HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 2-28-05

 

Those present:  Betty Champion, Hester Cope, Mary Peck, Judy Tiffin, Milly Wright, Jerry Dowd, Carolyn Waterman, Vince Brewton, Bill McDonald, Lee Freeman, Iva McClure, Billy Warren

 

  1. All Board members joined Billy Warren in welcoming Carolyn Waterman as the newest Board member.

     
  2. Jerry Dowd made the motion that the minutes of the 12-13-04 and 1-16-05 meetings be approved.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  3. Billy Warren presented this treasurer’s report:
    1. Checking Account balance (January)                             $6,479.03
    2. Checking Account balance (February)                6,417.03
    3. Forks of Cypress Account balance (Jan. & Feb.)            3,223.28  + 11.40

 

Carolyn Waterman made the motion that the report be approved.  Vince Brewton seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Billy Warren distributed copies of a thank-you note to the Board from Judy Tiffin for the book placed in the public library in memory of her late father-in-law.

     
  2. Billy Warren announced that the book, The American Bungalow, 1880-1930 by Clay Lancaster, has been placed in the public library in memory of Cyrus James Brewton, late father of Vince Brewton.

     
  3. Board members congratulated Judy and Bob Tiffin on the article that appeared in a recent edition of the Times-Daily which celebrated Tiffin Motor Homes’ production of its 50,000th recreational vehicle.

     
  4. Billy Warren distributed copies of these two documents:  “Heritage Preservation, Inc.: Accomplishments in 2004” and “Heritage Preservation, Inc.: Goals for 2005.”  He thanked all Board members for helping to make the accomplishments possible and for being a part of the ambitious goals for 2005.  He encouraged everyone to read both documents carefully.  He also stated that he includes copies of these two documents, along with a cover letter, in each packet that he sends to new members of HPI.

     
  5. Following a discussion of the proposed cemetery stroll, Betty Champion made the motion that HPI assume responsibility for this event.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed.  Lee Freeman agreed to serve as chairman of the event, and other Board members agreed to assist him.  Lee will talk with Harry Wallace and will bring to our March meeting a recommended list of people that we should highlight.

     
  6. Billy Warren reported that a meeting was held in the City Council chambers last week regarding the future of the fine old house on Oak Street.  As a result of that meeting, Mayor Irons asked Barbara Broach and Billy Warren to give him an estimate of costs for the house’s restoration.  This estimate was submitted to the Mayor on Friday morning, February 25.  The City Council is supposed to act on this project at its work session on Tuesday, March 1.  Lee Freeman circulated a binder filled with information about the house:  color photographs, copies of old deeds, etc.

     
  7. Billy Warren distributed copies of two letters from William Smith, a local attorney, to Lee Freeman, director of the local history/genealogy room at the public library.  In one letter, William listed items that he is donating to the library; in the other, he listed items that he is lending to the library to be copies.  All items relate to the life and works of T. S. Stribling.

     
  8. Everyone was reminded of the upcoming celebration of the life and writing of T. S. Stribling to be held at Wesleyan Hall (UNA campus) on Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. until noon.  The focus will be on storytelling with some of the best storytellers from the region on the program.

     
  9. Following a discussion of the Coby Hall restoration currently in progress, Bill McDonald made the motion that HPI contribute $100.  Hester Cope seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  10. In a discussion regarding HPI’s donating to preservation projects, Vince Brewton suggested that HPI consider the establishment of a Foundation so that donations could be made from it instead of being taken from HPI’s regular checking account.  Since HPI already possesses 501(c) (3) status, perhaps the Foundation could use that designation without having to go through the lengthy process of securing another.  Vince Brewton and Hester Cope agreed to discuss this issue further and, possibly, to talk with John Harris or another attorney.  They will bring a recommendation to the Board’s March meeting.

     
  11. Billy Warren stated that, in the spring of 2004, there were discussions between city officials and administrators at UNA regarding the possibility of a joint town-gown ownership of the Shoals Theater.  Since then, both the city officials and the presidency of UNA have changed, but, it is hoped, the discussions about joint ownership will continue.  Bill McDonald made the motion that HPI go on record as supporting that concept; further, he made the motion that Billy Warren write a letter to Dr. Cale, the new UNA president; to Mayor Irons; and to City Council members stating HPI’s support of the concept.  Betty Champion seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  12. Lee Freeman distributed copies of an e-mail from an antiques dealer in Rhode Island who wishes to sell a collection of 700 photographs of the construction of Wilson Dam.  The Board agreed that a sizeable collection of these photographs already exists locally.  Some interest was expressed in photographs from the Rhode Island collection that depict certain individuals involved in the construction of the dam – especially since those individuals are identified on the backs of the photographs.

     
  13. Hester Cope announced that Billy Reid, winner of the Perry Ellis Award for menswear design in 2001, will soon open his store in Florence at Pickett Place – across the street from Pope’s Tavern.  (He has stores in Houston and Dallas.)  This new store is a great addition for downtown Florence and for the entire Shoals.

     
  14. Carolyn Waterman stated that her son is enrolled in the School of Architecture at Columbia University.  Last week, his professor spent 20 minutes or more talking about the Rosenbaum/Frank Lloyd Wright House and recommended that he students visit the house!

     
  15. Bill McDonald distributed copies of an article in a 1986 issue of the Flor-Ala, the weekly newspaper at UNA, which described the Silver Pen Award given annually by Lindsey Stricklin to exemplary collegiate writers.

     
  16. Milly Wright distributed copies of an article about the restoration of the log cabin home of George Gilmore, a slave at Montpelier, the home of President James A. Madison.

     
  17. Lee Freeman distributed copies of an article in the May 21, 1942, issue of the Florence Herald.  It describes many of the items that were on exhibit at the time in the museum at Florence State Teachers College (now UNA).

     
  18. Billy Warren circulated pictures of the elaborate grave markers (all in disarray) in the cemetery at Sweetwater.  These photographs were made by Bob Torbert when he was in Florence during the Christmas holidays.

     
  19. Because of time constraints, the Board did not discuss the need for reprinting multiple copies of the walking tour brochure.

HPI