HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 2-23-09

 

Those present:  Lee Freeman, Vince Brewton, Kitty Cox, Bill Kraemer, Ashley Winkle, Hester Cope, Betty Champion, Judy Tiffin, Iva McClure, Carolyn Waterman, Charlotte Dean, Brett Wood, Rhonda Haygood, Billy Warren

 

  1. Carolyn Waterman made the motion that the minutes of the 12-15-08 and the 1-18-08 meetings be approved.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

  2. Billy Warren made these two treasurer’s reports:
    1. January 18, 2009

                                                              i.      Checking Account Balance                            $3,548.13

                                                            ii.      Forks of Cypress Account Balance                $3,234.78

                                                          iii.      FDR Fund Balance                                         $5,000.00

                                                          iv.      Bailey Springs Project Balance                       $8,733.93

    1. February 23, 2009

                                                              i.      Checking Account Balance                            $3,250.13

                                                            ii.      Forks of Cypress Account Balance                $3,234.78

                                                          iii.      FDR Fund Balance                                         $5,000.00

                                                          iv.      Bailey Springs Project Balance                       $8,733.93

Vince Brewton made the motion that the reports be approved. Judy Tiffin seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

  1. Carolyn Waterman announced that the program on 12 of Alabama’s Bed and Breakfast establishments will be shown in two parts on Alabama Public Television:  Sunday, April 12, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 19, 8:00 p.m. Limestone House Bed and Breakfast, along with information about Florence, will be featured.

  2. Charlotte Dean:
    1. Invited everyone to an Open House at the Hospitality House (which she owns), 139 Edgewood Drive, on Sunday, March 22, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.; and
    2. Reported that the antique bed and piano from Sweetwater have been taken to Atlanta to be restored.

  3. Lee Freeman announced that Dr. Ken Johnson will present a program on Maud Lindsay in the Genealogy Department at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library on Saturday, March 7, at 2:00 p.m.

  4. All who attended HPI’s annual meeting on Sunday, January 18, agreed that it was very successful.  Billy Warren reported that Nancy Sanford made an excellent presentation regarding the digital archives at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library as did Phillip Oliver regarding the digital archives at Collier Library.  Billy thanked everyone who attended and those who prepared and served refreshments.

  5. Bob Torbert (in absentia) reported that two gravestones have been repaired thus far in the Wilson Family Cemetery.

  6. Lee Freeman reported that the paperwork has been completed to get the Florence City Cemetery listed on the Alabama Registry of Historic Cemeteries, and he circulated a copy of it.  It has been mailed to Lee Ann Wofford at the Alabama Historical Commission, and now we are awaiting a response.  Billy Warren thanked Lee for his excellent work on this project.

  7. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter that he sent, per the Board’s direction, to the Mayor and City Council regarding HPI’s opposition to any request for a variance that would permit apartments to be developed in R-1 and R-2 (single-family) zones.

  8. Billy Warren distributed copies of a letter which HPI received from Dr. and Mrs. Charlie Mao thanking HPI for the $200 grant to pay for exterior paint at the Oriental Pearl on East Tennessee Street.

  9. Billy Warren distributed copies of the following:
    1. List of HPI Board members for the classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011;
    2. Accomplishments of HPI in 2008;
    3. Goals of HPI for 2009;
    4. Property Listing document (information especially designed for realtors); and
    5. Color-coded map showing all historic districts – both state and national – in the city of Florence.

  10. Betty Champion suggested, and all agreed, that HPI should revive its efforts to post a photograph on its website of every structure in Florence that is listed on the National Register.  These photographs should also contain the official name and construction date of each structure and then should be grouped within the appropriate historic district.

  11. Ashley Winkle gave this report for Florence Main Street:
    1. Grassroots Market, a clothing store (featuring some organic clothing), has opened on Mobile Plaza;
    2. The former Anderson’s Bookland building on North Court Street is currently being renovated in preparation for a new business to open there;
    3. First Fridays resume on Friday, March 6, and various venues in downtown Florence will host some of the films that are part of the George Lindsey Film Festival;
    4. Kevin Jangaard has corrected the proof copy of the proposed 4’ x 6’ granite map of Florence in 1852, and his corrections have been mailed to the stoneworks company’
    5. The Alabama Main Street office is set to reopen – quarterly meetings of managers of local Main Street programs are already underway;
    6. Regions Bank is funding Ashley’s trip to the National Main Street conference in Chicago later this week;
    7. The Pocket Museum sponsored by the Design Committee of Florence Main Street has been relocated to Mickey Haddock’s office in the City-County building (corner of Court and Tennessee Streets), with the initial exhibit featuring vintage barber shop memorabilia; and
    8. The Florence Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, February 24, 5:00 p.m., to continue the development of a Master Plan for West Florence.

  12. Ashley Winkle suggested that a virtual tour, complete with photographs and narration, of the historic districts in Florence could be recorded on a CD and sold as a fundraiser.  Board members agreed that the concept is excellent.  There will be further discussion to determine if this might be a Main Street project, an HPI project or a joint project between the two agencies.