Save the Mount, Save Our M de C

In a totally senseless and wasteful act, the demolition of Mount de Chantal began November 7, 2011. As of today, the historically insignificant gym and convent buildings are the only parts still standing.

We will try to update this site with information gathered during the demolition. In fact, a few intrepid souls maintained a photographic record of the “wanton destruction,” as Marc Harshman said in his brilliant letter to the editor of the Wheeling News-Register. It may take a while to post the demolition info and pictures, if we ever even do it, because it is so difficult to relive how painful, violent, and irrational the murder of the Mount was. It is still very raw for many of us.

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Highlights from the report below:

“a most notable architectural gem”

“a resounding endorsement of the extant structure”

“this site is in remarkable condition by any measure”

“no major concerns [...] that would restrict the property from being adaptively reused”

“of all the buildings [...] I have dealt with over the past four decades, this one is certainly in as good condition as any”

Click any image to view the full-size version.

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List courtesy of Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV, who listed Mount de Chantal as endangered). And don’t forget the funds and fund-raising alumnae have offered (for example, the Class of ’66 adopting a parlor to be rehabilitated, maintained, et cetera). Keep in mind, too, that the cost of demolition could be applied toward re-purposing the site.

Many of the sources and grants listed are available to Wheeling Hospital for the Mount de Chantal property.

Fund Sources / Grants

Federal Resources

Federal Tax Credit Commercial/Income Producing – 20% tax credit of the capital investment in the building and must be listed on National Register or eligible for listing http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/tax/incentives/essentials_1.htm

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections – administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities used for improving moisture performance of building envelop, improve security and protection of collection from fire or other disasters, funds are awarded up to $400,000. http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/SCHC.html

Challenge Grants – administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities used to support acquisitions for collections, faculty and staff salaries, preservation and conservation programs, and renovation of facilities. http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/challenge.html

Conservation Project Support Grant – administered by Institute of Museums and Library Services with funds up to $150,000, a 50% match is required, and are used to help museums implement a logical approach to caring for their living and material collections with primary goal of collection care. http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/conservProject.shtm

Appalachian Regional Commission Project Grants – administered by ARC and funds projects that develop, support, or expand education and training programs. http://www.arc.gov/funding/ARCProjectGrants.asp and http://www.wvcommerce.org/people/communityresources/financialresources/arc/default.aspx

State Resources

State Tax Credits Commercial/Income Producing – 10% tax credit of the capital investment in the building and must be listed on National Register or eligible for listing http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/tccommoverview.html

Development Grants – administered by SHPO postmarked by March 31 and doesn’t fund anything less than $1,000, 50% match is required. Used for rehabilitation of property listed on National Register or contributing structure in a historic district or archaeological site. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/forms.html

Survey & Planning Grants – administered by SHPO must be postmarked by October 31 and doesn’t fund anything less than $1,000, 40% match is required. Used for conducting archaeological/architectural surveys, National Register nominations, predevelopment plans, heritage education projects. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/forms.html

Endangered Properties Fund – administered by SHPO, provides emergency assistance for preservation of threatened and endangered historic and prehistoric structures and sites through stabilization, protection, or data recovery. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/shpograntmanual08.pdf

Cultural Facilities and Capital Resources Grant – administered by WV Division of Culture and History for art and history orgs.  Funds are awarded in five levels ranging from $2,500 – $500,000 and are used for acquisition of real property, renovation or construction, or equipment purchase and priority is given to projects that increase or assure public access to the arts, involve collaborations and partnerships that leverage additional public and private investment. 50% match is required and letter of intent due by April 1 http://www.wvculture.org/arts/grants/capitalgeninfo.html

Matching Advertising Partnership Program – administered by WV Division of Tourism, up to $5,000 for fairs/festivals or up to $7,500 small orgs and both cover cost of printing publications. Application must be received 45 days prior to start of printing. http://www.wvcommerce.org/travel/industryinformation/mapp/default.aspx

West Virginia Humanities Council Grants – fund brochures and booklets, exhibit development and implementation, archival projects, or media projects. Mini Grants $1,500 or less – allow 6 weeks between application deadline and start of project. Major grants $20,000 or less – allow 10 weeks between deadline and start of project. Media and Publication Grants are both $20,000 or less – allow 10 weeks between deadline and start of project. http://www.wvhumanities.org/grantforms/GrantGuidelines10.pdf

