The Preservation Effort: Accomplishments Thus Far
The Town of Glen Dale and the Marshall County Historical Society, upon the death of Samuel A. J. Cockayne in November, 2001, partnered to preserve the Cockayne Property. The farmhouse was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It was so listed in December of that year.
The City Leased the Farmhouse to the Marshall County Historical Society in March 2003 and the work then began in earnest. Major Accomplishments resulting from the partnership during the ensuing 5-1/2 years include:
This is the tri-fold brochure created by Amanda Beckett and Michael Kotson of John Marshall High School's AP English Class.A Master Plan was completed in October, 2003 A website was created, hosted by Linda Fluharty The box gutter system was rebuilt and the 100-year-old slate roof replaced over a one-year period from September 2004 to September, 2005 A shovel test pit archaeological survey was performed on the Cockayne property and on the base of the Cockayne Indian Burial Mound, services donated by Archaeological Consultants of the Mid-West. The test pit on the base of the Mound, performed with state approval, authenticated the Mound as prehistoric in nature The prehistoric Indian Burial Mound was recovered and reunited to the Property in March, 2005 Throughout 2004-2005, a documentation process was undertaken to log, number and tag each of the over 1500 artifacts within the Cockayne Farmhouse, including furnishings, clothing, toys, jewelry, tools, original artwork, magazines, etc. covering a span from the 1850's through the 1950's. Archaeological artifacts were also documented. In December, 2005, a smaller 18th century Cockayne Farmhouse was brought under the protection of benefactors and leased to the Society until that property can be reunited with the farmhouse. In 2006, Kay Goodwin, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Education and Arts, donated the services of James Mitchell, curator of the West Virginia State Museum, to work with volunteers to curate the Cockayne artifacts. Over 3/4 of the curation process has been completed The front porch columns, porch decking and porch roof were restored in 2007. In March, 2008, the south lawn was recovered and reunited to the farmhouse. In May, 2008, John Marshall High School's AP English class presented a brochure, videos and PSA's prepared by the students to benefit the project. During the summer of 2008, the Marshall County Historical Society's Cockayne Project became a host agency for National Council on Aging trainees. These trainees work 20 hours per week advancing the project, performing such tasks as collecting information about Sam Cockayne's life and military history, completing curation of the massive collection of books within the house, adding the curation documentation to a database. As the trainees began working, office equipment of two desks, chairs, computers, software, wood filing cabinets, office supplies and pamphlet holders were donated and set up in the smaller Cockayne house. In October, 2008, restoration of the front facade of the farmhouse was completed. In November 2008, Tom Tarowsky, retired history teacher and Dean of Student Affairs at Belmont Technical College was hired to work with the schools to implement this amazing Appalachian Resource into the various curriculums.
