Walton Danforth Stowell
Encyclopedia
Walton "Kip" Danforth Stowell (January 30, 1936–January 20, 2009) was an American architect
and historic preservation
ist, best known for his work for the U.S. National Park Service
in designing visitors centers and interpretive exhibits in U.S. National Parks
throughout the country. For most of his career, he worked at the Harpers Ferry Design Center which is responsible for architectural design and interpretive planning in National Parks.
Kip Stowell and his contemporaries were the first generation of historic preservationists at the National Park Service charged with implementing the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
which was a monumental legislation enabling preservation of the nation's historic, cultural, and heritage resources. He began his distinguished 50 year career as an architect and historic preservationist merely as a student in the now prestigious National Park Service's Architectural Student Summer Program doing measured drawings for the Historic American Buildings Survey
and for Charles E. Peterson
who is considered to be the founding father of historic preservation in the United States.
Kip Stowell was also well known and admired regionally in West Virginia
, Jefferson County
, and Harpers Ferry
for his many regional and local contributions to architecture, to historic preservation, and to the community.
and grew up in Templeton, Massachusetts
. He earned a degree of architecture from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1960. He lived in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
for the last three decades of his life.
Kip Stowell was married to Mary Evalina "Nena" Manucy Stowell for 37 years—they were married at the Harpers Ferry Design Center in 1972. Nena Stowell is an artist and school teacher. They lived in a vintage Sears Catalog Home
in Harpers Ferry built by Abraham Kaplon in 1908. The house is a classic American Foursquare
, and is one of the early examples of houses built of rusticated
concrete block, in this case from a Miracle Block Machine. [Abe Kaplon was a prominent merchant in town just after the turn-of-the-century who also built magnificent multi-story brick department stores in Harpers Ferry and nearby Brunswick, Maryland
]. Kip and Nena operated an art gallery
and a Bed and Breakfast
in their house, and a Montessori School and hostel
for Appalachian Trail
hikers on their property.
Kip and Nena have one son, Walton D. Stowell II, who followed in his father's footsteps and has done architectural designs for a number of projects in National Parks around the country. Most notably, father and son collaborated on the restoration of the Queen Anne Style
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Harpers Ferry Train Depot
(c. 1894) designed by the famed architect E. Francis Baldwin. In this NPS project during 2002 to 2006, Walton, Jr. was a Field Supervisor and Walton, Sr. was (merely) a consultant.
Kip Stowell died at his home in Harpers Ferry on January 20, 2009 at age 72. His ashes were spread in Harper Cemetery.
for four decades from 1969 until his death in 2009. He worked for the National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Design Center (established 1970) for 26 years as an architect, interior designer and exhibit planner. Before that he worked for the National Park Service in its Eastern Division, including working with Charles E. Peterson
(founded the Historical American Building Survey), who was resident park architect at the NPS design headquarters in Philadelphia.
and with Ronald F. Lee, who was NPS Chief Historian and Director of the Northeast Region and known for his History of the Antiquities Act which is the law that serves as the foundation for the commemoration, preservation, and protection of cultural resources in the United States. At Harpers Ferry, Kip Stowell followed in the footsteps of park architect Archie W. Franzen who was responsible for surveys and designs for restoration of buildings in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
in the park's early years (1950's and 1960s). Kip Stowell was succeeded at Harpers Ferry upon his retirement by park architect Peter F. Dessauer, who in 1984-1986 lead the restoration project for the Statue of Liberty
.
Kip Stowell also served the Town of Harpers Ferry for over a quarter of a century between 1975 and 2001 – 18 years as Town Council member and 6 years as Town Mayor. He was very active in the establishment of the Harpers Ferry Historic District
which is on the National Register of Historic Places
, and extremely involved in every aspect of the community for four decades (see details above and below).
National Park Service's Architectural Student Summer Program[6] doing measured drawings for the Historic American Buildings Survey and
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
ist, best known for his work for the U.S. National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
in designing visitors centers and interpretive exhibits in U.S. National Parks
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
throughout the country. For most of his career, he worked at the Harpers Ferry Design Center which is responsible for architectural design and interpretive planning in National Parks.
