In the past few years we have witnessed the remaking of our community as we watched buildings being torn down to expand the County’s governmental office space.
Some of these were good choices but as we watched and waited, we questioned other demolition that was completed.
We now have an almost functioning Annex building that gives more room for the employees and the historic items and documents which have been collected through the years.
Sure, this has cost the County a bunch of money but in the end we will have kept our historic documents in county, unlike the possible Regional Depository that had been discussed.
There has been grumbling from those who don’t believe the building of the New Annex needed to take place.
I would like to differ and say if they have ever tried to look up historic documents to prove ownership or tried to find a Court Case to explain why something took place, or find out who spent government funds and why, they would find that in a very few years, the Courthouse would be out of space to continue to keep these items.
Even though the physical historical buildings are now gone, the Commissioners of the past few years have found a way to provide a step back in time and remember how it “used to be”.
First and foremost, the Commissioners provided a locked display case that is 112 inches wide by 64 inches tall to place historic items for people view.
Patricia Harris, President of the Doddridge County Historical Society will be bringing items from the DC Museum to place in this display case.
There will be three eighty-five inch TV displays on two of the floors that will be used for historic information on a regular basis and can be used for election totals on election day, emergency information and just general information.
On the 3rd floor, in the Commission Meeting room, they have included a grouping of historic pictures, showing the old Courthouse with horse and buggy at the watering trough (the location supposedly where General George Washington watered his horses when he came through here.)
On the 2nd Floor (level with and opens to Old Courthouse) they have a picture of West Union in it’s early years.
Other very much needed additions/improvements are found in the new Annex including bathrooms on every floor, the elevator to get to the 3 stories, meeting and storage rooms, along with a kitchenette on every floor.
The opening of the building has not taken place as of yet. It is understood that walk-troughs to determine flaws by the builder, architect and owners are in the process as well as the Fire Marshall’s Certificate of Occupancy has not been approved.
