(rshsdepot) Boyce, VA

[jdent1_@_optonline.net]

From the Winchester (VA) Star=2E=2E=2E

Monday=2C November 3=2C 2003

Historian to Present Findings to Boyce =

By Val Van Meter =

The Winchester Star =


BOYCE =97 The town of Boyce is a child of the railroad=2E =


The fact that the town=92s railroad station still stands is =93so signifi=
cant=94 as a symbol of why the town grew up=2C said architectural histori=
an Maral Kalbian=2E =


Kalbian recently completed a study of the town=92s history and its buildi=
ngs in order to nominate the town as a state and national historic distri=
ct=2E =


Virginia=92s Historic Resources Board will consider the nomination in Dec=
ember=2E =


At 7 tonight=2C Kalbian will give a presentation to the Town Council and =
Boyce residents on its historic significance=2C and discuss the buildings=
 that qualify as contributing historic structures=2E =


The Town Council contracted with Kalbian to create the nomination=2E The =
historic district listing is strictly honorific=2C Kalbian noted=2E It do=
es not impose any limitations on property owners=2E =


It could=2C however=2C convey some benefits=2E Property owners who elect =
to restore contributing structures in historic districts can qualify for =
federal tax credits=2C if they follow the guidelines of the U=2ES=2E Depa=
rtment of the Interior=2E =


The Town Council is also hoping that the historic district designation wi=
ll help it win T-21 grant funds to do improvements in the town=2E =


Boyce sprang up in 1880=2C at the intersection of the newly construction =
Shenandoah Valley Railroad and the Winchester-Berry=92s Ferry Turnpike=2E=
 =


It became a thriving commercial center=2C thanks to the railroad and its =
highway connection to Winchester=2E =


By 1910=2C Kalbian said=2C the town had grown so much it was incorporated=
=2E =


Buildings in Boyce reflect this commercial focus=2E While many of the res=
idences that date from the town=92s early period are fairly plain=2C Kalb=
ian said the commercial buildings are much more ornate=2E =


=93The commercial buildings seem to be trying to outdo each other=2C in t=
he sense of all this Victorian decoration=2E=94 =


The stores flaunted =93modern=94 materials=2C such as pressed-tin decorat=
ions=2C Kalbian pointed out=2E =


=93They were trying to sell themselves=2E They wanted to catch people as =
they went through=2E=94 =


Kalbian said her favorite building in Boyce has to be the former Bank of =
Clarke County branch=2C now the Town Hall=2E =


=93I did my master=92s thesis on columns=2E To have a classical little te=
mple like that is so grand=2E=94 =


The railroad station is another architectural gem=2E Kalbian said the sto=
ry behind the station=92s construction reinforces the idea that Boyce was=
 marketing itself to the world=2E =


When the original station was torn down=2C the residents of Boyce balked =
at the idea of having a =93regular=94 station built in its place=2E They =
wanted something grander=2E =


The town offered to raise the money to build a much larger station and th=
e railroad accepted=2E =


=93It had electricity and running water=2E It was very up-to-date=2C=94 K=
albian said=2E =


Standing at the railroad crossing on East Main Street=2C you are surround=
ed by original buildings=2C Kalbian noted=2E =


=93If you squint a little=2C you can get carried back to 1913=2C=94 she s=
aid=2E =


Following Kalbian=92s slide presentation on the historic district=92s pro=
posed boundaries and the buildings it contains=2C David Edwards of the st=
ate=92s Department of Historic Resources=2C will answer questions about t=
he historic district listing=2E =


Kalbian added that=2C although she has lived near Boyce for 17 years=2C h=
er study of the town has let her see it in a whole new light=2E =


She hopes those who attend the meeting tonight will =93better understand =
their environment=2C and better appreciate it=2E=94 =

 =



=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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