Kip Stowell and his contemporaries were the first generation of historic preservationists at the National Park Service charged with implementing the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
The National Historic Preservation Act is legislation intended to preserve historical and archaeological sites in the United States of America...
which was a monumental legislation enabling preservation of the nation's historic, cultural, and heritage resources. He began his distinguished 50 year career as an architect and historic preservationist merely as a student in the now prestigious National Park Service's Architectural Student Summer Program doing measured drawings for the Historic American Buildings Survey
Historic American Buildings Survey
The Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
and for Charles E. Peterson
Charles E. Peterson
Charles Emil Peterson is widely considered to be a seminal figure in professionalizing the practice of historic preservation in the United States...
who is considered to be the founding father of historic preservation in the United States.
Kip Stowell was also well known and admired regionally in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Jefferson County
Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat is Charles Town...
, and Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
for his many regional and local contributions to architecture, to historic preservation, and to the community.
Personal life
Kip Stowell was a native of Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
and grew up in Templeton, Massachusetts
Templeton, Massachusetts
Templeton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,013 at the 2010 census. The town comprises four main villages: Templeton Center, East Templeton, Baldwinville, and Otter River...
. He earned a degree of architecture from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1960. He lived in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
for the last three decades of his life.
Kip Stowell was married to Mary Evalina "Nena" Manucy Stowell for 37 years—they were married at the Harpers Ferry Design Center in 1972. Nena Stowell is an artist and school teacher. They lived in a vintage Sears Catalog Home
Sears Catalog Home
Sears Catalog Homes were ready-to-assemble kit houses sold through mail order by Sears, Roebuck and Company, an American retailer. Over 70,000 of these were sold in North America between 1908 and 1940. Shipped via railroad boxcars, these kits included all the materials needed to build a house...
in Harpers Ferry built by Abraham Kaplon in 1908. The house is a classic American Foursquare
American Foursquare
The American Foursquare or American Four Square is an American house style popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. A reaction to the ornate and mass produced elements of the Victorian and other Revival styles popular throughout the last half of the 19th century, the American Foursquare was...
, and is one of the early examples of houses built of rusticated
Rustication (architecture)
thumb|upright|Two different styles of rustication in the [[Palazzo Medici-Riccardi]] in [[Florence]].In classical architecture rustication is an architectural feature that contrasts in texture with the smoothly finished, squared block masonry surfaces called ashlar...
concrete block, in this case from a Miracle Block Machine. [Abe Kaplon was a prominent merchant in town just after the turn-of-the-century who also built magnificent multi-story brick department stores in Harpers Ferry and nearby Brunswick, Maryland
Brunswick, Maryland
Brunswick is a city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,870 at the 2010 census.- History :The area now known as Brunswick was originally home to the Susquehanna Indians. In 1728 the first settlement was built, and the region became known as Eel Town, because the...
]. Kip and Nena operated an art gallery
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
and a Bed and Breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
in their house, and a Montessori School and hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
for Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
hikers on their property.
Kip and Nena have one son, Walton D. Stowell II, who followed in his father's footsteps and has done architectural designs for a number of projects in National Parks around the country. Most notably, father and son collaborated on the restoration of the Queen Anne Style
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
Harpers Ferry Train Depot
Harpers Ferry (Amtrak station)
The Harpers Ferry Train Station is a railway station in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, United States. It is currently served by Amtrak's Capitol Limited as well as MARC commuter service. Built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the station is part of the Harpers Ferry Historic District.It is a...
(c. 1894) designed by the famed architect E. Francis Baldwin. In this NPS project during 2002 to 2006, Walton, Jr. was a Field Supervisor and Walton, Sr. was (merely) a consultant.
Kip Stowell died at his home in Harpers Ferry on January 20, 2009 at age 72. His ashes were spread in Harper Cemetery.
Professional life
Kip Stowell lived and worked in Harpers Ferry, West VirginiaHarpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
for four decades from 1969 until his death in 2009. He worked for the National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Design Center (established 1970) for 26 years as an architect, interior designer and exhibit planner. Before that he worked for the National Park Service in its Eastern Division, including working with Charles E. Peterson
Charles E. Peterson
Charles Emil Peterson is widely considered to be a seminal figure in professionalizing the practice of historic preservation in the United States...
