HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 3-23-09

 

Those present:  Judy Tiffin, Iva McClure, Hester Cope, Jim Ingrum, Mary Peck, Laura Connolly, Jerry Dowd, Betty Champion, Carolyn Waterman, Trevor Stokes, Dick Jordan, Kitty Cox, Bob Torbert, Vince Brewton, Ashley Winkle, Lee Freeman, Brett Wood, Billy Warren

 

  1. Vince Brewton made the motion that the minutes of the 2-23-09 meeting be approved.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren presented this treasurer’s report:
    1. Checking Account Balance                            $3,445.13
    2. Forks of Cypress Account Balance                $3,234.78
    3. FDR Fund Balance                                         $5,000.00
    4. Bailey Springs  Project Balance                      $7,335.30

       

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

 

  1. Billy Warren reported that Ms. Sue Hufstedler has donated $100 to HPI – as she has done for three years in a row.  He also reported that he has written a thank-you note to her on behalf of the HPI Board.

     
  2. Lee Freeman reported that we have received notification that the Florence City Cemetery has been accepted for listing on the Alabama Registry of Historic Cemeteries.  Billy Warren noted that the Cemetery is just the second cemetery in Lauderdale County to receive the listing.  (The first was Bailey Springs, with paperwork completed by Larry Faulkner.)  There was applause for Lee and Bob Torbert who completed the necessary paperwork to secure the cemetery’s listing.

     

Billy Warren distributed copies of these related documents:

    1. The official notification letter from Lee Ann Wofford at the Alabama Historical Commission, and
    2. An article about the listing from the 3-13-09 issue of the Times-Daily.

       
  1. Bob Torbert reported that there are three box-type grave markers and various other markers at the Wilson Family Cemetery which are broken. Atkins Stoneworks in Russellville has estimated a total cost of $9,800 to do all of the repairs.  There is approximately $600 remaining in the funds supplied by the City of Florence and $500 by HPI.  Bob will appear before the Lauderdale County Commission to ask for an allocation.

 

Once Bob knows the response from the County Commission, he will notify Billy Warren of the remaining amount needed.  Then the homeowners surrounding Blackberry Trail will be approached to contribute toward the final amount.  Should that contribution be needed, Hester Cope made the motion that Billy Warren write a letter to the homeowners explaining:  (a.) Who HPI is and the role it plays in local preservation efforts, (b.) the amount of money already expended toward restoring the Wilson Family Cemetery and the entities that contributed it, and (c.) that HPI is a 501(c)(3) organization, allowing contributions to the cemetery’s restoration to be tax-deductible.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

There was also a discussion of the possibility of repairing at least one of the box-type markers before the appeal is made to the homeowners so they will see exactly what the project proposes to accomplish.

 

  1. Bob Torbert reported that Atkins Stoneworks in Russellville has agreed to create small gravestones for $25, plus $2 tax; the purchaser must pick up the gravestone at the shop in Russellville.  It will feature the name of the deceased, as well as the deceased’s birth and death dates.

     
  2. Billy Warren reported that HPI is considered by the Alabama Historical Commission as the official preservation organization that must be consulted by any developer in Lauderdale County whose proposed project has the potential to affect a historic site or structure.

     
  3. Dick Jordan reported that the stone repairman from Franklin, Tennessee, will re-work the fountain in Wilson Park!  Some of it will be repaired, while other sections will be replicated.  The top tier, which was misplaced during the renovation of the park and fountain in the early 1970’s, will be replicated – so the fountain will look almost exactly as it did when it was installed in the early 1930’s.  This project is on the agenda for approval at the City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m.  There was hearty applause for Dick Jordan for his intensive work on this important project.

     
  4. Dick Jordan stated that he recently attended a national conference in Washington, D. C.  There he attended sessions on the relationship between Town and Gown and learned about a town with an ordinance for rental properties, especially properties in historic districts.  If police are called three times within a twelve-month period, the owner of such property (not the renter) is fined.

     
  5. Dick Jordan suggested that there be quarterly meetings involving these organizations that share similar goals:  Heritage Preservation, Inc., Downtown Florence Unlimited and Florence Main Street.  Everyone in attendance agreed that this is a good idea, with Billy Warren suggesting that HPI serve as the host of the meetings.  Billy Warren suggested that the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau might also be included in the meetings.

     
  6. Ashley Winkle made this report for Florence Main Street:
    1. Billy Reid is moving his entire corporate operation, distribution and local retail sales into the former Anderson’s Bookland building on North Court Street.
    2. There has been a total investment of $190,000,000 in downtown Florence since Main Street’s inception in 1992.
    3. Corrections to the template for the 4’ x 6’ granite map of Florence in 1852 are now being made.  The corrected template will be proofed by Kevin Jangaard a final time before the map is cast in granite.
    4. Pickett Place will become an events location after Billy Reid moves out.
    5. The building on Court Street that housed Stephano’s Restaurant may soon have a new business.
    6. HPI members are encouraged to submit names of people who have completed restoration work on downtown residences or commercial buildings.  The Design Committee of Florence Main Street is sending “atta boy” letters to such people as both a thank-you and an encouragement for them to continue their commitment to downtown.
    7. As she was encouraged to do at the recent National Main Street Conference in Chicago, Ashley has now entered Florence Main Street into the electronics world through:

                                                              i.      The creation of a blog,

                                                            ii.      Twitter,

                                                          iii.      Facebook, and

                                                          iv.      Constant Contact (for mass e-mails).

 

  1. Carolyn Waterman announced that the APT program featuring Limestone House Bed and Breakfast and local historic sites will air on Sunday, April 12, at 8:00 p.m.  Hooray!

     
  2. Billy Warren reminded everyone that the annual Cemetery Stroll will take place at the Florence City Cemetery on Saturday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m.  Rain date is Sunday, April 26, at 2:00 p.m.

     

Brett Wood agreed to provide a tent for the occasion.  Bob Torbert agreed to secure a porta-john.  These people agreed to assist as guides, as attendants at the entry gate, etc.:  Hester Cope, Mary Peck, Jerry Dowd, Betty Champion, Iva McClure, Kitty Cox, Laura Connolly, Lee Freeman, Judy Tiffin, Billy Warren.

 

Billy Warren will:

a.       Make arrangements with the Florence Police Department to have barriers delivered so blockades may be set up at all but one entry to the cemetery; and

b.      Create ID tags for volunteers to wear.

 

  1. Lee Freeman announced these two upcoming programs at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library:
    1. Saturday, April 11, 2:00 p.m.:  “A Ghastly Arithmetic:  The Confederate Dead at Shiloh,” presented by Greg Williams; and
    2. Saturday, April 18, 2:00 p.m.:  “A Captured Confederate Bowie Knife:  The Saga of Reuben T. Boroughs,” presented by Lloyd Jackson.

       
  2. Because of time constraints, the group did not address these two agenda items:
    1. Discussion of Historic Homes Photos on HPI’s Website; and
    2. Discussion of Virtual Tour of Historic Districts on DVD.

       
  3. Billy Warren distributed paper copies of an e-mail from Larry Faulkner in which he thanked Lee Freeman and Bob Torbert for their work in getting the Florence City Cemetery listed on the State Registry and for their assistance when he was working on getting the Bailey Springs Cemetery listed.  He also suggested that these men, who were involved in Scouting and who are buried at the City Cemetery, be considered for future Cemetery Strolls:  Dr. D. W. Hollingsworth, Mr. Emerson Lucas, Mr. Barney Norris, Mr. Grady Richards and Mr. J. E. F. Westmoreland.