HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 2-24-03

Those present:  Lee Freeman, Tom White, Jerry Dowd, Susan Hargett, Betty Champion, Hester Cope, Mary Peck, Iva McClure, Bill McDonald, Lindsey Stricklin, Jim Ingrum, Margaret Taylor, Billy Warren

1. Tom White made the motion that the minutes of the 12-16-02 and 1-26-03 meetings be approved.  Lindsey Stricklin seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
   
    
2. Lindsey Stricklin gave this treasurer's report:
   1. Checking account balance                     $1,729.72
   2. Savings account balance                         5,092.75 + 11.40
   3. Forks of Cypress account balance             232.38

Bill McDonald made the motion that the report be approved.  Margaret Taylor seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

3. In a brief review of the annual meeting in January, all agreed that Camille Bowman was an excellent choice of speakers and that the tour of the Rosenbaum House was a great addition to the afternoon event.
   
    
4. Billy Warren distributed copies of a document entitled "Heritage Preservation, Inc. Goals for 2003" and reviewed the goals with the group.  He stated that all 14 goals on the list are "doable" by December 31, 2003.
   
    
5. Billy Warren distributed copies of these documents:
   1. Heritage Preservation, Inc. Board of Directors, 2003-2005;
   2. A letter dated January 13, 2003, to Dr. Mary Jane McDaniel;
   3. Heritage Preservation, Inc. Accomplishments in 2002;
   4. An article from the 2-7-03 edition of the Times-Daily entitled "Public Library Shows Off Town"; and
   5. The Floor Medallion:  A History, Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
      
       
6. Iva McClure announced that the final paperwork transferring the Billingsley-McClure Shoal Creek Preserve to Forever Wild is scheduled to be completed later this week.  Great news!
   
    
7. Billy Warren distributed copies of and reviewed briefly Alabama Law 430 which gives municipalities the power to condemn structures and require their owners to remove them.  Hester Cope reminded the group that a new law passed by the State Legislature in 2002 gives a municipality the option to repair a derelict structure and require the owner to pay for the repairs.  Billy Warren noted that two structures (a house at 511 North Poplar and another at 607 North Cherry) which are on the current list of condemned structures are located within historic districts.  He further stated that any structures which might replace these two must be built in conformity with the surrounding architecture.  That is one of the major benefits of having an entire neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places!
   
    
8. Bill McDonald reported that the second meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 12:00 noon, at the public library of the planning group for the creation of a video on the history of Florence and Lauderdale County.  Nelson Starkey, the originator of the project, has stated that the target audience for the video will be schools and public libraries.
   
    
9. Lindsey Stricklin made the motion that HPI pay for a subscription to the National Trust magazine for Melissa Bailey, the new director of the Florence Planning Department.  Tom White seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
   
    
10. Lindsey Stricklin announced that a public meeting to discuss the future of the Maud Lindsey Kindergarten will take place at the kindergarten building on Friday, February 28, at 5:30 p.m.  He encouraged everyone to attend.
    
     
11. Bill McDonald noted the continuing need for a local archives facility and expressed the hope that a portion of the Brandon School building might be used for that purpose.
    
     
12. Hester Cope suggested, and all agreed, that a representative group from the HPI Board should meet with Melissa Bailey to review our Design Guidelines, Act 430 and other pertinent information regarding historic preservation in Florence.
    
     
13. Lindsey Stricklin reported on a recent trip that he and Bill McDonald made to the cemetery at Gravelley Springs.  They located the gravesites of members of the Waits family (grandparents and other relatives of T. S. Stribling).
    
     
14. Hester Cope:
    1. Requested information from any one who might have a file on the two Sears, Roebuck houses on North Seminary Street;
    2. Stated her hope that the Coca-Cola plant on Court Street might be preserved (if the $1 million sale price can be met) as a sound studio for Tonya Holly's fledgling film company and encouraged HPI Board members to direct potential investors to Tonya or Hester (she noted that David Bronner, head of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, has expressed interest in the project); and
    3. Announced that the Streetscape project on Court Street is entering phase #2 which will take it from Dr. Hicks Boulevard to the intersection of Highway 20.
       
        
15. After discussion of the request, Bill McDonald made the motion that HPI contribute $500 to the T. S. Stribling Committee to help underwrite the Stribling Celebration on March 7, 8 and 9.  Margaret Taylor seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
    
     
16.  Billy Warren announced a public forum tentatively set for Tuesday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. sponsored by downtown Florence Unlimited and Florence Main Street.  Its purpose is to bring together downtown Florence business owners and property owners (both commercial and residential) to discuss the best ways to promote the entire downtown area.  More information will be forthcoming.
    
     
17. Because of time constraints the discussion of a possible list of local craftspeople was postponed until the next meeting.
    
     
18. Mary Peck shared two framed maps of Alabama, one dated 1835; the other, undated but probably from the late 1800's.  They are extremely important because of what they reveal about cities, towns and counties in Alabama's early years.
    
     
19. Jim Ingrum shared an oil on canvas by a local artist of the Forks of Cypress. It is based on a vintage postcard which featured both the mansion and the separate kitchen.
    
     
20. Bill McDonald shared a draft copy of the list of potential champion trees that he and Leon Bates are compiling.