FORT GAY, WV – At the Fort Gay Town Council meeting held Aug. 6, 2019 the council were more than proud to receive a grant in the amount $5,000.00 from 2019 Focus Brownfields Program. The award was presented by Raymond Moller to Jim Lackey for The National Coal Heritage Area Authority in order to coordinate “The Lock House – A Piece of River History”.
To make a structure for a historical marker you need to know some of the history of the project, Ft. Gay mayor Joetta hatfield explained at the meeting.
The Big Sandy Lock and Dam #3 in Fort Gay, WV was officially completed on New Year’s Day 1897. The project also included construction of a lock house that was also completed in 1897 and is now owned by The Town of Fort Gay.
The project will start in phase 1 Environmental Assessment of the Lock House and development of a reuse strategy to turn this historic structure into an asset for the community of Fort Gay. The Mayor, Joetta Hatfield, and the town council are making a lot of progress and needed changes in Fort Gay. It’s a wonderful town with pride, beauty and remembering their town’s history while not forgetting it’s bright future, she said.
The Town of Fort Gay is grateful for the historical grant and will put it to use as soon as possible,” Hatfiled said. “Thank you to all that participated in helping with organizing the application process from start to finish.”