Governor’s Community Participation Grant Program – administered by WV Department of Commerce and provides state funds for community and economic development projects. Eligible activities can include community centers, construction and renovation of public spaces, land and property acquisition, etc. and funds are provided to units of local government. http://www.wvcommerce.org/people/communityresources/financialresources/governorscommunityparticipationgrantprogram/default.aspx

Transportation Enhancement Program – administered by WV Department of Transportation and open for government bodies only. Requires a 20% match and is for transportation related community projects such as historic preservation, acquisition of historic sites, rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings. Minimum total project cost $30,000. Intent to Apply form due November 15. http://www.transportation.wv.gov/highways/programplanning/grant_administration/transportationenhancement/Pages/default.aspx

Recreational Trails Fund Program – administered by the WV Department of Transportation and open for government bodies or non-profit orgs. Requires a 20% match and is used for such things as development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities. $5,000-100,000 available. Intent to Apply form due December 15. http://www.transportation.wv.gov/highways/programplanning/grant_administration/scenicbyways/Pages/default.aspx

Land and Water Conservation Fund – administered by the WV Department of Commerce, available to local government, park boards, commissions, districts, and state government for renovation of outdoor facilities such as support facilities (bathrooms) and visitor information centers, or interpretative centers. http://www.wvcommerce.org/people/communityresources/financialresources/landandwaterconservationfund/default.aspx

Small Cities Block Grant – administered by the WV Development Office and provides funds to local government or for non-profits that have a subgrant agreement w/ the unit of local government for activities such as: community centers, economic development, acquisition, preservation and beautification, and community facilities restoration. http://www.wvcommerce.org/people/communityresources/communityrevitalization/smallcitiesblockgrantfund/default.aspx

Organizational Resources

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation – no limits given on funding amount or deadline for application. They fund projects in WV that deal with community development. http://www.benedum.org/

McDonough Foundation – Provides funds to cultural organizations dedicated to preservation, production, and education in arts, history, theater, and music and civic and community enterprises of municipalities and organizations whose projects enhance the economic growth and general welfare of the community http://www.mcdonoughfoundation.org/

Community Action Grant – administered by the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley. Available for orgs in Brooke, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel counties. Orgs must be working for betterment of community and funds could be used for such things as seed money for new program, grants that will generate additional funding, grants for capital and equipment needs. http://www.cfov.org

Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation – Available for orgs in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties. Awards unrestricted and field of interest grants in the program areas of: arts, economic development, education, health, human services, land use and public recreation. http://www.tgkvf.org/grant.htm

National Railway Heritage Grants – matching grants for projects which preserve, research, educate, or publish railway history. Max award is $5,000 per year per project. http://www.nrhs.com/grant/index.html

National Trust Preservation Fund – matching grants from $500 – $5,000 for preservation planning and educational uses such as obtaining professional expertise or preservation education activities http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/find-funding/grants/

Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation – $2,500-$10,000 for nonprofits and public agencies for projects that contribute to the preservation or recapture of an authentic sense of place http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/find-funding/grants/

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors – $2,500 – $10,000 for nonprofits and public agencies to assist in preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic interiors http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/find-funding/grants/

Google Grants – available to all non-profit organizations and awarded an in-kind advertising account that could be used for general outreach, fundraising activities, or recruitment of volunteers  http://www.google.com/grants/details.html

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The owner of a property adjoining Mount de Chantal received notice (see below) Friday 11/4/11 that demolition will begin Monday 11/7/11 and will be completed within 45 days. BUT IT’S STILL NOT TOO LATE.

There are two people with the power to stop the anticipated demolition of Mount de Chantal.

