×

Cook House roof in need of repair

Capital campaign aims for $30,000 for Cook House

Photos by Jeff Baughan A capital campaign drive to raise $30,000 for the shake roof at the Cook House in Parkersburg was announced on Monday by the Junior League of Parkersburg.

PARKERSBURG — The Junior League of Parkersburg has started a major capital campaign to repair the roof of the historic 19th century Cook House at 13th Street and Murdoch Avenue in Parkersburg.

The Junior League goal is $30,000 to repair the shake roof on the home constructed in 1825 by Tillinghast A. Cook and now the headquarters of the Junior League.

“We can really use more than that,” said Jane Burdette, president of the Junior League.

Letters seeking grants or donations and applications for grants have been prepared and will be placed in the mail this week, she said. Already received were a generous donation of $4,000 from the Capt. James Wood Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and $1,000 from the Oakland Foundation.

While the house and roof are small, wood shakes were commonly used for roofs in that period of history, but not today, according to Burdette.

“That’s why it’s so expensive,” she said.

The project follows the renovation of the plumbing and electrical systems in the house.

“It’s a project we have been working on for a couple of years,” said Sherry Dugan, immediate past president of the Junior League.

The roof has fallen into disrepair over the years, Dugan said.

“It definitely needs done,” she said.

Among the items discussed is working with historical enthusiasts, including Jim Miracle of Carlin’s Battery D Civil War re-enactment group, and the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society, to develop and participate in joint programs, such as public tours and tours for school children, according to Dugan.

A fund, the Junior League Cook House Preservation Fund, has been created. Donations may be sent to the Junior League of Parkersburg, c/o 2500 Brooklyn Drive, Parkersburg WV 26101 with “Cook House” in the memo line.

“We hope to maintain the building for many years to come and with that involves a lot of work, repairs and upgrades,” Burdette said.

The Junior League will soon celebrate its 95th anniversary and the goal is to have the work completed by then, Burdette said.

“This is just one of the many projects planned for the year. We have also worked with Latrobe Street Mission, Circles Campaign, the First Lutheran Church community garden program, the Family Resource Network summer children’s movie program and are planning 12 major highlights for our 95th anniversary year,” she said. “Not to mention the thousands of hours that are donated by our trained members individually in the community.”

Kristi Bond, of Vienna, is chairman of the Cook House committee comprised of active and sustaining members of the Junior League.

The Cook House is the second-oldest house in Wood County.

Tillinghast A. Cook was the son of Capt. Joseph Cook of Dartmouth, Mass., who first settle in Belpre in 1795, then in 1797 bought 216 acres of land in what is now Parkersburg and moved the family into a hastily constructed log cabin.

Tillinghast, who fought in the War of 1812, became an influential member of the community including sheriff of Wood County, built the Cook House in 1825 on what was then known as Sand Road, present-day Murdoch Avenue.

He died in 1869 and the house remained in the family until it was donated to the Junior League.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today