About Historic Staunton Foundation

HSF Walking Tour of Sears Hill, May 2009

Support Historic Staunton!

membership levels

Business Benefactor $500
Business Sponsor $250
Business Patron $100

Benefactor $500
Supporter $250
Patron $100
Family $50
Individual $40

hsf@ntelos.net

Administrative Asst.
Vickie Einselen
vickiehsf@ntelos.net

Office Info
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

(540) 885-7676

20 South New Street
Staunton, VA 24401

Historic Staunton Foundation, Virginia

Historic Newtown Neighborhood, Staunton VA

Historic Staunton Foundation is a non-profit organization promoting the preservation and revitalization of the rich architectural and historic resources in Staunton, Virginia.

Staunton is a unique community of cohesive neighborhoods and a central business district with an impressive inventory of historic buildings and landscapes most dating from the City's late 19th Century boom-town growth.

Since 1971, HSF has promoted historic preservation through
● the creation of 6 historic districts
● revitalization of downtown business
    districts
● creation of local preservation ordinance
● technical rehabilitation support
   for property owners
● development of Smith Center for
    History & Art.

     Successful preservation organizations lead their communities by advocating quality urban
     planning. HSF strives to strike a balance between programs that help the individual member
     with rehab advice and providing guidance to the community as a whole.
Landes Park, Newtown, Staunton VA

     HSF works one-on-one with property owners,provides
     preservation workshops, conducts public meetings and
     provides staff assistance to the City of Staunton.

     HSF also maintains preservation resource rooms and
     the TJ Collins & Son Architectural drawings
     archives for public use.

     More than 550 individuals, families and businesses
     support HSF through membership and volunteerism.
     With a strong membership base supporting its mission,
     SF can continue to have a positive influence on
     our community's development.

R.R. Smith Center for History & Art Rehabilitation 2007

RR Smith Center for HIstory & Art, Staunton VA

Originally built as the Eakleton Hotel
   (TJ Collins, architect, 1891)
   and later used as a furniture store (top)
   this beautiful Victorian
   sat vacant and dilapidated
   until 3 non-profits:

   Historic Staunton Foundation
   Augusta Co. Historical Society
   & Staunton Augusta Art Center

    partnered in its
    development into a
    Center for History & Art.

   The Center houses
   HSF offices, preservation rooms
   & TJ Collins and Son archives

   ACHS archives, history gallery
   and research library

   SAAC classrooms and art galleries
   and a community meeting room.

   Come visit!

20 South New Street, Staunton, Virginia

How HSF got started

sketch of Sears House, also pictured at top of page

Citizens concerned about planned urban renewal through demolition met on October 14, 1970, at Columbia Gas Company to discuss the loss of several buildings contained within Frederick St. to Churchville Ave. between N. Augusta and the Central Ave blocks.

Mrs. Gilliam from the Lexington Historic Preservation Society and Calder Loth from the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission took this group under their wings to begin the process to preserve Staunton’s buildings.

1971 was a banner year for this young group. On May 6, the charter for Historic Staunton Foundation was approved and on December 5 the first fundraiser began; The Christmas House Tour. The group continued to gain members with Jim Patrick serving as the first president. Members of the Staunton Beautification Commission and members of the Committee to Save the Sears House also became active.

In 1972, at a City Council meeting, HSF began its advocacy program by opposing the demolition of the Burns Building, which was located on 120 S. Augusta Street. HSF lost the battle, but won the war.

The wharf warehouse buildings:
HSF historic wharf district buildings warehouses

HSF historic wharf district buildings warehouses

In 1973, HSF took on two other battles, the Sears House and the Middlebrook Avenue thoroughfare. A hundred citizens turned out for the City Council meeting to save the Wharf area. City Council listened and allowed the Wharf “an opportunity to prove its economic value to Staunton.”

This meeting also saw the fight for the possession of the Sears House tabled to another meeting. Later that year, the City refused HSF’s request for the Sears House. In 1974, Mayor Frank Pancake, acting on behalf of the City gave the property to Woodward Morris (President of Committee to Save Sears House), who in turn gave it to HSF. Shortly thereafter, T.J. Collins and Son (Doug Roller) and Iona Restoration Associates (Eleanor Patrick & Jim Lamb) began the restoration project.

In the mid-1970’s, a University of Virginia student came to Staunton to give a lecture at MaryBaldwin College. In 1977, this student, William T. Frazier, became the first executive director of HSF.The Sears House project was completed and opened that same year as a decorator showcase.

The HSF offices were housed at the T.J. Collins and Son Offices for just a short time when Kathleen O’Neill (Frazier) was hired as the first Façade Improvement Coordinator. Kathy’s work began in 1978 with Holt’s and Beverley Book as two of her first projects. Her work allowed others to see the importance ofpreservation and soon thereafter, other buildings began improvements and worked to gain designation on the Virginia Landmarks Register.

HSF was quite active in the 1980’s: a generous gift allowed HSF to purchase the building at 120 S.Augusta, rehab it and convert it into the current offices; a National Trust for Historic Preservation HonorAward for its pioneering work in revitalizing Staunton’s downtown; development of the Staunton Guided Walking Tour Brochure, by Liz McCue and her work on “Staunton, Virginia: A Pictorial History”; thedesignation of five historic districts in Staunton; and the effort to save another historic structure, the Edmund Cabell log house.

Throughout the 1990’s and into the current century HSF continues its work in preservation throughtechnical assistance, education and advocacy. A special thanks to Eleanor and Jim Patrick, G.G. and Frank Pancake, and Delores Lescure, who provided the information for this account of the Foundation’s early days.