Submitted photo Located on Melvins Road in the Shenandoah Junction section of Jefferson County, Duffields Depot is a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the depot could be a candidate for a preservation endowment from the Jefferson County Landmarks Commission.

The Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission plans to help fund historic preservation in Jefferson County, JCHLC officials said.

To that end, the JCHLC approached the Martinsburg-based Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation in the fall to set up an endowment fund. Started in 1995, the EWVCF helps set up charitable endowments.

With an annual operating budget of less than $20,000 a year, JCHLC officials decided to establish a dedicated endowment fund to help assist local historic projects.

JCHLC Chairman Martin Burke said the commission hopes to raise $100,000 in endowment funds by the end of 2017.

Once that endowment fund goal is reached, Burke said the JCHLC will develop a grant application process for local historic preservation projects.

“We wanted to create a grant program where we would accept applications from residents in Jefferson County,” Burke said.

“They would be small grants, but you’d just apply.”

EWVCF will be able to receive contributions, ensuring sound financial investing and support.

One such project candidate could be Duffields Depot.

Located on Melvin Road in Shenandoah Junction, Duffields Depot is a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the depot could be eligible to receive a preservation endowment from the JCHLC.

“We will base our funding decisions on the inventory of all the historic structures in the county,” Burke said.

“Duffields Depot is actually a National Register landmark.”

Tax deductible contributions to the fund can be made online at www.JeffersonCountyHLC.org, or by direct mail to: Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, PO Box 23, Charles Town, WV 25414, or directly to EWVCF noting JCHLC’s “Our History, Our Community” fund.