HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 2-26-07

 

Those present:  Jim Ingrum, Bob Torbert, Iva McClure, Jerry Dowd, Brett Wood, Betty Champion, Vince Brewton, Charlotte Dean, Carolyn Waterman, Cathy Myers, Lee Freeman, Hester Cope, Billy Warren
 

  1. There was a round of hearty applause as a thank-you to Charlotte Dean for hosting today’s meeting, complete with a delicious Southern meal.  There were also sincere words of compliment for the excellent renovation of her real estate company’s fine building.

 

  1. Jim Ingrum made the motion that the minutes of the 12-18-06 and 1-21-07 meetings be approved.  Vince Brewton seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
     
  2. Billy Warren presented these treasurer’s reports:

January 21, 2007

1.      Checking Account Balance                               $4,943.53

2.      Forks of Cypress Account                                  3,234.78

3.      FDR Fund                                                          5,000.00

4.      Riverview Historic District                                     103.43

 

February 26, 2007

1.      Checking Account Balance                               $4,903.53

2.      Forks of Cypress Account                                3,234.78

3.      FDR Fund                                                        5,000.00

4.      Riverview Historic District                                    100.43
 

Carolyn Waterman made the motion that the reports be approved.  Jim Ingrum seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
 

  1.  There were many compliments for the annual meeting held on January 21:  its program, its length, its timeliness, etc.  Those in charge of refreshments were extended a special thank-you.  Billy Warren circulated a lengthy article about the meeting which Jim Cox published in the 1-25-07 edition of East Lauderdale News.

     
  2. Bob Torbert reported that people from the Geography Department at UNA used ground-penetrating radar to determine the location of graves in the cemetery at the Sweetwater mansion.  Then the computer containing the data crashed; at this point, the data still has not been retrieved.

     
  3. Billy Warren distributed copies of these handouts:
    1. Heritage Preservation, Inc.:  Accomplishments – 2006
    2. Heritage Preservation, Inc.:  Goals for 2007
    3. The Roots of American Music Trail in the Shoals
    4. A thank-you letter to Jim Cox for the excellent article in the 1-25-07 issue of East Lauderdale News

       
  4. Billy Warren distributed and briefly reviewed copies of an article entitled “Past and Present Accounted For” from the November/December, 2006, issue of Edutopia magazine.  It describes a program in Italy whereby students adopt monuments and care for them – similar to the way that a class of ninth graders at Mars Hill School has  adopted the Coffee family’s cemetery near the intersection of Cloverdale Road and Cox Creek Parkway.  Billy reported that he shared copies of this article with all social studies teachers, grades 5-12, in Florence City Schools.  One teacher has expressed interest in her students’ possibly adopting a local monument.

     
  5. Billy Warren distributed copies of a 11-27-06 letter from Nicolo Mattina in Firenze, Italia (Florence, Italy), to Mayor Bobby Irons, stating that he (Signor Mattina) wants to solidify the sister-city relationship between the Italian and Alabama cities.  Mayor Irons asked Billy to respond to the section of the letter that asks questions about Ferdinand Sannoner, the Renaissance Faire, etc.  Billy distributed copies of the two-page write-up that he prepared for Mayor Irons and noted that he asked the Mayor to include copies of the VHS, “Follow the River,” and copies of the 1852 map of Florence drawn by Sannoner.

     
  6. Billy Warren distributed copies of a short piece regarding the proposed Florence-Lauderdale County Archival Center which he wrote in the 2-8-07 issue of East Lauderdale News at the request of Jim Cox.  He also circulated a copy of an article on the same topic written by Lee Freeman which appeared in the 2-15-07 issue of East Lauderdale News.  Billy asked everyone to stay alert for opportunities to promote the establishment of an archival center.

     
  7. Billy Warren circulated a copy of an article that appeared in the 12-22-06 issue of the Times-Daily regarding the donation of the Southall-Moore House to the City of Florence.  Everyone agreed that this donation will add immeasurably to the Kennedy-Douglass Art Center complex.  It will also ensure the restoration/preservation of this fine, late- 1890’s house.

     
  8. Charlotte Dean reported that all kinds of possibilities are being explored for the sale and possible development of the Sweetwater mansion and surrounding acreage.  Everyone expressed agreement with the ideas that Charlotte put forth – with the overriding concern that the mansion itself be restored.

     
  9. Following a discussion of the benefits to historic preservation in America that would result from the passage of the Historic Homeownership Assistance Act, Jim Ingrum made the motion that Billy Warren be authorized to write a letter to Richard Shelby, Bud Cramer and Jeff Sessions, asking them to support the passage of this Act.  Carolyn Waterman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  10. Billy Warren distributed copies of these documents related to the Eagle Scout project which Davis Faulkner is conducting – the restoration of the Bailey Springs Cemetery:
    1. A letter to Davis from Billy dated 1-30-07;
    2. An e-mail from Larry Faulkner, Davis’s father, to Billy dated 2-12-07;
    3. A letter, with attachments, from Davis to Billy dated 1-24-07; and
    4. Copies of pages 27-37 (entitled “Bailey Springs”) from the book, Historic Alabama Hotels and Resorts, by James F. Sulzby, Jr.

Betty Champion made the motion that HPI become the fiscal agent for this huge cemetery project.  Iva McClure seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Billy circulated a copy of the lengthy article detailing Davis Faulkner’s project which appeared in the 2-18-07 issue of the Times-Daily.

  1. It was agreed that these personages will be among the twelve that will be spotlighted during the second Cemetery Stroll on Saturday, April 28 (rain date:  Sunday, April 29):
    1. “Uncle” Reuben and “Aunt” Abbeville Patterson
    2. Frank M. Perry
    3. Moncure W. Camper
    4. Samuel S. Ives
    5. Zebulon Pike Morrison
    6. Joseph Milner
    7. Marshall Blair
    8. Alexander Falk
    9. Rev. Hiram Douglass

It was agreed that, if Tom Clark is highlighted again, he should be a 13th personage so there will be 12 who were not included at the November, 2006, Stroll.
 

  1. Charlotte Dean reported that she has been nominated to serve on a Board for the restoration of the Governor’s mansion in Montgomery.  She stated, and all agreed, that such a high-profile project will draw attention statewide to the value of historic preservation.

     
  2. Hester Cope distributed copies of the schedule of the George Lindsey Film Festival (Thursday, March 1, through Sunday, March 4) and encouraged everyone to attend.  Almost every event is free, and it’s filled with high-quality films.  It’s a real coup for our town.

     
  3. Billy Warren:
    1. Circulated a thank-you note from Alvin Rosenbaum for the book that HPI placed in the public library in memory of Mildred Rosenbaum; and
    2. Circulated a written acknowledgement from the public library for the copy of T. S. Stribling’s Sound Wagon (a first edition) which Mary Peck donated in memory of Lindsey Stricklin.

    HPI