WORK CENTRAL
From Historic Landmark to Your New Business Home—Built for Business, Tailored to You.
A Century of Warehousing, Transportation, and Wholesale Trade
HISTORY
Built in 1900, the building now home to Work Central has stood as a hub of industry, trade, and innovation for over a century. Once a cornerstone of logistics in Clarksburg, it's being reimagined to serve the next generation of businesses in North Central West Virginia.
For over 100 years, this building has helped power our economy's growth. Previously home to manufacturers, business owners, brokers, pharmacists, and more. We have renovated this landmark structure into a modern workplace equally suited to house today's growing businesses.
1900
Central Storage Co. Opens – A Hub for the Region's Goods and Growth
1920s
From Storage to Supply Chain – The Building Evolves with the Times
1950s
Mid-Century Momentum – New Tenants, Old Foundations
2000s
Vacancy and Preservation – The Structure That Stayed Standing
2025
Work Central Revives a Legacy with a Future-Focused Vision
1900 – Founding & Original Use
Constructed in 1905 at the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and North 4th Street, the building was initially built for Armstrong, Crislip, Day Wholesale at a cost of $250,000. After changing ownership several times in its early years, it was purchased by local entrepreneur C.W. Leggett in 1908. Leggett greatly expanded the facility 100,000 square feet, officially establishing it as the Central Storage Company. It held the title of "West Virginia's largest warehouse" for over a decade, solidifying its role as a central hub for regional commerce and logistics.
1920s – Expansion as a Hub of Commerce
By the 1920s, the Central Storage building was an integral part of one of the nation’s busiest wholesale districts. Glen Elk’s warehouses, with Central Storage being the the most prominent, supplied communities throughout north-central West Virginia – from nearby towns like Fairmont and Weston to more distant markets. A rail spur that led directly inside the warehouse, connected the building to the B&O main line, so goods could be loaded or unloaded efficiently on-site. During this decade the warehouse’s role evolved beyond storage: it also hosted financial and trading services. Notably, a local agent for Chase Bank’s traveler’s cheques operated there in the mid-1920s, reflecting the building’s diverse use in facilitating commerce and travel. Contemporary accounts recall that “Central Storage” was among the most prominent businesses in the community during this period. In an era when railroads drove the economy, the building stood at the center of regional trade, bustling with manufacturers, dealers, and brokers moving their wares.
1950s – Mid-Century Changes & New Ownership
Transition to new owners amid decline of rail commerce. The post-war mid-20th century brought changes to the Central Storage building’s use and ownership. In 1946, the original Central Storage Co. (C.W. Leggett’s firm) merged into Brake & Sons, Inc., marking the end of the founding family’s involvement. Under new ownership, the warehouse saw more limited use in the 1950s. With the rise of trucking and highway infrastructure, Glen Elk’s rail-centered warehouses began to lose tenants – many wholesalers relocated to highway-accessible sites outside the city. During this time the old building was repurposed for lighter industrial and storage needs. For example, parts of the structure were used for small-scale manufacturing and as an international trade warehouse: from 1951 until about 1980 it was occupied by the Rex-Hearne Company, an international broker that utilized the space for its operations. By the late 1950s the once-bustling depot had largely quieted. The surrounding Glen Elk district transitioned into a low-traffic area, and the Central Storage building, though still standing sturdy, was only partially utilized as an aging warehouse.
2000s – Vacancy and Preservation Efforts
A historic warehouse awaits revival. In the late 20th century, the Central Storage building sat largely vacant, its massive brick walls a reminder of Glen Elk’s past prosperity. The area’s fortunes had waned, but preservationists took note of the structure’s significance. In 1993 the warehouse (as part of the Glen Elk Historic District) was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This designation spurred interest in saving the building. Gene Papa Jr. took ownership in 2005, with the intent along with Gene Sr to preserve and revitalize the building. By 2010, substantial restoration work was underway: the entire roof structure and walls of the 3rd floor ewer taken down and rebuilt. For a time it was branded the “Historic Central Storage Gift Shoppes,” and the ground floor was used for community events and antique retail experiments. In 2012 the Clarksburg children's house, a Montessori school, occupied the first floor offices as their school until 2022 when they relocated to another property owned by the Papas due to the renovations and upcoming rebirth of the building. A clear direction emerged in 2022 which put the full restoration and renovation into motion
