RONCEVERTE W.Va. (WVDN) — What began as a spontaneous act of urban exploration has blossomed into a serious preservation effort. Abby Smith of Talcott and Felicity Morgan of Ronceverte, two local women with a shared passion for uncovering hidden histories, stepped in when the City of Ronceverte had slated the 1910s Ellis House for demolition. Their swift action has transformed a fleeting rescue into a community-driven restoration project.
The historic Ellis House, a landmark on Pocahontas Avenue, has long been a symbol of Ronceverte’s storied past. In January 2024, Smith and Morgan discovered that crews were scheduled to demolish the home.
“We stepped in without even thinking it through,” Smith recalled. “At the time, we had no plans other than to save what little history Ronceverte had left.”
Morgan agreed, adding, “[It was] almost as if the house was waiting for someone like us to come along and breathe new life into it.”
What began as an impulsive rescue quickly evolved into a clear vision: transform the Ellis House into a functioning preservation project. The duo launched 304 Urbexxx, a venture dedicated to safeguarding regional historic sites through restoration, fundraising and community involvement.
“This is a huge project, but we are confident we can make it happen with the help and support of the community,” Morgan said.
Community support has already started to flow in. Locals have donated supplies and lent hands-on assistance with cleanup efforts.
“We have had supplies donated from a few residents of Greenbrier County, and some volunteers have helped with cleanup,” Smith noted.
The town’s demolition plans prompted them to act quickly, choosing to channel resources toward sustainable restoration rather than a straightforward demolition.
Fundraising remains an essential part of the effort. With several events planned, 304 Urbexxx has announced a haunted-house fundraiser as part of its efforts. All proceeds will go directly toward the Ellis House restoration.
“We have tons of fundraisers scheduled for the future – be on the lookout for that!” All proceeds go into the restoration,” the organizers stated.
The project’s governance will be organized through a local LLC, ensuring a formal structure for donations, volunteers and management. They emphasized their openness to community input and collaboration.
“We are open to any recommendations and ideas from the community,” they said. “Future plans for the Ellis House are being tossed around”.
The founders, Abby Smith and Felicity Morgan, joined by a local network of volunteers, are dedicated to documenting and preserving the region’s historic sites. If you would like to help with the Historic Ellis House restoration project in Ronceverte, donations of leftover building supplies, water/snacks and trash bags are needed.
Stick with The West Virginia Daily News for monthly updates on the progress of this project!
Ellis House Links: GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/382f904d. Email: 304urbexxx@gmail.com. Facebook: @304urbexxx. TikTok: @304urbexxx
