A building in downtown Madison which once housed a bank and post office is now the home of the Boone Heritage and Arts Center.

Built in 1924, the Main Street structure was recently renovated, and is ready for heritage, arts and cultural events. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, June 1, at the Center, which is located adjacent to the Coal Heritage Museum.

Interior renovation work included restoring the ceilings, walls, and beams and the installation of a hardwood floor and a stage area for performing arts and oral history programs as well as an automatic sliding door leading to the Coal Heritage Museum. New track lights also were installed.

Delores W. Cook, vice president of the Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation, said special guests for the June 1 opening include Third District U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall, II; Secretary of Education and the Arts Kay Goodwin; West Virginia Culture and History Director Randall Reid Smith; Dr. Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of the West Virginia Department of Education, and Mark Payne, program director of the West Virginia Humanities Council.

“This new facility will help showcase the musical and artistic talents of our people here in Boone County and others, and in doing so, people who visit or come for the programs offered here will be able to fellowship and enjoy the history and heritage of our county,” Cook said.

“The main focus behind this project is to keep our county’s heritage alive and to bring culture and arts to Boone County,” said Larry V. Lodato, secretary-treasurer of the Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation and executive director of the Boone County Community, Economic Development and Tourism Office, which is coordinating the project.

Funding for the $87,000 restoration and renovation project came from four sources, including a $32,000 Community Partnership Grant awarded to the Boone County Community, Economic Development and Tourism Office earmarked for the restoration of the building; a $25,000 grant from the Boone County Commission; $15,0000 from the Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation and $15,000 from the Boone County Community Economic Development and Tourism Office.

“In the past, the Coal Heritage Museum has hosted a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute and a ‘’Music of the Coalfields Exhibit,’ but these types of events needed their own identity and area with ample space to be set up for the public to enjoy,” Lodato pointed out. “Now, we have such a facility with the opening and future utilization of the new Heritage and Arts Center.”

The goal of the Foundation is to have several events at the Center during the year, including the ‘History Alive’ program of the West Virginia Humanities Council. The new Boone Heritage and Arts Center will seat up to 150 people. Plans are to have the exhibit, ‘John Henry: the Steel Drivin’ Man’ exhibit at the Center sometime this summer or fall.

A 3-ffot by 5-foot display telling the story behind the naming of Boone County for the famous frontiersman/explorer Daniel Boone will be permanently on display at the Boone Arts and Heritage Center as well as an early Boone County Circuit Court Bonds Book which dates back to 1865, when the State of West Virginia was only two years old.

“I was very intrigued by the story surrounding the naming of this county, and thought this great piece of our heritage and history could be developed into a great display for future generations to learn of their heritage,” Lodato said. “The information was authenticated by the staff of the West Virginia Cultural Center.”

Noted Boone County historian Robert Plants said the building was built for a bank and later became a post office. The bank operation ceased around the time of the 1929 depression when two Madison banks merged, and the building then became the home of the Madison post office for about 20 years, before the days of home mail delivery. The building later was used as a retail business store.

Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation President Joy Underwood said restoring the building was one of his long-time goals.

“This facility is a great addition to downtown Madison, and the Foundation is very fortunate that all the funding agencies saw this project as very worthwhile and for all those people who worked hard to see this become a reality for the people of Boone County and surrounding areas.”