previously served as interim director of Wheeling Heritage and received its 2024 Friend of Heritage Award in recognition of her outstanding service. A long-time volunteer and advocate, Jeanne Finstein exemplifies the spirit of the Dr. Emory Kemp Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Alliance looks forward to continuing its partnership with her in the years to come. #historicpreservation #HistoricPreservationMonth #historicpreservationmonth #historicpreservationist #WestVirginia #westvirginia #westvirginia_lovers #wheelingwv #wheelingwv #wheelingwva #oldbuildingslover #oldbuildingsarecool #oldbuildings (fb)

Happy Preservation Month! We are celebrating the 2025 WV Historic Preservation Award winners honored earlier this month in Wheeling. This award is named in honor of Rodney Collins, the long-time architectural historian at the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office. The 2025 recipient is State Senator Ryan Weld of Wellsburg, a steadfast advocate for historic preservation in the Mountain State. Senator Weld has played a pivotal role in advancing the West Virginia Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, helping to drive meaningful investment in historic redevelopment projects across the state. In 2017, he co-sponsored legislation to increase the tax credit from 10% to 25%, making West Virginia more competitive with neighboring states. In 2021, he led efforts to remove the program’s cap, paving the way for more ambitious preservation initiatives statewide. Most recently, in 2025, Senator Weld sponsored legislation to clarify the tax credit’s application process. Although the measure did not pass this session, his continued leadership reflects a deep understanding of the program’s value. Thanks to his ongoing support, historic preservation is fueling the revitalization of Main Streets and downtown areas throughout West Virginia. #historicpreservation #HistoricPreservationMonth #historicpreservationmonth #historictaxcredit #historictaxcredits #WestVirginia #westvirginia (fb)