RONCEVERTE W.Va. (WVDN) – The American Heritage Music Hall has become a major topic of discussion in the local community due to controversy surrounding ownership of the building. Bill Evans with the American Heritage Music Hall recently spoke about the situation stating that discovering posters on the doors of the building saying, “City Property, No Trespassing or Tampering: Violators will be Prosecuted” and “Contact City Hall to Schedule Entry,” shocked him. Now, the attorney representing the City of Ronceverte in this situation, Grady Ford, has spoken about the ongoing controversy from the city’s perspective.
In terms of ownership of the building, Ford stated, “There is no question that the City of Ronceverte owns the real estate as recorded in the land records in the Greenbrier County Clerk’s office. There also does not appear to be a ground lease or other agreement whereby Ronceverte conveyed any interest in or right to build on the property. As a result, all fixtures attached to the real property – i.e., the Roller Rink – are owned by Ronceverte. More importantly, however, in as much as it applies to the dispute with the American Heritage Music Hall, the AHMH gave any interest it had in the Roller Rink to Rocevertre by a Charitable Gift Agreement dated April 17, 2023, approved by [a] vote of its directors and executed by its president. The agreement is recorded in the clerk’s office.”
He went on to say, “As I understand it, this summer some members of the AHMH – who apparently disagreed with the action of the board of directors and president – have taken the position that they, in fact, own [the] Roller Rink and that the actions of its board and president were somehow ineffective. Ronceverte has attempted to work with what is left of the AHMH since that time to engage in a dialogue in an attempt to work towards an agreed resolution. Those efforts have been one-sided, unfortunately, and what’s left of the AHMH has been unwilling to accept the reality that the Roller Rink belongs to Ronceverte.”
Ford provided a copy of the Charitable Gift Agreement he referenced which provides valuable details. According to this document, the land the Roller Rink building sits on has always been owned by the City of Ronceverte. However, the building itself was donated to the AHMH by Gary and Rosalie Ambler in December 2006.
The document also states that a letter dated Jan. 22, 2010, from Charles E. Massie and Jeannie Crane, “incorporators and operators of the AHMA,” expressed a desire to donate the building to the city with one condition. The condition detailed that the building “be used in the name of AHMH to promote arts and culture in Ronceverte and keep live music jam sessions.”
Later, in 2020, an alleged meeting was held by the directors of AHMH in which a vote took place to donate the building to the city. The Charitable Gift Agreement states that the city desires to fulfill the conditions set forth for the donation, i.e. keep live music jam sessions and promote arts and culture.
Finally, the agreement, dated April 2023, notes the donation of the Island Roller Rink building from AHMH to the City of Ronceverte as a charitable gift with some conditions and restrictions. According to the conditions listed in the document, both the city and AHMH have the right to use the building for the promotion of arts and culture. Additionally, AHMH and its original members retain the right to use the building for live music jam sessions as long as they gain prior permission from the city.
Bill Evans, in his earlier statement, noted that he is in the process of looking for a lawyer to further pursue the situation. Multiple social media posts continue to pop up with questions regarding AHMH and when or if, the usual activities will be reinstated.
For now, the future of The American Heritage Music Hall is still up in the air. The West Virginia Daily News will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
