Preservation efforts earn Parkersburg couple their own moment in history
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PARKERSBURG -- A Parkersburg couple will be honored this week as West Virginia History Heroes during a West Virginia History Day ceremony held in Charleston.
Jeff and Christy Little of Parkersburg will be honored during a ceremony held at the Culture Center on the Capitol Complex in Charleston on Thursday.
"We feel very honored to be recognized for what we like to do," the couple said in a joint statement. "We feel preservation is important because once things are gone (structures, writings, photographs, etc.) they're gone forever and can't be replaced and often their stories become lost."
The Littles have been members of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society since it was founded in 1999 and Jeff has held different offices over the years. They created the society's January meeting program "Not So Spring Bring a Thing," which has been popular, as well as the men-versus-women game at the annual picnic.
They both have served on various historical boards and committees as well as volunteering their time.
Jeff is Past President and Board Member of Wood County Historical and Preservation Society; member of Wood County Bicentennial Committee (1999); former member of the Blennerhassett Mansion Furnishings Committee; former volunteer at the Oil & Gas Museum; organizer of the Lily Irene Jackson art show at Parkersburg Art Center (2004); collector of historic Parkersburg memorabilia and more.
Christy is co-author (with Ray Swick) of the book Blennerhassett Island (Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series, 2005); compiler of genealogy book, The Lott Family of Wirt County, West Virginia (2003); put together the third-floor historic clothing display at Henderson Hall; was cataloger for the St. Joseph's Hospital and Camden Clark Medical Center historic archive project; currently working on a Blennerhassett Museum cataloging project and more.
They both served as members of Parkersburg Bicentennial Committee (1985); owners and operators of Parkersburg Antique Mall (2012-2015); authors of the book Terrapin Park: A History (self-published 2000/revised 2010); authors of Parkersburg in Vintage Postcards (Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series, 2005); enjoy genealogy and have helped others with genealogical research; did some physical work and research on local cemeteries; won the James P. Vaughan award (2002).
The Littles live in a historic house in the Julia-Anne Square Historic District and work with neighbors on Christmas and cemetery tours to raise funds for improvements to the neighborhood.
Over the years, the couple have been involved in several historical committees and activities and together they possess an extensive knowledge of history, architecture and antique furniture.
West Virginia History Heroes are nominated by historical, genealogical, preservation, museum, patriotic or like organizations from across the state. The purpose of this annual award is to give state-level recognition to individuals chosen for dedicated service on behalf of an organization's programs or for the recent significant contribution to state and local history through research, interpretation, publication or preservation.
The couple were nominated to be History Heroes by the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society.
"Jeff and Christy should have been nominated for this years ago," said Society President Bob Enoch. "They were both part of the historical society before they were married, probably 30 or more years ago.
"They are always willing to assist with historical society questions or programs, and whenever I am uncertain about a history related question, Jeff is my go-to person."
The couple have an appreciation of history and older homes having lived in the Parkersburg High School/Washington Avenue Historic District, and now the Julia-Anne Historic District, and are quite familiar with the entire districts and the general history of the area, Enoch said.
"Jeff was the first president of the WCHPS following our founder, Jim Vaughan," Enoch said. "In my mind, there is no one more familiar with the history of early Parkersburg and Wood County than Jeff and he is always strongly supported by Christy."
The West Virginia Hero award is a one-time only recognition.
The 2022 History Hero Awards program is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. in the State Theater at the Culture Center and will conclude before 11 a.m. Honorees' local legislators have been invited to participate in the ceremony at the Culture Center, time and legislative session permitting.
West Virginia History Day at the Legislature was started by the West Virginia Archives and History Commission in 1997 and is officially designated by the commission as a special day to recognize the state's rich and varied history. The annual event, during which groups from around the state provide history displays in the capitol, is now in its 26th year. This year, more than two dozen groups have registered to have displays in the upper rotunda of the capitol.
In addition to the Archives and History Commission, co-sponsors of West Virginia Day are the Mining Your History Foundation, Preservation Alliance of West Virginia Inc., West Virginia Association of Museums, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, West Virginia Historical Society and West Virginia Humanities Council.