CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Work is beginning to restore the historic Holly Grove Mansion at the state Capitol Complex in Charleston.
“We are excited about the opportunity to preserve this historic property and breathe new life into it,” Department of Administration Cabinet Secretary Eric Householder said. “As the oldest building on campus, we wanted to maintain its historic beauty while also creating a multi-purpose space that the people of West Virginia can enjoy and be proud of for generations to come.”
Holly Grove is the oldest surviving residence on the complex. It’s located beside the Governor’s Mansion at the corner of Kanawha Blvd. and Greenbrier Street in Charleston.
Morgantown-based March-Westin Company is the contractor on the job and got the Notice to Proceed this past week. The contract is for just more than $3.5 million. Work is scheduled to be done by late-January 2027.
Holly Grove had been used as office space in years past. It emptied out in 2004 because of code violations. According to the Department of Administration, “The renovation is intended to preserve the historic structure while giving the building a renewed purpose and ensuring its long-term use for future generations.”
The legislature agreed to fund the project in a surplus appropriation approved during the 2023 regular legislative session.
Holly Grove was built in 1815 by saltmaker Daniel Ruffner, predating the state Capitol and Governor’s Mansion. it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974