(founded the Historical American Building Survey), who was resident park architect at the NPS design headquarters in Philadelphia.
and with Ronald F. Lee, who was NPS Chief Historian and Director of the Northeast Region and known for his History of the Antiquities Act which is the law that serves as the foundation for the commemoration, preservation, and protection of cultural resources in the United States. At Harpers Ferry, Kip Stowell followed in the footsteps of park architect Archie W. Franzen who was responsible for surveys and designs for restoration of buildings in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The park includes land in Jefferson County, West Virginia; Washington County, Maryland and Loudoun County, Virginia. The park is managed by the...
in the park's early years (1950's and 1960s). Kip Stowell was succeeded at Harpers Ferry upon his retirement by park architect Peter F. Dessauer, who in 1984-1986 lead the restoration project for the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
.
Kip Stowell also served the Town of Harpers Ferry for over a quarter of a century between 1975 and 2001 – 18 years as Town Council member and 6 years as Town Mayor. He was very active in the establishment of the Harpers Ferry Historic District
Harpers Ferry Historic District
The Harpers Ferry Historic District comprises about one hundred historic structures in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The historic district includes the portions of the central town not included in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, including large numbers of early 19th century houses built by...
which is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and extremely involved in every aspect of the community for four decades (see details above and below).
Designed National Park visitors centers and interpretive exhibits
Kip Stowell was involved in the design of many visitors centers and interpretive exhibits at National Parks throughout the United States including such sites as- Fort Clatsop National Memorial (c. 1958) in Oregon,
- Fort Clatsop (c. 1805) is where Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1805-1806 (December 7, 1805 - March 23, ,1806). The Fort Clatsop National Memorial was incorporated into the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks in 2004. Kip Stowell was part of the Harpers Ferry Center design team that planned and constructed all of the new exhibits in the enlarged exhibit hall during the 1989 visitor center rehabilitation project.
- Assateague Island National SeashoreAssateague Island National SeashoreAssateague Island National Seashore is a unit of the National Park Service occupying much of Assateague Island along the Atlantic coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is a barrier island shaped by stormy seas and gentle winds. It lies adjacent to Assateague State Park and Chincoteague National...
(c. 1965) in Maryland/Virginia,
- Assateague Island is an undeveloped barrier island, known for its roaming wild horses, and a popular place to camp. A building used as a restaurant was extensively renovated in 1979 and turned into the "Toms Cover Visitor Center" with interpretive exhibits. The local NPS staff commented about Kip Stowell and the Harpers Ferry Design Center saying "they have shown that while one can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, one can make an impressive visitor center out of a clam shack."
- Grandview, New River Gorge National RiverNew River Gorge National RiverThe New River Gorge National River is a unit of the United States National Park Service designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. Established in 1978, the NPS-protected area stretches for from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted.New...
(c.1978) in West Virginia,
- Grandview has been a popular park since the 1950's and is known for it spectacular views of the New River and for the outdoor Theatre West Virginia.
- Canyon Rim, New River Gorge National RiverNew River Gorge National RiverThe New River Gorge National River is a unit of the United States National Park Service designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. Established in 1978, the NPS-protected area stretches for from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted.New...
(c.1978) in West Virginia,
- The Canyon Rim Visitors Center is near the New River Gorge BridgeNew River Gorge BridgeThe New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. With an arch long, the New River Gorge Bridge was for many years the world's longest arch bridge; it is now the third...
which is one of the highest bridges in the world and spans the New River which is one of the best whitewater rivers in the world.
- Independence National Historic Park (c. 1966) in Philadelphia,
- Independence National Historic Park is a collection of sites in central Philadelphia important to the Nation's independence including Independence Hall and The Second Bank of the United StatesSecond Bank of the United StatesThe Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
.
- Acadia National ParkAcadia National ParkAcadia National Park is a National Park located in the U.S. state of Maine. It reserves much of Mount Desert Island, and associated smaller islands, off the Atlantic coast...
(c. 1916) in Maine,
- Acadia National Park is a located on a rugged island on the cost of Maine.
- Cape Cod National SeashoreCape Cod National SeashoreThe Cape Cod National Seashore , created on August 7, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, encompasses on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It includes ponds, woods and beachfront of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion...
(c. 1961) in Massachusetts,
- Cape Cod National Seashore. An estimated 4.6 million people visit the park each year.
- Mammoth Cave National ParkMammoth Cave National ParkMammoth Cave National Park is a U.S. National Park in central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. The park was established...
