History and Rebirth
Mercer Street Historic District is a national historic district located in Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia. The district includes 28 contributing buildings in the central business district of Princeton. The buildings are primarily two and three-story, masonry commercial buildings with storefronts on the first floor and housing in the upper stories. Almost all of the buildings date from the opening of the Virginian Railway in 1908 and 1909. Notable buildings include the Old Stag Clothing Store, Mercer County Schools Warehouse (c. 1930), Cleaners and Laundry Building (c. 1915), Sively Company Building (1913), Mullins Brothers Building (1912), and D&D Saddle and Tack Building (c. 1915).[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.[1]
The rebirth of the district began with the establishment of the beautiful Princeton Railroad Museum in 2006 and later blossomed with the addition of the Princeton Agricultural Museum next door. Since then, many fantastic businesses have planted roots. The Bronze Look offers estate jewelry, fine art, glassworks, coins, gold, silver. Coal Country Kandies & Cafe offers delicious homemade candy including their signature product, Coal Candy. Hillbilly Cycle Sales offers motorcycles, ATVs and apparel. Custom Dreams Tattoos offers a wide variety of ink and The Gaia Den Yoga & Healing Arts Studio offers a broad range of yoga and meditation classes as well as specialty retail. Kidz at Hart Day Care offers top quality child care and Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Care Center serves our community as an integral part of the neighborhood. There is development on the horizon and enormous potential for the rebirth of this beautiful and historic stretch of downtown. Stay tuned for great things to come!
