Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission

05/29/2026

Today's Friday Feature ⛪ Bethel Presbyterian Church

7132 Old St. Marys Pike, Waverly, Wood County, West Virginia
NRIS #14000107 — Listed March 31, 2014

🏛️ A Rural Gothic Revival Landmark

Nestled along Old St. Marys Pike, Bethel Presbyterian Church stands as one of Wood County’s finest examples of Late Gothic Revival architecture in a rural setting. Built in 1904, the brick church replaced an earlier frame structure and continues to serve its congregation today.

🎨 Architectural Highlights
Constructed of brick with a sandstone foundation, the church features distinctive pointed-arch Gothic windows with tracery, a prominent bell tower rising above the entrance, decorative elements such as finials, pilasters, and crenellation, and an interior highlighted by pressed tin ceiling panels and original woodwork.

Unlike most rural churches of its time - which were typically simple frame buildings - Bethel was built with a high level of architectural detail, making it stand out across Wood County.

📜 A Deep Local History

The congregation dates back to 1845, beginning with just ten founding members meeting in a private home. Over time, the church relocated multiple times due to flooding along the Ohio River before settling at its present site in the late 1850s.

The current church building was completed in 1904 and dedicated in 1905, marking a new chapter for the growing rural congregation.

⚰️ A Church & Cemetery Together

The property includes a historic churchyard cemetery with:

- Over 350 interments
- Graves dating as early as the 1820s
- Burials of local citizens, early settlers, and veterans

Churchyard cemeteries like this were once common and help preserve the full historic setting of rural churches.

⭐ Why It Matters

Bethel Presbyterian Church was listed on the National Register for its architectural significance as one of the most stylistically refined rural churches in Wood County, representing a rare example of masonry Gothic Revival design in a rural context and a property that retains excellent historic integrity in its setting, design, and materials.

05/08/2026

🌟 Friday Feature: Discover Wood County’s Historic Treasures! 🌟

Welcome to our “Friday Feature,” where each week we spotlight a gem from Wood County, WV, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 🏛️✨

This week, we’re proud to highlight Trinity Episcopal Church in Parkersburg - a true stone-cold classic with deep local roots and remarkable craftsmanship.

🔍 About the Property:
• Date Listed: 1982
• Location: 424 Juliana Street
• Significance: Built in 1879 after the original church was torn down in 1878, Trinity Episcopal Church is a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture. Its asymmetrical façade, corner tower, pointed arch windows, and iconic rose window make it one of Parkersburg’s most recognizable historic landmarks.

But what truly sets this property apart is its local story - written in stone.

🔎 Local Roots in Stone:
The church’s striking sandstone exterior was quarried from nearby Quincy Hill, giving the building a direct connection to the land it stands on. Much of the stonework was crafted by Irish immigrant contractor Nugent Keenan and his son Sam Keenan, a trained stonecutter. Their work is believed to extend beyond the church to bridges and other stone infrastructure throughout Wood County - though much of it remains undocumented.

💡 Did You Know?
Trinity Episcopal Church has endured major floods and the test of time, with significant stonework restorations completed in 1969, 1979, and 2002, ensuring that the original Quincy Hill sandstone continues to stand strong today.

🌟 From its 19th-century craftsmanship to its locally sourced materials, Trinity Episcopal Church stands as a testament to the resilience, skill, and heritage of Wood County.

Next time you pass by, take a moment to appreciate those original Quincy Hill stones, they’ve been telling Parkersburg’s story for nearly 150 years.

04/29/2026

The Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission will be meeting in regular session on May 13th, 2026 at 6:30 PM over Google Meets. The meeting is open to the public and they may participate.
Video call link:

04/03/2026

For today’s Friday Feature we wanted to share this piece of history shared and explained by the Williamstown WV History page.

Letter to George Henderson, Wood County from Thomas Beeson, Jackson Mississippi, October 24, 1847

Dear Sir
I promised to write to you in regard to the slave Market which I now do. There is a great demand with advancing prices the rates are as follows Men No 1 $800. No 2 $650 & NONE under $600.
Women No 1 $700. No 2 $600 down to $500.

Those No.s not to be above 40 & from 22 years, the Women from 18 to 35 years of age.;

Boys from 12 to 18 years of age are from 4 to 500 dollars that is more in the appearance of the Slave. Girls from 12 to 18 very much in the manners & where raised in or outdoors.

Families are in demand where parents is not past middle age, in this country say 40 years old.

There is not been any brought to this Market this season yet & if you have not disposed of yours you would do well to try this place in December or January. If you was here now you could sell fifty in 2 months. This is not my own judgment but the opinion of a Trader who has retired from the business with a golden treasure of about $100,000 etc. etc

This little piece of Williamstown history is part of a much larger story. From 1820 to 1860 slaves were sold and transported from Virginia and Maryland to the cotton plantations of the deep south. In 1836 the domestic slave trade was Virginia’s largest industry and earned $24 million for the Virginia economy (equivalent to $800 million today). Families were separated when children were transported south via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. They were “sold down the River” a phrase for betrayal for economic benefit.

