Two historic houses in Malden are set to receive preservation work, including roof, electrical and plumbing repairs, through a $398,000 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.
The Hale House and Norton House, both owned by West Virginia State University, are located in the Malden Village Historic District and are included on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Hale House was built in 1838 and was once the home of Dr. John Hale, an influential 19th-century Kanawha Valley business and political leader. After consolidating various properties between Malden and Charleston by 1860, Hale owned possibly the largest salt works in North America, supplying the thriving meat-packing center of Cincinnati. WVSU conducted archaeological field schools on the grounds of the Hale House in 2023 and 2024.
The Norton House, built around 1840 by father and son Moses and James Norton, is the oldest frame house in Malden. The two men were trusted bookkeepers for the area’s salt makers.
The National Park Service grant will fund roof repairs, along with electrical and plumbing work, at both houses. The funding is part of a federal program designed to assist in preserving properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“These historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places played a vital role in the history and evolution of the Kanawha Valley’s early salt industry, and we are hopeful this investment will help us to maintain these properties for the benefit of future generations,” WVSU President Ericke S. Cage said.
