HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 3-17-03

 

Those present:  Betty Champion, Mary Peck, Lee Freeman, Hester Cope, Lindsey Stricklin, Tom White, Billy Warren

 

  1. Regarding the proposed video to be made on the history of Florence, Lee Freeman reported that:
    1. Bill McDonald is chairman of the committee that is working on this project;
    2. The committee plans to view videos about Florence that have already been made before proceeding with its plans;
    3. The committee plans to discuss the project with local people (e.g., Tonya Holley, Steve Viall, Shane Wilson) who have been involved in video production;
    4. The goal is to produce a video that might be used in schools, shown on APT and sold to the general public; and
    5. The next meeting of the committee is Wednesday, March 26, 12:00 noon, at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library.

       
  2. Betty Champion reported that a public meeting was conducted on February 28 to discuss the fate of the Maud Lindsay Kindergarten.  The Board of Directors of the Kindergarten is now exploring sources of funding, including the possibility of establishing a Foundation.  Billy Warren stated that Alabama Power Company will make small grants for seed money to start a non-profit Foundation.  He suggested that the Kindergarten Board contact Ken Davis, Business Manager of Florence City Schools, for details on how to apply for the grant.

     
  3. Lindsey Stricklin, Betty Champion and Billy Warren gave the T. S. Stribling Celebration high marks.  They especially commended Carol Lyles and Dennis Balch for the excellent job those two did in formulating and executing the events of the exciting weekend.  (HPI was a co-sponsor of this important event.)

     
  4. Billy Warren urged all HPI Board members to be present for a meeting at the public library on Tuesday, April 8, at 5:15 p.m.  The meeting, sponsored by Downtown Florence Unlimited, Main Street and HPI, will focus on ways to inject vitality into downtown Florence.  This is the first time that residents of downtown historic districts have been included in such a discussion.  The outcome of the meeting (it might actually be the first in a series of two or three sessions) should complement HPI's goal of establishing a Historic District Coalition.  Beverly Absher, from the economic development division of TVA, will conduct the meeting.

     
  5. Hester Cope made this report for Main Street:
    1. The Florence Events Center (in the rear of the old Shoals Hardware building) is now open for business.  It is a flexible space that can be rented for concerts, banquets, conferences, dances, etc.
    2. Pepito's Mexican Restaurant is now open in the former location of Grady T's on East Tennessee Street.  Pepito's is part of a small chain of restaurants that began in Tuscaloosa.
    3. A new restaurant specializing in gyros and shiskabobs will open soon in the former location of the Country Plate Cafe on Court Street (near Stephano's).
    4. The biennial "Upstairs in Downtown" tour will take place on Saturday, June 21, from noon until 5:00 p.m.  HPI members are asked to serve as docents.
    5. A series of Saturday morning walking tours will take place in the historic areas of various Alabama cities, including Florence, in May, June and July (a total of eight Saturdays).  Locally, this project is being coordinated by Debbie Wilson, director of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau, since the statewide project is an initiative of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel.

       
  6. Billy Warren distributed copies of a resolution drafted by the Tennessee Valley Historical Society which asks that the Waterloo Road bridge (now being replaced by a new structure) be renamed the T. S. Stribling Bridge.  After discussion of the idea, Betty Champion made the motion that HPI draft a similar resolution.  Lindsey Stricklin seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  7. Billy Warren reported that students and teachers at Hibbett Middle School staged a wonderful birthday party for the city of Florence on March 12.  The official flag of Florence was prominently displayed, and a cake decorated exactly like the flag was served following a delicious lunch.  Other displays depicting Florence's history were mounted throughout the school's library.

     
  8. Lindsey Stricklin circulated pictures of the Cannon Cemetery near Gravelley Springs where Mr. and Mrs. Waits, the grandparents of T. S. Stribling, are buried.

     
  9. Billy Warren distributed a sheet with these categories of craftspeople listed on it:
    1. Antique Furniture

                                                               i.      Restorers

                                                             ii.      Repairers

                                                            iii.      Upholsterers

    1. Painters
    2. Carpenters
    3. Architects
    4. Brick/Stone Masons
    5. Window Replacers
    6. Roofers
    7. Hardware Replacers
    8. Floorers
    9. Tile/Marble/Stone Workers
    10. Art Restorers/Preservers
    11. Plasterers
    12. Electricians
    13. Plumbers
    14. Furnace Repairers

 

He asked that everyone take the list home, insert names and method(s) of contact for each name, and bring the list to the Board's April meeting.  This will start the process by which we will accomplish one of HPI's 2003 goals!