Brooke tollhouse efforts continue

WELLSBURG - The Brooke County Commission received an update Tuesday on efforts to restore the former tollhouse near Brooke Hills Park and was asked to consider supporting an application for a federal grant to restore its interior.

Norm Schwertfeger, an agent for the Brooke County West Virginia University Extension Service, told the commissioners staff with Greenmoor Inc. of Avella, Pa., will visit the 175-year-old structure to determine steps needed to remove asbestos.

Greenmoor had submitted the lowest of three bids - $16,511.

The house was built in 1834 for a toll road that once extended from Washington, Pa., to Seventh Street in Wellsburg.

According to the Brooke County Genealogy Society, tollkeepers living at two houses along the route collected tolls from travelers and farmers transporting hogs, sheep and cattle over the road.

It ceased to be a toll road in 1910, and the other toll house was demolished to accommodate the road being rerouted to 10th Street in 1930.

Schwertfeger said architects with the Mills Group, which is overseeing the project, will work with Greenmoor to preserve historic aspects of the building's interior.

He also asked the commission to consider providing the match for a federal grant that could be used to restore the interior. Schwertfeger said the county may apply for up to $200,000 and if it received that amount, would be required to provide a $40,000 match.

Schwertfeger secured a $160,000 grant from the West Virginia Department of Transportation for renovations to the house and promotion of a scenic byway extending from state Route 27 near Brooke Hills Park to 22nd Street and Pleasant Avenue in Wellsburg, state Route 67 in Bethany, state Route 88 and back to state Route 27.

The $32,000 match was met with the value of the property on which the toll house sits.

In other business, the commission:

Opened three bids for the replacement of the county courthouse's fire alarm system.

Because the wide margin among the three bids, the commission agreed to meet with its building commission to review them further.

Learned the Brooke County Sheriff's Department has been awarded a $1,910 grant from the West Virginia Highway Safety Program to purchase two traffic radar units used to measure the speeds of passing vehicles.

Brooke County Sheriff Richard Ferguson also informed the commission of the hiring of two new deputies: Scott Ziegler of Weirton and Matthew Davidson of Follansbee; and that he will be advertising openings for a full-time dispatcher and a part-time dispatcher to fill vacancies in the county's 911 center.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)