Virginia's rural places are listed collectively this year on the endangered historic sites list. The group APVA Preservation Virginia is specifically calling attention to truck traffic in downtown New Market.

Betty Karol Wilson gives walking tours of historic New Market in period costume.

"I had information about the APVA and their endangered historic sites program," says Wilson. "So, I clicked on the link."

She called their attention to the truck traffic in downtown New Market. Trucks rumble by in a town where past and present collide, sometimes literally.

Bob Rinehimer manages a store, The Wine Shop, on a busy intersection. He remembers when a truck destroyed part of one shop's roof.

"Whenever there's an accident on 81 or in the vicinity, then the truck traffic is routed north and south on Route 11. And that can be rather congestive," says Rinehimer.

One of the steps the town has taken to protect historic buildings is to move back the stop lines at one of the busiest intersections.

"We have (Interstate) 81 that passes through the area. We have Route 11, and we also have 211. So, by default we've become a crossroads community," says New Market Town Planner Chad Neese.

Tourism is Virgina's second biggest industry. The town is early in its conversation about solutions, but they want to make sure any potential plans don't alienate visitors.

"You don't want to divert potential tourists or anything like that away from the town," says Neese.

So Wilson will give her tours and apply for grants to preserve the town.

"I don't know if I can do anything about the traffic, and that's not really my concern," says Wilson. "My concern is that we have a wonderful historic town that, due to lack of resources, is in danger of falling in on top of itself."

Officials with APVA are also talking with town officials in New Market about steps people can take to preserve the historic sites. APVA says they're looking at offering workshops in the area for people interested in learning more.