Please write or call as soon as possible to (politely) voice your support of preserving Mount de Chantal to Wheeling Hospital CEO, Ronald L Violi, and Chairman of the Board, The Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield. It may also be helpful to request a meeting in person:

To contact Wheeling Hospital:

–(304) 243-3000

–to send email, use the form at the bottom of the page here: http://www.wheelinghospital.org/about/contact.aspx

–mailing address:
Ronald L Violi, Chief Executive Officer
Wheeling Hospital
1 Medical Park
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003

To contact the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston:

–(304) 233-0880 or call toll-free (888) 434-6237

–to send email, use the form here: http://www.dwc.org/contact-us/188-contacts/1-the-diocese-of-wheeling-charleston-.html

–mailing address:
1300 Byron Street
Wheeling, WV 26003

***Call***Write email***Get a meeting**Mail a local letter fast***

Click the letter to view the full-size version.

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Frank Calabrese of the West Virginia Company and Doc’s Architectural Salvage are currently salvaging pieces of Mount de Chantal. Scuttlebutt is that only two more weeks will be permitted for salvage work before demolition begins. It is rumored the structure will be imploded.

The post “Once in a lifetime salvage job – Academy for Girls in West Virginia” contains a link to a Picasa web album that featured hundreds of recent images of Mount de Chantal’s interior and exterior. The set of pictures was extensive and detailed. Upon our sharing the link to the album with other supporters of saving the Mount, the pictures were removed. One must now phone the West Virginia Company in order to gain access to the photos.

Savethemount.com was able to save a few screen grabs in order to give readers an idea of what the salvage “catalog” looked like before it was removed. The pictures directly contradict Wheeling Hospital’s claims both that the Mount is unsafe to be in and also that the building is in bad condition.

Click the images for larger versions.

Notice there are 492 photos in the set above.

Look at the date of the above set: July 8, 2011. That’s nearly a whole month before Wheeling Hospital took ownership of the property. They didn’t even own it, yet they had begun the salvage work.

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According to the Ohio County asbestos inspector, abatement at Mount de Chantal is currently in progress. It began on 9/6 and will be finished 10/4. The company performing the work is Astar.

Please be aware that this process typically is completed prior to demolition.

As of today, neither Wheeling Hospital nor the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston will confirm their plans, will not meet with any of Save the Mount’s experts to openly discuss the fate of MdeC. They have been asked repeatedly and will not schedule any kind of meeting to hear the experts’ testimony and resource help for adaptive reuse of even a portion of the building.

Instead, they staged a media tour with a skewed view, showing the building in disrepair. Important damage to the buildings has happened only since their stewardship began. This appears to not support their “mission” as noted on their website, which reads “Building on Tradition.”

We fervently wish the hospital and Diocese would heed this wonderful editorial from The Intelligencer: Preserving Part of a Landmark

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From the video’s description:

Chad Carter plays E&GG Hook opus 411 one last time before it is dismantled. The beautiful building was purchased by the Wheeling Hospital and is slated for demolition. The organ will be restored and installed in a church in New Jersey.

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The Intelligencer article is here: “Mount Sale Is Final”

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Click the image above for more information or click here: http://www.pawv.org/endanger.htm

From the press release:

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia selected eight historically significant sites for their 2011 Endangered Properties List. [...]

The Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy (Ohio County) has overlooked Wheeling since 1856. The “commodious,” eclectic Victorian architectural landmark was constructed using local materials. It exhibits a tri-partite arrangement providing space for public functions in the center (administration and chapel), nun’s residences on the left side, and student housing on the right. Additions have expanded the classrooms with space included for other functions as well. The school provided quality education for young women, together with girls from both North and South during the Civil War era. The building is no longer in use and is deteriorating. While local supporters are advocating for its saving and adaptive reuse, the structure is threatened by likely demolition. Mount de Chantal is in private hands; however PAWV agrees that this unique, historical, cultural treasure should be preserved and will advocate to that end as opportunities permit.

The handout with Mount-specific info can be found here: http://www.pawv.org/endangered2011/mtchantal.pdf

The press photos are located here: http://www.pawv.org/endangered2011/prpix/mtchantal/index.htm

The Charleston Gazette covered the announcement in their 2/24/11 article “W.Va. Endangered Properties List released”

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These photographs (taken April 2010) are posted with the gracious permission of a very good friend to our cause, Zane Miller. You can view the full set here.

Mount chapel dome

The chapel

Dorms

Another view of the chapel dome

Music practice rooms

Exterior view

Tin ceiling: Wheeling-made of Wheeling tin

A view of the fine arts wing

All photos copyright Zane Miller.

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