PRINCE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society (COHS) has formally expressed interest in saving the historic Prince Brothers Store from demolition by the National Park Service (NPS).
The Society has approached New River Gorge National Park & Preserve Superintendent Charles Sellars to discuss the possibility of leasing the building to operate as a satellite museum and gift shop.
The Prince Brothers Store, located in Prince, is one of several historic structures in the New River Gorge region proposed for demolition as part of the NPS’s environmental assessment of deteriorating buildings within the park.
While most of the affected buildings are located in Thurmond, the Prince Brothers Store stands out due to its historical significance in the region’s industrial history.
NPS Demolition Proposal
The NPS has identified 19 historic structures, including the Prince Brothers Store, as candidates for demolition due to their alleged poor condition.
According to the NPS’s Proposed Demolition of Historic Structures Environmental Assessment (EA), these buildings are described as “abandoned, dilapidated, and overgrown safety hazards that are vulnerable to trespassing and vandalism and are a burden to maintain.”
The proposed demolitions will be funded by the Great American Outdoors Act.
The public has had two opportunities to comment on three proposed alternatives for the future of these structures. These include:
- Alternative A: No Action – The structures would remain standing but continue to deteriorate without any intervention.
- Alternative B: Demolish All Structures (NPS Preferred) – All 19 structures would be demolished, with the sites restored and replanted with native vegetation.
- Alternative C: Retain Select Historic Structures – Three key structures, including those in the Thurmond Historic District, would be preserved, while the remaining structures would be demolished.
Currently, the NPS is reviewing feedback from the second public comment period and has not yet made a final decision on which alternative to pursue. A decision is expected to be made by early next year.
COHS Seeks Partnership with NPS
Mark Totten, President of the COHS, has reached out to Superintendent Sellars, advocating for a partnership that would allow the COHS to lease the Prince Brothers Store and develop it into a museum and gift shop.
Totten sees the preservation of the store as an important opportunity to share the rich history of the New River Gorge region, particularly its ties to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and the coal industry.
In response to Totten’s request, park officials have acknowledged the interest but emphasized that any entity seeking to lease the building must demonstrate the ability to restore the structure to the standards set by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Totten Discusses COHS’s Capabilities
In an interview with Lootpress, Totten explained that the COHS is well-equipped to handle the restoration and operation of the Prince Brothers Store. He pointed to the Society’s success with the C&O Depot in St. Albans, where the COHS operates a satellite museum and gift shop in partnership with the city.
“We have proven our ability to restore and operate historic properties,” said Totten. “Our 2022 partnership with the City of St. Albans allowed both entities to combine our strengths toward a common goal. The city handles major upkeep, while we take care of the public space, exhibits, and day-to-day operations. This has been a mutually beneficial arrangement that drives local economic development.”
Totten believes a similar partnership with the NPS could bring the Prince Brothers Store back to life, serving as a key interpretive site for the history of the New River Gorge. He also sees the potential for the building to become a tourism asset for Fayette County, generating economic growth through local visitation.
Preserving West Virginia’s Heritage
The Prince Brothers Store holds particular significance for West Virginians. Not only is it a rare surviving example of a coalfield mercantile establishment independent from the traditional company store system, but it also played a key role in the region’s transportation history.
The store relied on the C&O Railway to receive and distribute goods, a testament to the ingenuity and self-sufficiency of the Prince family.
For Totten, preserving the Prince Brothers Store is a matter of urgent importance.
“The fact that this building is still standing is already a fluke of history,” he said. “It should be preserved as a symbol of pride for West Virginia and as a testament to the ingenuity of the Prince family. The threat of these demolitions is an emergency for any West Virginian who cares about our heritage.”
Future Plans for the Prince Brothers Store
If granted the opportunity to lease the Prince Brothers Store, the COHS plans to develop it into a dynamic interpretive space, showcasing the history of the New River Gorge, the C&O Railway, and the region’s coal industry. In addition to the museum exhibits, a gift shop would help fund the ongoing restoration and development of the site.
“We would open the building to the public as an interpretive space dedicated to the history of the region,” said Totten. “A gift shop with history-themed items would allow us to self-fund the development of a satellite museum. Over time, we would make improvements to the building’s public space, creating a destination that tells the story of the New River Gorge and its place in American transportation and industrial history.”
Totten emphasized that preserving the Prince Brothers Store and other historic structures in the New River Gorge could play a key role in revitalizing the region’s tourism economy.
“People are hungry for their heritage,” he said. “Our success in St. Albans proves that, and the Prince Brothers Store could be the next chapter in that story.”
As of now, discussions between the COHS and NPS are ongoing, and a meeting between Totten and Superintendent Sellars is in the works.
