Landmark commission sign campaign

The official Bath Historic Landmark Commission announced a plan to make available and affix individual historic markers to all eligible structures within the town's National Historic District.

There are 154 eligible structures within the district which includes the area from WV9 East north to Depot Street and Warm Springs Ridge on the west to Ewing Street on the east. A few properties just south of WV9 East are also part of the district.

Virtually all pre-World War 2 structures are included in the eligible list.

More than 70 owners of significant historic properties have received individual letters requesting a verification of the date of their structure and permission to affix a sign. Anyone not receiving a letter but owning an eligible property within the district boundaries can purchase a sign for their building. The only requirement is verification of the construction date of the structure.

The Landmark Commission will have the signs manufactured and Town of Bath workers will affix them to the individual properties unless other arrangements are made by the property owner.

The individual signs are bronzetone etched zinc, approximately four inches by seven inches. Each sign
indicates Bath Historic District and the construction date of the building. The sign will be affixed in a similar location at the front of each structure.

Signs are scheduled to be manufactured beginning in early April and attached throughout the spring. "We need to have requests for signs submitted before April 16 so we can make the order for the signs," said Landmark Commission president, Jeanne Mozier. "There is a copy of the Historic District map and list of eligible structures at the library," she said. "Or people can contact me to determine whether their structure
is included," at 304-258-4248.

Property owners choosing to purchase a sign for their structure may draft a brief letter stating the physical address of the property, the verified date of construction with the source of that information and an agreement to have the sign affixed. Letters may be dropped off to Ryan Rebant, Berkeley Springs Cottage Rentals, at 45 Fairfax St. in Berkeley Springs.

"Nancy Harvey and the original Landmark Commission did an excellent job getting the town on the National Historic Register," said Mozier. "It's taken more than two years to get to the point of signing the structures," she said. "This step will make the Historic District visible to everyone."