(c. 1941) in Kentucky,
- Mammoth Cave is the largest known cave system in the world (367 miles).
- Golden Gate National Recreation AreaGolden Gate National Recreation AreaThe Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a U.S. National Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service that surrounds the San Francisco Bay area. It is one of the most visited units of the National Park system in the United States, with over 13 million visitors a year...
(c. 1972) in the San Francisco area,
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a collection of many sites, including five National Historic Landmarks. An estimated 15 million people visit the park each year.
- Washington MonumentWashington MonumentThe Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
(c. 1885) in Washington, D.C.,
- Washington Monument. An estimated 1 million people visit the monument each year.
- Everglades National ParkEverglades National ParkEverglades National Park is a national park in the U.S. state of Florida that protects the southern 25 percent of the original Everglades. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and is visited on average by one million people each year. It is the third-largest...
.
- Kip Stowell designed the theme exhibit "The Bloom of Life" for the Visitors Center.
Surveys and designs for rehabilitation of National Historical Sites
Kip Stowell surveyed, researched, and made measured drawings of many historical structures throughout the United States to document the buildings and to provide plans for their restoration, rehabilitation, and reuse including:- Slyder House (c. 1852) at Gettysburg National Park in Pennsylvania,
- The Slyder House was used as a Confederate hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg. Stowell made measured drawings (Set 1, Set 2) of the house in August 1957 when he was a student in the NPS Architectural Student Summer Program working for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS).
National Park Service's Architectural Student Summer Program[6] doing measured drawings for the Historic American Buildings Survey and
- Bryan House at [c. 1857?] Gettysburg National Park in Pennsylvania,
- The Bryan House was home to Abraham Bryan, a free black, located on Cemetery Ridge near Pickett's Charge, and heavily damaged during the battle. The house was photographed by the famed Civil War photographer Matthew Brady after the battle. Stowell's measured drawings of the house in July 1957 where made when he was a student in the NPS Architectural Student Summer Program working for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS).
- Scale House (c. 1829) at Salem Maritime National Historic SiteSalem Maritime National Historic SiteThe Salem Maritime National Historic Site consists of 12 historic structures and about 9 acres of land along the waterfront in Salem, Massachusetts, plus a Visitor Center in downtown Salem...
in Massachusetts,
- The Scale House was used to store scales and other equipment associated with Custom House at Salem, which was an important early port. Stowell's measured drawings in August 1958 were made as a student working for the Historic American Buildings Survey under the direction of Charles Peterson, considered to be the "founding father" of historic preservation in this country. Later in July 1964, when working as NPS staff, Stowell prepared the Scale House Historic Structures Report.
- West India Good Store (c. 1804) at the Salem Maritime National Historical Site in Massachusetts,
- The West India Good Store was a retail store that sold goods from around the world. It is still in use as a retail store by a NPS-related organization. In July 1964, Stowell prepared the NPS Historic Structures Report for the building. (see also West India Goods Store by John Robbins (1997).
- Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (c. 1962) in Oyster Bay, New York on Long Island,
- Sagamore Hill (c. 1884) is a Queen Anne style house that was the home of President Theodore Roosevelt for much of his adult life. It was called the 'Summer White House' during Roosevelt's presidency. Sagamore Hill is located in Oyster Bay, New York where Teddy Roosevelt's family spent their summers during his youth. Stowell prepared perspective drawings of the house in the project coordinated by the Harpers Ferry Design Center in 1990.
- John D. Jones, B. Smith House (c. 1838) in Philadelphia,
- Frank Kemper House (c. 1835) (also called the Turner Ashby House) in Port Republic, Virginia,
- the Port Republic Museum is located in the Frank Kemper House. It is near where the Battle of Port RepublicBattle of Port Republic-References:* Cozzens, Peter. Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8078-3200-4....
was fought in Stonewall JacksonStonewall Jacksonຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
's 1862 Shenandoah Campaign. The body of General Turner AshbyTurner AshbyTurner Ashby, Jr. was a Confederate cavalry commander in the American Civil War. He had achieved prominence as Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's cavalry commander, in the grade of colonel, in the Shenandoah Valley before he was killed in battle in 1862...
, nicknamed the "Black Knight of the Confederacy" and Stonewall's cavalry commander, was brought to the Frank Kemper House after he was killed in battle on June 6, 1862.
