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Harpers Ferry is a historic West Virginia city and international tourist hub. But four years ago the national park and surrounding town were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Senator Capito Visits Site of Harpers Ferry Fire
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U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito visited Harpers Ferry Thursday to look at the wreckage left by a fire last week.
It’s been one week since a massive fire devastated four historic buildings containing eight shops and two apartments in the commercial district of Harpers Ferry. Harpers Ferry Mayor, Gregory Vaughn said Monday the damage affected nearly half of commercial businesses in the town.
During the week, Vaughn held talks with affected shop owners and with state officials to discuss rebuilding. On Thursday, Vaughn met with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito to give her a tour of the wreckage.
Capito said during the tour that getting things back to normal would require all hands on deck, but that finding the funds to restore the historic buildings, shouldn’t be too difficult.
“It’s going to be a little bit easier lift, because there’s such intertwined with national resources and treasurers, you know the National Park and all the historic preservation in and around this area,” Capito noted, “And so, you know, we’re gonna work with whatever department we can, make those phone calls, hopefully we can shake some trees.”
The West Virginia Fire Marshal’s office says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Harpers Ferry is a historic West Virginia city and international tourist hub. But four years ago the national park and surrounding town were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this West Virginia Morning, tourists from around the world visit Harpers Ferry each year to immerse themselves in U.S. history. But the number of visitors fell in 2020, as public health restrictions ramped up nationwide. Jack Walker visited the town to learn how things have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Winners of the 2023 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards were announced March 23 at the Awards Luncheon and Annual Membership Meeting at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. WVPB brought home five first place awards and seven second place awards in eight different categories.
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