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This web page funded in part by a "Certified Local Government" educational Grant from the West Virginia Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service.

Historic Beverly Organizations

A number of organization based in or near Beverly are working together for the preservation of Beverly's historic resources, for promotion of heritage tourism, and for sustainable community economic development for the town. Many of these organizations share office space in the Rich Mountain Visitor Center. They include:

Historic Beverly Preservation

Historic Beverly Preservation is the non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, heritage and preservation of historic Beverly. HBP has provided the manpower and financial support, in partnership with the Beverly Historic Landmarks Commission and with a grant from the WV Historic Preservation Office, to develop Beverly's historic interpretation materials such as this web page presentation, the Historic Beverly Walking Tour brochure, and on-site interpretive signs for a number of key buildings.

Beverly Heritage Day, to be held July 22, 2000 and repeated bi-annually, is sponsored by Historic Beverly Preservation. Featuring historic home tours, crafts, food, music, and living history, Beverly Heritage Day is planned to raise awareness about the history and historic resources of Randolph County’s premier community, as well as to raise funds for future preservation work.

Historic Beverly Preservation is a non-profit membership organization. All supporters of our mission are encouraged to help, either by joining or sending your donations to the work of the organization, and also by participating in our activities. Meetings are held monthly, usually on the third Monday. Please inquire if you are interested.

Memberships in Historic Beverly Preservation are $10 regular, $25 family, and $50 supporting. If you are interested in the history of Beverly and in supporting the preservation and development of this unique historic community, join now -- at the Rich Mountain Visitor Center on Court Street in Beverly, or by writing:

    Historic Beverly Preservation
    PO Box 227
    Beverly, WV 26253
    phone (304) 637-7424
    email: beverly@richmountain.org

Beverly Historic Landmarks Commission

BHLC has been designated by the Beverly Town Council to watch over and advise on the historic resources of the town. The commission is made up of five members designated by the Town Council who have experience and interest in Beverly preservation, but meetings are open to the public and all interested parties are encouraged to attend. Among the tasks and projects of the BHLC include surveying and updating the town's Historic District resources, advising, giving technical assistance, and answering questions both from Town Council and private citizens on preservation matters, educating the public about the town's heritage and preservation issues, as well as interpretation projects such as this web page, interpretive signs, and walking tour brochure.

Beverly Historic District was originally placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and the information about the town's historic resources was updated with a complete historic resource survey completed in 1999. The BHLC has been designated as a Certified Local Government by the WV Historic Preservation Office, and as such were awarded the grants which made possible both the resource survey and this interpretation project. Contact address is the same as for Historic Beverly Preservation.

Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation

RMBF was founded in 1991 to protect the Rich Mountain Battlefield and promote the area's Civil War heritage. As a community highly significant in Civil War history, working with Historic Beverly has been high on RMBF's priority list.

The Battle of Rich Mountain July 22, 1861, brought the Civil War to Beverly, and the Rich Mountain Battlefield Civil War Site can be seen today 5 miles west of Beverly.

RMBF is a membership organization, dependent on donations to continue its work. For more information visit the Rich Mountain Visitor Center, read about RMBF or contact:

RMBF
PO Box 227
Beverly, WV 26253
(304) 637-RICH
richmt@richmountain.org

Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike Alliance

SPTA is a collaborative organization that is working to preserve, coordinate, and promote the historic, cultural, and natural resources along the historic Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike from Staunton, Virginia to Parkersburg, West Virginia. Those sections of the Turnpike through Pocahontas and Randolph Counties, including Beverly, have been designated as a West Virginia Byway. On the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike Byway you can follow much of the original alignment of the turnpike, visit the Civil War sites and historic towns along this dramatic route, while enjoying beautiful scenery and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities.

Randolph County Historical Society

Active since the 1920s, the RCHS has worked for decades to protect and present the heritage of Randolph County. They have published a number of local history books, including "Historic Beverly, a Guidebook" by Donald Rice and Phyllis Baxter, and "Randolph 200" by Donald Rice, both available from the Society.

They own and operate the Randolph County Museum in Beverly, and is a partner in the Beverly Family History Research Library. Two other RCHS projects stand behind the Museum.

The Subscription School was saved and moved from a farm near Becky's Creek in a joint project with the Randolph County Retired School Personnel, and houses an extensive collection of one-room school memorabilia. It is open by appointment or during special events, including Beverly Heritage Day on July 22, 2000.

The Jacob Stalnaker Cabin was saved and moved from its original location south of Beverly as a joint project of the RCHS and the Stalnaker Family Association. Restoration work on the cabin will be ongoing this summer, and both donations and volunteer help are urgently needed!!

Allegheny Regional Family History Society

ARFHS is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting interest in and preservation of family history and genealogy throughout the Allegheny Mountain Region. They are the primary partners in the Beverly Family History Research Library. They hold monthly meetings and encourage non-resident members who have families from the area. In addition to the Library, ARFHS publishes a quarterly journal, Allegheny Regional Ancestors, and has for sale a variety of publications including cemetery listings and other research information for the area.

    Allegheny Regional Family History Society
    PO Box 1804, Elkins, WV 26241
    (304) 636-1650
    www.swcp.com/~dhickman/arfhs.html