- Second Bank of the United StatesSecond Bank of the United StatesThe Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
(c. 1819-1824) in Philadelphia,
- The Second Bank of the United States is a massive Greek Revival building, designed by William Strickland - a student of Benjamin Latrobe. It was the "second" chartered bank in the United States, and later used 1854-1934 as the US Custom House. It now houses several hundred portraits from the Revolutionary and Federal eras. Stowell won an Award of Excellence by the Federal Design Council for Interiors and Exhibits at the Second Bank Portrait Gallery.
- Independence Hall (United States) in Philadelphia,
- Bishop William WhiteWilliam White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)The Most Reverend William White was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA , the first Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania , and the second United States Senate Chaplain...
House (c. 1786-1877) in Philadelphia,
- Bishop White was Chaplain of the Continental Congress and the first Bishop for the Episcopal Church in America
- Harpers Ferry Train DepotHarpers Ferry (Amtrak station)The Harpers Ferry Train Station is a railway station in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, United States. It is currently served by Amtrak's Capitol Limited as well as MARC commuter service. Built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the station is part of the Harpers Ferry Historic District.It is a...
(c. 1894)
- The Harpers Ferry Train Depot was designed by the famed B&O architect E. Francis Baldwin. As Mayor of Harpers Ferry 1995-2001, Stowell was the lead voice calling for saving of the deteriorating structure and pressuring the CSX Railroad and the National Park Service into reaching an agreement after a many decades of back and forth "negotiations." In 1999, the train depot was listed as one of the 10 most endangered railroad stations in the United States. Interestingly, Stowell was battling his former employer at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park regarding the lack of good stewardship by the National Park Service of the historic train depot. The Town of Harpers Ferry obtained a grant from the State of West Virginia to stabilize the structure which helped force the CSX Railroad and the NPS into moving forward with an immediate restoration project. A few years later, Stowell was an unofficial consultant for the NPS restoration of the train depot in which his son, Walton Stowell, Jr., also an architect, was a Field Supervisor for the project in 2002 to 2006.
Surveys and designs for rehabilitation of regional historical structures
Kip Stowell also surveyed, researched, and made measured drawings of many regional historical structures including:- Gallilean Fisherman's Hall in Charles Town, West Virginia,
- The Galilean Fisherman's Hall is where a group of local blacks in about 1885 formed a chapter of the Grand United Order of the Galilean Fisherman, which was a black fraternal organization founded in about 1856 in Baltimore as a benevolent society to help blacks.
- Peter Burr HousePeter Burr HouseThe Peter Burr House was built between 1751 and 1755 near present-day Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, making it one of the oldest houses in West Virginia. Burr, whose first cousin was Aaron Burr, was one of the first settlers in the area. It is the oldest surviving log-and-beam-construction...
in Jefferson County, West Virginia,
- The Peter Burr House is believed to be the oldest frame structure in Jefferson County.
- Jefferson County Courthouse (West Virginia)Jefferson County Courthouse (West Virginia)The first Jefferson County Courthouse was built in Charles Town, West Virginia in 1808, on a lot donated by Charles Washington. It was replaced by a larger building about 1836, which comprises the core of the present courthouse...
in Charles Town, West Virginia,
- Old Jefferson County Jail in Charles Town, West Virginia,
Designs for local new structures
- Memorial at the Harpers Ferry Jobs Corps Center honoring Job Corps students and CSX workers who died in a MARC/Amtrak train wreck in February 1996,
- St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town.,
- Stowell won an Honor Award in 1980 from the West Virginia Society of Architects for his design of an addition-renovation. The Society noted that the design "solved a very difficult problem with imagination and boldness."
- Harpers Ferry Montessori School (c. 1984),
- Stowell won an award for its design in 1985 from the West Virginia Society of Architects. The building is a "Lincoln Log" type construction.
- Stowell designed an addition in 1992 that doubled the size of the library. Fifteen years earlier, he served on the Library Board that oversaw planning and construction of the new library.
- BolivarBolivar, West VirginiaBolivar is a town in Jefferson County in the U.S. state of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The population was 1,045 at the 2000 census. Originally known as Mudfort, Bolivar was granted a charter as a town by the Virginia General Assembly in December 1825...
Community Center,
- Stowell designed the new building.
- Locust Grove Rest Home in Bolivar,
- Stowell designed a living-recreation room during a renovation in 1975-1976.
