
The Alkire Mansion
KEYSER, W.Va. — The pre-Civil War Alkire Mansion may be getting a chance for a new life.
After many months of going back and forth about the future of the mansion – whether to tear it down or try to fine someone to fix it up – the Keyser City Council Wednesday agreed to work with a group of volunteers and a local historical group to come up with a plan for renovating the structure.
Frank Roleff, who is a member of the Mineral County Historical Foundation and president of the Historical Society, told the city officials he was appearing before them Wednesday not as a representative of either group, but as a private citizen concerned about the building.
“I think it would be a big mistake if we turn our backs on that building,” he said, noting that a volunteer group headed by Leon and Norm Ravenscroft have offered to serve as the Alkire Mansion Committee and work on raising funds to restore the deteriorating structure…