HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 4-25-05

 

Those present:  Lee Freeman, Iva McClure, Judy Tiffin, Susan Hargett, Carolyn Waterman, Bill McDonald, Hester Cope, Billy Warren

 

  1. Susan Hargett made the motion that the minutes of the 3-21-05 meeting be approved.  Carolyn Waterman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren presented this treasurer’s report:
    1. Checking Account balance                                $6,348.27
    2. Forks of Cypress Account balance                     3,223.38  +  11.40

 

Hester Cope made the motion that the report be approved.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Lee Freeman presented this list of 12 personages who might be included in our Cemetery Stroll on September 24 and 25:
    1. “Mountain” Tom Clark
    2. Bessie Rapier Foster
    3. Police Chief Samuel Weakley
    4. “Uncle” Reuben Patterson
    5. “Aunt” Abbeville Thornton Patterson
    6. Frank M. Perry
    7. Edward Asbury O’Neal
    8. Olivia Moore O’Neal
    9. John Baptiste Sannoner
    10. Prof. Young A. Wallace
    11. Alexander Hamilton Wood
    12. A. G. Negley

 

It was suggested that Reuben and Abbeville Patterson be grouped together and that Edward and Olivia O’Neal be grouped together.  This would reduce the total to 10, allowing for two others to be highlighted.  For those two places in the line-up, these suggestions were made:

·        Dr. A. D. Bellamy

·        Moncure W. Camper

·        James Irvine or his son and daughter-in-law, James B. and Virginia Irvine

·        Samuel S. Ives

·        Zebulon Pike Morrison

·        Joseph Milner

 

Lee agreed to take these suggestions and bring a revised list of 12 to the May Board meeting.

 

  1. Hester Cope reported that she talked with Tim Corley, a local attorney, about the possibility of HPI’s forming a Foundation.    Tim told her that filing Form 1023 with the IRS is the starting point.  Billy Warren downloaded this 28-page form from the IRS web site.  Because the form (and possibly additional paperwork) is so lengthy and because neither HPI nor potential donors will benefit further from a Foundation – since HPI is already a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization – Carolyn Waterman made the motion that we not pursue the establishment of a separate Foundation.  Judy Tiffin seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Billy Warren reported that, as the Board had voted, he sent a check for $100 to UNA as a contribution toward the restoration of Coby Hall. Bill McDonald announced that the official reopening of Coby Hall will take place on Friday, June 3, at 10:00 a.m.

     
  3. Hester Cope stated that she conducted a tour of the Shoals Theater building on March 23 for a UNA delegation that included President Cale and other administrators.  She has not had an official response from the group yet.  The holder of the mortgage on the building has recently said that he is willing to sign a long-term lease at a reasonable rate with either the city of Florence or UNA.  That’s great news!

     
  4. Vince Brewton (in absentia) reported that the Lindsey Stricklin Memorial Scholarship at UNA now has approximately $7,190.  That’s very close to the required $10,000 for it to become an endowed scholarship.

     
  5. Vince Brewton (in absentia) reported that the English Department staff at UNA has discussed the possibility of reviving the Silver Pen award begun by Lindsey Stricklin.  The staff decided that it wants to discuss the idea further with representatives of the local chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.  Vince will report the results of that discussion at a future meeting of the HPI Board of Directors.

     
  6. Billy Warren reported that he conducted a walking tour of upper North Court and North Seminary Streets on Saturday, April 16, for the out-of-town media representatives who were in Florence for the grand opening of Billy Reid/Pickett Place.  He stated that a representative from the New York Times Sunday Magazine will write an article about the Shoals as  result of her visit and that the same magazine will send a writer to Florence to do an even bigger feature as well.

     
  7. Billy Warren stated that residents of Riverview Drive are moving forward with their plans to develop their neighborhood into a National Register Historic District.  They have had two meetings and have begun the process of collecting the data necessary for completing an application.

     
  8. Hester Cope made this report for Main Street:
    1. These new businesses have opened:

1.      Quizno’s Sandwich Shop on North Court,

2.      High Cotton Gift Shop on North Court Street,

3.      T.K.’s Grill and Spirits at the Florence Harber, and

4.      Scrapbook Legacy on North Court Street.

    1. Byron Bower, Jr. has purchased One Mobile Plaza and is in the process of renovating it for office spaces.
    2. The City Council and the City Planning Commission are considering a liquor license for a proposed event center in the former Stephano’s building on North Court Street.

       
  1. Following a discussion of the Upstairs in Downtown Tour on Saturday, June 11, Noon – 5 p.m., Susan Hargett made the motion that HPI be a co-sponsor of the event along with the Design Committee of Main Street.  Iva McClure seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  2. Iva McClure announced that Waterloo Heritage Days is on Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14.  She also stated that, through efforts of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau, a plaza-type space will be built in the turnaround area at Waterloo.

     
  3. Lee Freeman announced that the statewide meeting of librarians will take place in Florence in 2006.

     
  4. Bill McDonald announced that a plaza-type space is being created at the intersection of Veterans Drive and Hightower Place.  Markers commemorating veterans from various wars are being installed there.

     
  5. Lee Freeman distributed flyers advertising the Florence Wagon Works Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21.

     
  6. Billy Warren distributed copies of an article from a 1924 issue of the Florence-Herald about the history of Courtview/Rogers Hall.