Recognized for expertise in architecture and historic preservation
Kip Stowell had a reputation not only in Jefferson County and West Virginia, but in also nationally for his knowledge of historic preservation, historic structures, and architectural designs. Because of his professional skills, wide knowledge of historic preservation issues, familiarity with regional concerns, and his connections in the community, he was appointed and served on many boards and organizations including the- National Trust for Historic PreservationNational Trust for Historic PreservationThe National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
, Board of Advisors (West Virginia Representative),
- American Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of ArchitectsThe American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
,
- International Institute of Interior Design, Instructor,
- International Institute of Interior Design, Board of Trustees,
- West Virginia Archives and Historic Commission,
- West Virginia Preservation Alliance, Founding Member and Board of Directors,
- Jefferson County (West Virginia) Historic Landmarks Commission,
- Jefferson County (West Virginia) Preservation Alliance,
- Jefferson County (West Virginia) African-American Community Association,
- Arts and Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County (West Virginia), Board of Directors,
- Old Opera House Theatre Company (Charles Town, WV), Advisory Board,
- Recognized locally for knowledge of historic preservation.
Contributed to National Register of Historic Places nominations
Kip Stowell applied his considerable skills in architecture and historic preservation to local historic districts in several states and assisted in getting them on the National Register of Historic Places including- Burkittsville, MarylandBurkittsville, MarylandBurkittsville is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The population was 171 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Burkittsville is located at ....
. 1975,
- Harpers Ferry, West VirginiaHarpers Ferry, West VirginiaHarpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
. 1979,
- Petersham, MassachusettsPetersham, MassachusettsPetersham is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,234 at the 2010 census. Petersham is home to a considerable amount of conservation land, including the Quabbin Reservation, Harvard Forest, the Swift River Reservation, and Federated Women's Club State...
. 1982,
Professional awards and recognition
Kip Stowell won a number of awards or was otherwise recognized for his professional achievements including- Award of Excellence by the Federal Design Council for Interiors and Exhibits at the Second Bank Portrait Gallery in the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia,
- President Clinton: Mayor Stowell, thank you for a lifetime of dedication to America's National Park system. (Earth Day Celebration in Harpers Ferry, April 22, 1998),
- Special Achievement Award from the National Park Service,
- Honorable Mention Award for Excellence in Architecture Design from the West Virginia Society of Architects for Design of the Harpers Ferry Montessori School in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia,
- Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture Design from the West Virginia Society of Architects for Design of the St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town, West Virginia,
- Emeritus Member of the American Institute of Architects,
Active in community affairs
Kip Stowell was very active in community affairs on all levels including- Served the Town of Harpers Ferry for over a quarter of a century between 1975 and 2001 – 18 years as Town Council Member and 6 years as Town Mayor,
- Member of Harpers Ferry Planning Commission.
- Member of Burkittsville Historical District Commission.
- Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library Committee (1975) responsible for overseeing plans for construction of the new library,
- Jefferson County Bicentennial Committee for Jefferson County, West Virginia (2001),
- Co-chairman of the U.S. Bicentennial Committee for Harpers Ferry (1966),
- Ranson, West Virginia Building Inspection Appeals Board,
- Pride in Action committee, Charles Town, West Virginia (a group dedicated to community beautification and improvement),
- Order of the Bell Tower, Charles Town, West Virginia (a group that gave tours of the Jefferson County Historic Courthouse),
- Noble Grand of Odd Fellows Lodge Virginia #1 in Harpers Ferry. Involved in restoration (1992) of Odd Fellows Lodge (c. 1834).
Actor and artist
Kip Stowell was not just an architect and historic preservationist, but he also was an accomplished actor and artist as well including- playing the Dancing Mayor in the September 1999 production of September Stars directed by Carol Gallant at the Old Opera House in Charles Town (WV)
- exhibiting at the Architecture as Art Exhibit at the Boarmans Arts Center in Martinsburg, Maryland in 1998,
- playing the B&O Railroad Conductor A.J. Phelps in The Anvil, The Trial of John Brown, a play by Julia Davis (written in 1962 for the centennial of the Civil War) at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Charles Town (WV) in August 1975,
- regularly playing Peter Burr at the Peter Burr Living History Farm in Jefferson County (WV),
- Houses and Gardens from around the World presentation,