HINTON, W.Va, (Hinton News) – A historic barn at the Richmond-Hamilton farm site in the New River Gorge National Park was destroyed in a fire on Thursday, Feb. 22. The Summers County Volunteer Fire Department and Jumping Branch-Nimitz Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze, which was reported around 8 p.m.
One of nine structures at the site, the barn was built from hand-hewn chestnut logs and was considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. It was one of two log barns at the Richmond-Hamilton farm, a site significant for its representation of 18th and 19th-century subsistence farming along the New River.
The original land grant for the area was awarded to a Revolutionary War veteran, William Richmond, in 1796. The land tract is near Sandstone Falls, once called Richmond’s Falls. Not only is the Richmond-Hamilton farm a vital piece of history, but it will also be a centerpiece for planned park activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
NRGNPP is seeking information about the fire and asks anyone with details to contact NPS dispatch at 304-547-3590 or email the park at New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 888-653-0009 or by visiting the NPS Tip Line or Crime Stoppers of West Virginia websites.
At the time of writing, no other information has arisen regarding the cause of the fire. The Hinton News will provide updates as they become available.