Courtesy Henderson Hall

03/20/2026

🌿 Friday Feature: Spring Grove Cemetery 🌿

Located just off Rosemar Road in Parkersburg, Spring Grove Cemetery is one of the most historically significant - and often overlooked-sites in Wood County. Established in the early 1890s, the land was purchased in 1891–1892 by members of Parkersburg’s Black community to serve as a burial ground during a time of segregation, when African Americans were not permitted to be buried in white cemeteries.

Spring Grove remains the only historically Black cemetery in Wood County, created through the efforts of local Black citizens, including men like Peter Brock, who helped acquire the original 17.5-acre property.

Within its grounds lie generations of local history. Those buried here include formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants, as well as veterans who served in the Civil War - particularly in United States Colored Troops regiments - and later conflicts including World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Spring Grove Cemetery stands not only as a place of rest, but as a powerful reminder of resilience, community, and the enduring legacy of Parkersburg’s African American heritage.

The Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission has recently submitted a Historic Cemetery Inventory Form, beginning the process of seeking listing on the National Register of Historic Places - an important step toward preserving and honoring this sacred ground for future generations.

Take a moment today to reflect on this irreplaceable piece of our shared history. 🌸

03/16/2026

📜 Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission Meeting

There will be an emergency meeting of the Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission this Wednesday, March 18th at 6:30 PM.

The meeting will take place via Google Meets, and the public is welcome to attend.

🔗 (https://meet.google.com/ngv-jfvc-aji)

We look forward to continuing our work preserving and recognizing the historic places of Wood County.

02/06/2026

Friday Feature! 🏛️
📍 Jackson Memorial Fountain

Park Ave. & 17th St., Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia
NRIS #84003686 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places August 23, 1984 

🏛️ What It Is

The Jackson Memorial Fountain is a historic ornamental fountain located at the gateway to City Park in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Built in 1905, this cast‑iron fountain served as a civic landmark and memorial feature at the park’s main entrance. While the original had three tiers, only the lower two survived long‑term physical stresses; a faithful replica stands today after storm damage in recent years. 

🎨 Design & Materials
• Constructed of elaborately sculpted cast iron, typical of major Victorian‑era park ornamentation.
• Features decorative basins and a female figure (often described as a “Lady of the Lake”) atop the central tier.
• Originally more towering, its current form reflects both preservation and loss over time. 

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Historical Significance

The fountain stands as both a community landmark and a memorial tied to Parkersburg’s influential Jackson family — notably:
• General John Jay Jackson (a 19th‑century local figure),
• His sons, including Judge John Jay Jackson Jr. and Governor Jacob B. Jackson.
It was financed through a bequest from family members and was intended to symbolize civic pride, aesthetic beauty, and the value of public space. 

🕰️ Timeline at a Glance
• 1905 – Fountain constructed and installed at the park entrance. 
• 1984 – Added to the National Register of Historic Places for significance in art and engineering as an ornamental object. 
• 2018 – Original fountain severely damaged by a storm; later replaced with a replica to maintain its historic appearance and presence in the park. 

🌳 Today

The Jackson Memorial Fountain remains a focal point of Parkersburg’s City Park and a celebration of early 20th‑century civic aesthetics — reflecting broader trends in American park design and local identity during that era. Its listing on the NRHP highlights both its artistic qualities and its cultural associations with one of Wood County’s

01/30/2026

🏛️ Friday Feature: Henry Logan Memorial AME Church

This week, the Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission highlights Henry Logan Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, a cornerstone of Parkersburg’s African American religious and community history.

The congregation was first organized as a Methodist Episcopal Church for Black residents of Parkersburg by Rev. D. Bowser and Charles O. Fisher. Early worship services were held in the basement of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, with additional services sometimes taking place at the Franklin Schoolhouse—a reminder of the limited spaces available to Black congregations in the post–Civil War era.

The first dedicated house of worship was constructed on Fifth Street near the Ohio River. Several years later, a new site was purchased at Sixth and Ann Streets, where a permanent church building was erected. Henry Logan and his wife, Lavinia, were instrumental in this effort, contributing generously to both the construction and the work of the church. Henry Logan also assisted the congregation in acquiring the property, which remains the church’s present location. The deed for the site is dated December 20, 1871.

In 1890, the original frame structure was moved to the rear of the lot, and construction began on a new brick church. Thanks to congregational support and a significant gift from Mrs. Logan, the debt was paid in full, and the church was formally dedicated as Logan Memorial Episcopal Church on February 14, 1892, by Rev. Hite of Albany, New York.

A pipe organ was installed in 1900, and a basement addition was constructed several years later to accommodate church school rooms and a kitchen. Art glass windows were also added to the sanctuary, enhancing the building’s architectural character.

Today, Henry Logan Memorial AME Church stands as a powerful symbol of faith, perseverance, and community leadership, and as a lasting reminder of the individuals who worked to establish and sustain it through generations.

📍 Parkersburg, West Virginia
📸 Do you have historic photos, documents, or memories connected to this church? We invite you to share them in the comments.

12/31/2025

The Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission wishes everyone a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year! Please be safe this New Year’s Eve! Here’s to a wonderful 2026 filled with joy, community, and history! 🏛️✨

12/29/2025

🎉 Thank you! We are grateful to have reached over 400 followers. Your continued interest and support helps us preserve, protect, and promote Wood County’s historic landmarks for future generations.