Fire destroys historic barn in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Jessica Phillips
·2 min read

HINTON, WV (WVNS) — The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is asking the public for help finding information about a fire that destroyed a historic barn.

The barn was located at the Richmond-Hamilton farm site along River Road between Hinton and Sandstone Falls.

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According to the New River National Park and Preserve, reports of the fire came in Thursday, February 22, 2024, around 8:00 p.m. Park law enforcement rangers, Summers County Volunteer Fire Department, and Jumping Branch/Nimitz Station #31 responded to the incident.

Despite work from firefighters to contain the fire, the historic barn was completely burned and considered a total loss.

  • Historic Barn – Brown Gabled Barn standing behind outdoor exhibit – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
    Historic Barn – Brown Gabled Barn standing behind outdoor exhibit – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
  • Day after Thursday, February 22 fire – Smoldering Remains of Historic barn – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
    Day after Thursday, February 22 fire – Smoldering Remains of Historic barn – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
  • Closeup of notched log beams – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
    Closeup of notched log beams – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
  • Main farmhouse at Richmond Hamilton Farm – White Farmhouse with long covered front porch in large green field – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
    Main farmhouse at Richmond Hamilton Farm – White Farmhouse with long covered front porch in large green field – Photo Courtesy: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

The barn was one of only two buildings at the site that was built from chestnut with hand-hewn logs and half-dovetail notching, and was also one of nine buildings that was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

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The Richmond-Hamilton Farm is one of only a few examples in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve that shows subsistence farming along the New River, and was the center of the scheduled activities at the park for the U.S. Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary.

In 1976 the original Revolutionary War veteran land grant in this area of the New River was granted to William Richmond. It was on a piece of land near the Sandstone Falls, which was originally named Richmond’s Falls.

Any information can be reported to NPS dispatch at 304-547-3590 or emailed to the park at New River Gorge National Park & Preserve Tips. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to NPS by calling 888-653-0009, or on the Crime Stoppers of West Virginia website.

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