Jefferson County Jail, Jefferson County, W.V.

Dear Preservation 911,
 
I am writing you in the hopes that you might help us in our fight to save the old Jefferson County Jail in Jefferson County, W. Va. It is part of the Charles Town Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has architectural significance as an example of Georgian Revival and, more importantly, it has historical significance for its part in the 1922 treason trials that took place in the adjoining courthouse.

In August of 1921, between 10,000 and 15,000 armed miners took over 500 square miles of southern West Virginia and marched on Mingo and Logan Counties, reacting to the use of martial law against striking miners in Mingo County, and the assassination of miner's hero Sid Hatfield, police chief of Matewan, W.Va. They intended to overthrow the governments, lift martial law, and organize the mines, and they fought a three-day battle at Blair Mountain in Logan County against deputies, mine guards, and militiamen. The miners' march was the second largest insurrection in US history, second only to the Civil War. As a result of these events, 24 coal miners were charged with treason and remanded to the old jail. Eight hundred other miners were charged with various offenses. Two miners were tried for treason in the adjoining courthouse—the same courthouse where John Brown was tried.

In November of 2000, the county commission voted to raze the building, ignoring our state's historical review process. Local activists sued and won an injunction against demolition in the circuit court. The commission, however, recruited a local state senator to introduce a bill that exempted counties from the 106 review.

I am an executive board member of the Jefferson County Preservation Alliance to Save our History (JCPASH). Our group appealed to the state Supreme Court of Appeals, arguing that the amended law could not be applied retroactively. On Nov. 27, 2002, the court agreed and reinstated the injunction pending the historical review.

Nevertheless, the commission voted on Dec. 30 to seek new bids to tear down the jail. Their position is that a new vote to demolish will relieve them of the high court's mandate—a position we will contest.

At this stage, we are continuing public awareness campaigns to inform folks about the jail. An injunction is still in place, and we will fight again in court if necessary to force the commission to perform a 106 historic review, as mandated by the state Supreme Court of Appeals. We also hope to hold a public rally in early summer.

What can readers do? Support our efforts by joining JCPASH (Jefferson County Preservation Alliance to Save our Heritage). Membership is $15 per year or $25 per couple, per year. Send check or money order to: JCPASH, P.O. Box 734, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. For more information, call us at 304-535-6620.

Or contact commissioners Al Hooper, James Knode, and Jane Tabb at 304-728-3284 or P.O. Box 250, Charles Town, WV 25414. Let them know we value our history!

Sincerely,

Douglas Estepp
Jefferson County Preservation Alliance to Save our History

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